Numbers 16:26 kjv
And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
Numbers 16:26 nkjv
And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins."
Numbers 16:26 niv
He warned the assembly, "Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins."
Numbers 16:26 esv
And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins."
Numbers 16:26 nlt
"Quick!" he told the people. "Get away from the tents of these wicked men, and don't touch anything that belongs to them. If you do, you will be destroyed for their sins."
Numbers 16 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 6:17-18 | "Therefore 'Come out from them and be separate,' says the Lord... and I will be a father to you..." | Command to spiritual separation. |
| Isa 52:11 | "Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her..." | Call to separation from defilement. |
| Rev 18:4 | "Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you participate in her sins..." | Separation from evil world system. |
| Prov 13:20 | "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." | Consequences of association. |
| Ps 1:1 | "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners..." | Righteous avoid the wicked. |
| Eph 5:11 | "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." | Active avoidance of dark deeds. |
| Rom 16:17-18 | "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions... avoid them." | Avoidance of divisive people. |
| 1 Tim 6:3-5 | "If anyone teaches a different doctrine... avoid such people." | Separation from false teaching. |
| Num 16:31-33 | "As soon as he finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart..." | Immediate judgment that followed separation. |
| Deut 11:6 | "...what he did to Dathan and Abiram... the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them..." | Reminder of the specific judgment. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Inherent consequence of sin. |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Divine justice for actions. |
| Heb 12:29 | "for our God is a consuming fire." | God's nature in judgment. |
| Mal 3:18 | "Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked..." | God's ultimate discernment. |
| Matt 25:32-33 | "Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats..." | Final judgment separating righteous and wicked. |
| Heb 13:17 | "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls..." | Importance of obeying appointed authority. |
| Rom 13:1-2 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities... resistance to God's ordinance..." | Submission to God-ordained authority. |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." | Severity of rebellion against God. |
| Exod 32:10 | "Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them..." | God's righteous anger and threat of consumption. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | "Now Nadab and Abihu... offered unauthorized fire before the LORD... and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them..." | Consequence for disrespecting holy boundaries. |
| 2 Tim 2:20-22 | "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use..." | Need for personal purification from error. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" | Call to live in holiness. |
| Jude 1:11 | "Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain and abandon themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perish in Korah's rebellion." | Direct reference to Korah's rebellion as a warning. |
| 1 Cor 5:9-11 | "Do not associate with sexually immoral people... I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality..." | Necessity of separation from unrepentant sin within the community. |
Numbers 16 verses
Numbers 16 26 Meaning
Numbers 16:26 records Moses’ urgent command to the assembly to separate themselves physically and entirely from the rebellious households of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. This directive was given immediately before God’s dramatic judgment was to fall upon the wicked. The verse underscores that associating with or having complicity in sin, even by proximity, makes one liable to share in the divine consequences meant for the transgressors. It is a clear call for decisive separation from known rebellion against God’s appointed authority, for the sake of one's own preservation from judgment.
Numbers 16 26 Context
Numbers chapter 16 describes the rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron’s divinely appointed leadership. Korah, a Levite, along with Dathan and Abiram, Reubenites, challenged Moses' authority, accusing him of elevating himself and demanding a share in the priesthood. The previous verses (1-25) detail their insolence and Moses’ response, including his appeal to God for judgment. Before the swift and catastrophic judgment of God, Moses, acting on God's command, issues this final warning in verse 26 to the faithful Israelites. The immediate context highlights the severity of the challenge to God's order and the swiftness of divine judgment against rebellion and the potential for communal disaster through association with sin.
Numbers 16 26 Word analysis
- "And he spoke": Refers to Moses. This is God’s direct communication through His chosen prophet, signifying absolute divine authority behind the command.
- "to the congregation": Hebrew: עֵדָה (
edah) – refers to the whole assembly of Israel present. It emphasizes that this warning was public, to all who were within earshot and therefore accountable. - "saying": Introduces a direct command, underscoring the urgency and non-negotiable nature of the instruction.
- "Depart now": Hebrew: סוּרוּ (
sûrû) – an imperative verb meaning “turn aside,” “remove yourselves,” or “get away.” It denotes immediate, decisive physical movement and implies a spiritual and moral distancing. This is not an invitation but an urgent, life-saving command. - "from the tents": Hebrew: מֵאָהֳלֵי (
mê’āholê) – literally, “from the tents of.” Tents represented family units, property, and communal identity in the Israelite encampment. This instruction mandates not just personal distance but separation from the entire household and associated belongings of the rebels. - "of these wicked men": Hebrew: הָרְשָׁעִים הָאֵלֶּה (
hārěšā‘îm hā’ēlleh) – a strong designation of moral condemnation. “Wicked men” (rěšā‘îm) refers to those guilty of unrighteousness and injustice against God and His ordained structure. This clearly identifies the rebels not just as opponents of Moses, but as morally corrupt in God's sight. - "and touch nothing of theirs": Hebrew: וְאַל־תִּגְעוּ בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם (
wə’al-tiga‘û bəḵol-’ăšer lâhem) – an explicit, absolute prohibition against any physical contact or interaction with the rebels' possessions. This reinforced the call for total disassociation and ensured no material complicity, signifying a complete severance of ties and an avoidance of all things associated with their defilement. - "lest you be consumed": Hebrew: פֶּן־תִּסָּפוּ (
pen-tissāpû) – "lest you be swept away" or "perish." This expresses the grave warning and direct consequence. The root meaning implies being "gathered" or "taken away," here in a destructive sense – signifying swift, overwhelming judgment. It shows the real, immediate danger of failing to separate. - "in all their sins": Hebrew: בְּכָל־חַטֹּאתָם (
bəḵol-ḥaṭṭo’ṯām) – signifies sharing in the culpability for the full measure of their transgressions, not just some aspect. It teaches the principle of corporate responsibility: failing to separate from known rebellion implies an endorsement of or participation in the rebellion, thus inviting shared judgment.
Numbers 16 26 Bonus section
The phrase "depart now from the tents" highlights that judgment was about to be so immediate and absolute that mere proximity would suffice for destruction. It serves as a stark visual and theological example of the need for decisive obedience when God pronounces judgment. This event solidified Moses' authority as truly from God, confirming His distinction between true and false spiritual leadership within Israel. Furthermore, this incident established a powerful precedent in Israelite history concerning rebellion against God's appointed leadership and the severe, sometimes collective, repercussions of unrighteousness. It is a divine object lesson illustrating God's intolerance for those who challenge His sacred order and defile His covenant community.
Numbers 16 26 Commentary
Numbers 16:26 provides a profound spiritual lesson about the imperative of separation from ungodliness and rebellion against divine authority. It is not merely a historical account of physical distance but illustrates a timeless principle: complicity with sin, whether active or through passive association, can lead to sharing in its consequences. Moses' warning highlights God's justice, His clear distinction between the righteous and the wicked, and the grave danger of despising His established order. The severity of the command ("depart now," "touch nothing," "lest you be consumed") emphasizes the immediacy of divine judgment for grievous sin and God's protective love for those who obey. This act of separation was not only a physical distancing but a spiritual alignment with God’s will, necessary for survival.
- Practical example: Disengaging from a business venture that involves dishonest practices.
- Practical example: Avoiding persistent gossips to protect your character and peace.
- Practical example: Removing oneself from ungodly conversations that promote rebellion against truth.