Numbers 16 3

Numbers 16:3 kjv

And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

Numbers 16:3 nkjv

They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"

Numbers 16:3 niv

They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"

Numbers 16:3 esv

They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"

Numbers 16:3 nlt

They united against Moses and Aaron and said, "You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the LORD's people?"

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 3 Meaning

Numbers 16:3 encapsulates the accusation leveled by Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 leaders against Moses and Aaron. They claimed Moses and Aaron had overstepped their authority, asserting that the entire congregation was inherently holy and indwelt by the Lord, thus rendering the unique, divinely appointed leadership roles of Moses and Aaron superfluous and an act of self-exaltation. This was a direct challenge to the divinely established order and the authority God had vested in His chosen leaders.

Numbers 16 3 Context

Numbers chapter 16 begins with a full-blown rebellion led by Korah, a Levite from the clan of Kohath (responsible for carrying the tabernacle furniture), joined by Dathan and Abiram (two Reubenites), and 250 prominent leaders of the congregation. This verse directly articulates their complaint. The setting is the wilderness, likely after the judgments at Kadesh Barnea, where the generation of unbelief was condemned to die in the desert. The previous chapters highlight the functions of the Levites and the priests, meticulously defining their distinct roles. Korah, already possessing a sacred role, sought priestly office. Dathan and Abiram likely resented the authority of Moses, the civil leader. Their combined grievance leveraged the spiritual truth that "all the congregation are holy" against God's established hierarchical order for the leadership and functioning of Israel, culminating in a challenge to Moses' and Aaron's God-given authority.

Numbers 16 3 Word analysis

• And they gathered themselves together: Hebrew wa-yiqqahelu (וַיִּֽקָּהֲל֛וּ), from qahal, meaning "to assemble, congregate." It signifies a deliberate, organized assembly against, rather than an accidental gathering, implying premeditated rebellion.
• against Moses and against Aaron: Specific targets of the rebellion, highlighting the personal nature of the challenge to their leadership roles.
• and said to them: A direct confrontation, an open challenge.
• "You take too much upon yourselves,": Hebrew rav-lachem (רַב־לָכֶם), literally "enough for you" or "it is too much for you." It's an accusation of Moses and Aaron having overstepped their bounds, implying they are greedy for power or arrogantly assume too much authority. Ironically, this statement better described Korah's own ambition.
• "for all the congregation are holy,": Hebrew kol ha-edah kullam qedoshim (כָּל־הָֽעֵדָה כֻּלָּם קְדֹשִׁ֔ים), literally "all the assembly, all of them, holy." This is the core of their deceptive argument. While Israel as a nation was indeed consecrated to God (Exod 19:6), this general national holiness did not negate the specific, unique holiness required for priestly service and the leadership roles God divinely appointed. They blurred the distinction between general communal holiness and specific, office-bearing holiness, creating a dangerous equivalency that challenged God's ordered structure.
• "every one of them,": Hebrew kullam (כֻּלָּם), an emphatic repetition of "all," stressing the universality of their claim regarding holiness.
• "and the LORD is among them.": Hebrew v’YHWH bə-tocham (וַיהוָה בְּתוֹכָם), literally "and Yahweh is in their midst." Another true statement used manipulatively. While God certainly indwelt Israel through the Tabernacle, this fact did not abolish the need for His chosen intermediaries (Moses as prophet/leader, Aaron as high priest) to represent Him to the people and the people to Him. It implicitly denies the necessity of Moses and Aaron's mediation.
• "Why then do you exalt yourselves": Hebrew titnas'u (תִּתְנַשְּׂאוּ), from nasa, "to lift up, raise up." It is a direct accusation of pride, arrogance, and self-elevation above others. They charge Moses and Aaron with a fault that was truly their own.
• "above the assembly of the LORD?": Hebrew al-qahal YHWH (עַל־קְהַל יְהוָה). They claim Moses and Aaron are positioning themselves over the community God owns and dwells within. This phrase highlights their resentment of authority within the divine community.

Numbers 16 3 Bonus section

The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram stemmed from different motivations despite their unified challenge. Korah, being a Levite but not a priest, coveted the priesthood of Aaron, believing his levitical service should extend to full priestly duties. Dathan and Abiram, Reubenites, were from the firstborn tribe and likely felt that leadership should naturally devolve to them rather than to Moses (a Levite) or his brother. The 250 leaders represent a broader disgruntlement within the tribes, seeking to dismantle the unique positions of authority held by Moses and Aaron. Their argument appeals to a superficially democratic ideal ("all holy"), which resonates with human desire for equality, but profoundly ignores God's sovereign right to appoint and ordain specific roles for His purposes within His community. The event highlights the danger of blurring divinely ordained distinctions and the severity with which God views challenges to His chosen instruments of authority.

Numbers 16 3 Commentary

Numbers 16:3 encapsulates the profound spiritual error of Korah and his company: a misuse of spiritual truth to justify rebellion against divinely established order. Their claim that "all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them" was, in a general sense, true for Israel as God's chosen nation (Exod 19:6). However, they twisted this truth to argue against the specific, unique, and divinely mandated roles of Moses and Aaron. They failed to differentiate between the general corporate holiness of the people, who were set apart by God, and the specific functional holiness and appointment necessary for leading the nation and mediating before God in sacred service. Their accusation of "you take too much upon yourselves" was ironic, as it was their own insatiable desire for power and privilege—envying positions not divinely given—that truly constituted overstepping bounds. This rebellion was ultimately against God, who chose and empowered Moses and Aaron, demonstrating a dangerous spiritual pride that masked itself as egalitarian righteousness, demanding a leadership position not by God's call but by human presumption.