Numbers 16 30

Numbers 16:30 kjv

But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

Numbers 16:30 nkjv

But if the LORD creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the LORD."

Numbers 16:30 niv

But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt."

Numbers 16:30 esv

But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD."

Numbers 16:30 nlt

But if the LORD does something entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have shown contempt for the LORD."

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 30 Meaning

Numbers 16:30 reveals a definitive sign orchestrated by the Lord Himself to differentiate between His appointed servants and those who brazenly defy His divine authority. Moses declares that if the Lord performs an unprecedented act, causing the ground to physically open and swallow Korah, Dathan, and Abiram along with their families and possessions, sending them alive into the underworld, then the entire congregation would unmistakably know that these men had profoundly disrespected and rejected the Lord Himself. This extraordinary judgment serves as undeniable proof of their grave sin against God's established order.

Numbers 16 30 Context

Numbers chapter 16 describes a major rebellion led by Korah, a Levite, and Dathan and Abiram, Reubenites. They challenge Moses' and Aaron's God-given authority, accusing them of exalting themselves and claiming the entire congregation is holy. This challenges the distinct roles of the priesthood and Mosaic leadership established by God. Moses proposes a direct test, calling upon God to reveal through an unprecedented act who He has chosen and whose authority is legitimate. Verse 30 sets the stage for this divine demonstration, presenting the specific, never-before-seen punishment that would serve as proof. This event serves as a foundational moment, cementing the boundaries of leadership and the consequences of despising God's appointed order within the Israelite community during their wilderness journey. Historically, it warns against any challenge to God's unique arrangements for the Levitical priesthood and Israelite governance.

Numbers 16 30 Word analysis

• But if (וְאִם – v'im): Introduces a conditional proposition. Moses presents a specific test, inviting God's supernatural intervention to validate his divine commission. This highlights Moses' trust in God's authentication.
• the LORD (יְהוָה – Yahweh): The covenant name of God. Emphasizes that this is a direct action of the sovereign, self-existent God, not a natural phenomenon or Moses' personal doing. This asserts divine agency in an extraordinary display of power.
• brings about (bara, בָּרָא): Typically meaning "to create out of nothing" or "to make something entirely new." Here, it signifies God's direct, creative, and unique intervention, not merely causing an event but enacting a completely fresh act of judgment never witnessed before.
• an entirely new thing (בְּרִיאָה חֲדָשָׁה – b’riah chadashah): This phrase emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the impending judgment. It underscores that what is about to happen is unique in the history of God's dealings with humanity, specifically chosen to prove a divine truth beyond doubt. It is not an earthquake; it is a miracle.
• and the ground (וּפָצְתָה הָאֲדָמָה – u'fatz'tah ha'adamah): Refers to the solid earth, which is now personified. This signifies God's control over creation and its responsiveness to His commands. The very earth, which humans live upon, becomes an agent of divine justice.
• opens its mouth (patsah peh): An anthropomorphism. The earth is depicted as having a "mouth" that actively consumes, illustrating a direct and immediate devouring. This imagery conveys a sense of finality and no escape, a consuming entity.
• and swallows them up (וּבָלְעָה אֹתָם – u'val'ah otam): Indicates a complete, instantaneous, and permanent engulfment. No remains or trace are left behind, highlighting the thoroughness and irreversibility of God's judgment.
• with all that belongs to them (וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם – v'et kol asher lahem): This expands the scope of judgment beyond just the individuals. It includes their families (as specified in Num 16:32) and all their possessions, demonstrating the pervasive nature of the judgment against the entirety of their rebellion and its lineage.
• and they go down alive (וְיָרְדוּ חַיִּים – v'yar'du chayyim): A critical, chilling detail. Normal descent into Sheol follows death. To go down "alive" implies a bypass of natural death, a horrific, immediate, and direct transition into the realm of the dead by divine decree, without the intervening peace of natural expiry. It is an immediate spiritual and physical demise.
• into Sheol (שְׁאוֹלָה – Sheolah): The Hebrew term for the underworld, the realm of the dead, or the grave. In this context, it signifies utter separation from the living, a place of no return, where souls typically reside after death. Going there alive emphasizes divine anathema.
• then you will know (וִידַעְתֶּם – vi'da'tem): The intended outcome. This unique event is not merely punitive but revelatory. It is designed to impart undeniable experiential knowledge to the assembly, to eliminate all doubt. It is for them to truly grasp God's ultimate authority.
• that these men (כִּי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה – ki ha'anashim ha'elleh): Directly points to Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their co-conspirators. The judgment is specific and targeted at the instigators of the rebellion.
• have despised (נִאֲצוּ – ni'atzu): A strong verb meaning to spurn, reject with contempt, regard as worthless, blaspheme. It describes an active, willful, and deep-seated disdain for God Himself, not merely for Moses or His commands. It implies an internal rebellion of the heart against divine authority and presence.
• the LORD (יְהוָה – Yahweh): Reiteration emphasizes that their contempt was directed not merely at human leaders but ultimately at the covenant God who appointed them. Their rebellion against Moses and Aaron was a rebellion against Yahweh.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:

• "But if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing": This phrase underscores God's absolute sovereignty and capacity to perform the miraculous. Moses presents an impossible standard for proof, relying solely on an unprecedented act of divine creation to demonstrate legitimacy.
• "and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them": This vivid, anthropomorphic description highlights the total, immediate, and inescapable nature of the judgment. The earth itself acts as God's instrument, demonstrating that even creation submits to His will in executing judgment. The scope extending to "all that belongs to them" emphasizes collective punishment for pervasive rebellion.
• "and they go down alive into Sheol": This is the most shocking and unnatural element. It signifies an unparalleled condemnation from God, where normal processes of death are circumvented. It implies an immediate, direct sentencing to a realm of separation, bypassing physical decay, and serving as a terrifying premonition of eternal separation.
• "then you will know that these men have despised the LORD": This declares the purpose of the extraordinary judgment: an irrefutable manifestation of truth. The dramatic sign ensures that the congregation understands the true nature of the rebels' sin—not just disagreement with Moses, but a profound contempt for the Most High God, with clear and grave consequences.

Numbers 16 30 Bonus section

• The Bara ("creates" or "brings about a new thing") aspect: Scholars highlight that bara is usually reserved for the creative act of God (e.g., Gen 1:1, Isa 45:7-8). Its use here signifies a divinely engineered event outside the natural order, not a coincidence or a pre-existing phenomenon. It underscores God's omnipotence and unique power.
• The nature of "Sheol" in the Old Testament context is typically understood as the common resting place of the dead, neither specifically "heaven" nor "hell" as understood later in Abrahamic traditions, but an inescapable shadow-realm. However, "going down alive into Sheol" makes this particular event terrifyingly unique. It highlights a special act of divine cursing, effectively accelerating the individual's judgment and descent into oblivion from the land of the living. This suggests a type of final judgment for a specific kind of grave sin even before physical death.
• The collective punishment, "with all that belongs to them," reflects a principle sometimes seen in the Old Testament where the family unit was closely identified with the head of the household, bearing consequences for his actions. It emphasizes the profound reach and severity of God's wrath against a widespread challenge to His order. This teaches the importance of not aligning oneself with rebellion against the Lord.

Numbers 16 30 Commentary

Numbers 16:30 is a climactic declaration in the face of profound spiritual rebellion. It articulates a unique test, a divine ordeal, that God alone could execute. The phrase "an entirely new thing" stresses the singularity of this judgment; it was not a natural disaster but a direct, creative act of God to establish beyond doubt that He had appointed Moses and Aaron. The horror of being "swallowed up alive into Sheol" vividly portrays an immediate divine sentence of death and separation, a profound mark of divine anathema unparalleled in the immediate context of biblical judgment. This swift, supernatural retribution served to teach the congregation the gravity of "despising the LORD"—that rejecting God's chosen leaders or His established order is, in essence, an act of profound contempt against Him. The primary purpose was to validate Moses' authority and re-instill reverence and fear of the Lord in the Israelite community, preventing further challenges to divine authority and promoting obedience. It sets a boundary on how God’s authority and His established means of grace may be treated.