Numbers 16:29 kjv
If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
Numbers 16:29 nkjv
If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me.
Numbers 16:29 niv
If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me.
Numbers 16:29 esv
If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me.
Numbers 16:29 nlt
If these men die a natural death, or if nothing unusual happens, then the LORD has not sent me.
Numbers 16 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 3:10 | "Come now, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people... | God sending Moses |
| Ex 4:1 | "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice..." | Challenge to Moses' authority |
| Deut 18:22 | "...If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but the thing does not take | Test of a true prophet's word |
| Jer 28:9 | "As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of the prophet | Verification of prophecy |
| Mt 7:15-20 | "...You will recognize them by their fruits." | Identifying false prophets |
| Jn 5:36 | "But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John, for the works | Works validating divine commission |
| Acts 17:3 | "...Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." | Confirmation of divine messengers |
| 1 Cor 1:22 | "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom..." | Desire for signs |
| Heb 3:1-2 | "...consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession... faithful | Faithfulness of God's appointed leaders |
| Num 26:9-10 | "...and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them..." | Recounting the judgment in Numbers |
| Deut 11:6 | "...as he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, how the earth | Divine judgment on rebels |
| Ps 106:17 | "...the earth opened and swallowed Dathan and covered the company..." | Remembrance of God's judgment |
| Jude 1:11 | "Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain and abandon themselves... perish | Korah's rebellion as a warning |
| 1 Cor 10:10 | "...Do not grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the | Warning against rebellion and judgment |
| Num 16:3 | "...You take too much upon yourselves, seeing all the congregation is holy | Korah's challenge to leadership |
| Num 16:11 | "...What is Aaron that you grumble against him? For it is against the | Rebellion against God's appointed one |
| Isa 28:21 | "...The Lord will rise up as on Mount Perazim, He will be stirred up...strange | God's unusual judgments |
| Ps 78:49-50 | "He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble.. | Divine wrath |
| Rom 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness..." | Revelation of God's wrath |
| Eph 5:6 | "...let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things | Consequences for disobedience |
| 2 Thes 1:7-8 | "...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels...vengeance | God's ultimate judgment on disobedient |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them..." | Call for separation from wickedness |
| Rev 18:4 | "...Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins..." | Call to depart from judgment's reach |
Numbers 16 verses
Numbers 16 29 Meaning
Numbers 16:29 presents a critical challenge issued by Moses to authenticate his divine commission amidst the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Moses declares that if these rebellious men die by natural means, like any other person, then it would be proof that the Lord did not truly send him. Conversely, if an unprecedented and extraordinary act of divine judgment—specifically the earth opening to consume them—were to occur, it would decisively confirm God’s direct intervention and Moses' legitimate prophetic authority, establishing the rebels' contempt for the Lord Himself. This verse functions as a clear, testable sign directly from God.
Numbers 16 29 Context
Numbers Chapter 16 records a major rebellion led by Korah (a Levite, cousin of Moses and Aaron), Dathan, and Abiram (prominent Reubenites). They challenged Moses' leadership and Aaron's exclusive priestly authority, accusing Moses of exalting himself over God’s congregation (Num 16:3). This challenge was not merely against Moses but against God who appointed him. The context of verse 29 sees Moses addressing the congregation, urging them to separate from the tents of these wicked men to avoid being consumed in their judgment. This verse acts as Moses’ decisive ultimatum and prophetic declaration, laying out the test by which God would vindicate His chosen leaders and judge the rebels. It immediately precedes the fulfillment of this test by the earth opening up.
Numbers 16 29 Word analysis
- If: Hebrew
אִם(im). Introduces a conditional statement. It sets up a stark contrast between two possible outcomes, making the divine test explicit and observable. - these men: Refers directly to Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their households, the ringleaders of the rebellion against God’s appointed leadership. Their specific identity highlights the personal nature of their affront to God.
- die a natural death: Hebrew
בְּמוֹת כָּל־הָאָדָם(b’mot kol-ha’adam). Literally "in the death of all humanity." This emphasizes a common, ordinary, or typical end to life. It signifies a lack of extraordinary divine intervention, suggesting a normal expiration without special divine judgment. - and their fate: Hebrew
וּפְקֻדַּת(u'f'quddat). Fromפָּקַד(paqad), meaning "to visit, attend to, number, muster, appoint, punish." Here, it signifies their "visitation" or the way in which God attends to their deeds, implying their appointed lot or destiny, often in a context of divine judgment. - is like that of all mankind: Hebrew
פְּקֻדַּת כָּל־הָאָדָם(p’quddat kol-ha’adam). This reiterates the common human experience, not subject to unique divine intervention or wrath. It implies that if they simply undergo common human adversities and death, there’s no special divine action against them. - then: Marks the consequence of the "if" clause.
- the Lord: Hebrew
יהוה(YHWH, Yahweh), the covenantal name of God. This specifies the Divine agent, making it clear that the ultimate authority and legitimacy originate from Him. - has not sent me: Hebrew
לֹא שְׁלָחַנִי(lo sh'lachani). This signifies a denial of divine commission or legitimacy. Moses states that his entire ministry and authority rely on God having genuinely dispatched him. If the predicted extraordinary event does not occur, his claims would be baseless, revealing him as a deceiver. - Words-group Analysis:
- "If these men die a natural death and their fate is like that of all mankind": This phrase encapsulates the condition for Moses’ alleged fraud. It demands a visible, common outcome, emphasizing that an ordinary death would discredit Moses, as it would not reveal God's direct intervention in this unique situation.
- "then the Lord has not sent me": This declares the ultimate implication: Moses' entire ministry, authority, and identity as God's spokesperson rest upon the Lord's clear vindication in this critical moment. It underscores the high stakes involved and Moses' profound trust in God's power and faithfulness.
Numbers 16 29 Bonus section
The pronouncement in Numbers 16:29 implicitly positions Moses as a prophet of God, whose words carry divine authority, validated by miraculous events. This aligns with the principle later articulated in Deut 18:22, where the fulfillment of a prophet's word serves as the litmus test for their divine sending. Moses' bold declaration reflects a trust not in his own strength, but in God's unique power to intervene in creation to authenticate His purpose and punish open rebellion. The specificity of the impending judgment, a "new thing" (Num 16:30), emphasizes God's sovereign creativity in executing judgment. This event solidified for Israel that rebellion against God's appointed human leaders was tantamount to rebellion against God Himself.
Numbers 16 29 Commentary
Numbers 16:29 functions as a critical moment of divine authentication within the narrative of Korah's rebellion. Moses, challenged by those questioning his God-given authority, presents a test by which the entire congregation could discern who was truly chosen by God. The "natural death" signifies an ordinary human ending, which, if it happened, would discredit Moses as merely acting on his own accord. This stark pronouncement heightens the dramatic tension, showcasing Moses' profound confidence in God's imminent intervention. The contrast highlights God's justice, where an unusual crime against divine appointment demands an unusual, demonstrative judgment. It illustrates God's active involvement in human affairs, validating His messengers and protecting the integrity of His chosen leadership. This extraordinary judgment was not just punishment, but a definitive sign that served to instruct the generations on the severe consequences of rebellion against God and His established order.