Numbers 16 32

Numbers 16:32 kjv

And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

Numbers 16:32 nkjv

and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.

Numbers 16:32 niv

and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions.

Numbers 16:32 esv

And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.

Numbers 16:32 nlt

The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned.

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 32 Meaning

Numbers 16:32 describes a profound and unique divine judgment where the earth miraculously opened to swallow the rebellious families of Dathan and Abiram, along with their homes and all their belongings. This unprecedented act underscored God's absolute authority and vindicated His chosen leaders, Moses and Aaron, against those who challenged their divine appointment. It signified a complete eradication and removal of the rebels and their legacies from among the living congregation of Israel.

Numbers 16 32 Context

Numbers chapter 16 recounts the brazen rebellion of Korah, a Levite, and Reubenites Dathan and Abiram, joined by 250 respected leaders. They challenged the God-ordained leadership of Moses and Aaron, claiming that all the congregation was holy and questioned why Moses and Aaron exalted themselves above the assembly (Num 16:3). This challenge was not merely against human leaders but directly against God's appointed order and holiness. Moses, distraught, appeals to God, who then orchestrates a unique demonstration of His divine judgment. The verses immediately preceding Num 16:32 detail Moses's challenge to Dathan and Abiram, the warning to the congregation to distance themselves from the tents of these wicked men (Num 16:26), and Moses's prophecy that the earth would miraculously swallow them if his leadership was indeed from God (Num 16:28-30). Numbers 16:32 is the immediate fulfillment of that prophecy, followed by their descent into Sheol (Num 16:33) and the consumption of the 250 men by fire (Num 16:35), solidifying God's holy distinction and vindicating His chosen authority.

Numbers 16 32 Word analysis

• And the earth (וְהָאָרֶץ wəhā’āreṣ): The Hebrew term ’āreṣ can refer to land, ground, or the entire earth. Here, it signifies the very ground upon which they stood. Its immediate action demonstrates God's sovereignty over creation, making the physical world His instrument of judgment. This is an unparalleled divine intervention, distinct from natural geological occurrences.
• opened its mouth (פָּצְתָה אֶת־פִּיהָ pāṣtāh ’et-pīhā): This anthropomorphic language attributes an action of a living being ("mouth," "opened") to the inanimate earth. Pātaḥ means to open wide, to separate the lips, indicating a deliberate and dramatic act. It visually communicates the earth as a devourer, completely consuming what it engulfs. This emphasizes the direct, miraculous, and irreversible nature of the judgment.
• and swallowed them up (וַתִּבְלַע אֹתָם wattiḇlaʿ ’ōtām): The verb bāla’ means "to swallow," "to engulf," "to consume completely." This indicates an act of total absorption, leaving no trace behind. The judgment was instantaneous and final, preventing any escape or subsequent interaction with the community.
• with their dwellings (וְאֶת־בָּתֵּיהֶם wə’et-bātêhem): Bātîm (plural of bayit) refers to houses, tents, or households. This inclusion is crucial as it signifies the total eradication of their entire family unit and living spaces. It ensured no vestige of their rebellion or identity would remain in the congregation. It points to a generational judgment due to their complicity.
• and all the people who belonged to Korah: This phrase is sometimes interpreted in broader terms due to context. However, based on the narrative distinction, specifically Dathan and Abiram’s households (who came out from their tents, Num 16:27), were swallowed by the earth. Korah himself, along with the 250 men, died by fire at the Tent of Meeting (Num 16:35). The phrasing "all the people who belonged to Korah" here should be understood as a broader term referring to the faction directly allied with and affected by Dathan and Abiram’s portion of the rebellion, particularly those physically associated with the tents of Dathan and Abiram which were outside the immediate Tabernacle court. Later in Num 26:11, it is explicitly stated that "the sons of Korah did not die," highlighting a precise selectivity in God's judgment, saving Korah’s innocent lineage. This demonstrates God's justice in separating the culpable from the innocent.
• and all their possessions (וְאֵת כָּל־רְכוּשָׁם wə’et kol-rəkhushām): Rekush refers to property, wealth, and belongings. This signifies that every physical trace of their existence – their wealth, livelihood, and inheritance – was consumed. It was a complete dispossession, ensuring nothing remained for their descendants or for Israel to claim. It erased their memory from the living and demonstrated the full cost of rebellion.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up": This entire phrase conveys the divine wrath being executed through an active, seemingly sentient creation. It’s a literal manifestation of God’s decree, showing Him to be in control of both life and death, and capable of enacting unique forms of justice. It’s an undeniable miracle confirming divine intervention.
• "with their dwellings and all their possessions": This emphasizes the absolute completeness of the judgment. It wasn't just individuals who died; their entire inheritance, legacy, and sphere of influence were wiped away. This ensured a decisive, clean break from the rebellious faction within the Israelite community, preventing any physical reminder or lingering influence of their presence.
• "all the people who belonged to Korah": This highlights the direct link between those who died in this manner and the broader rebellion initiated by Korah. While distinctions are made elsewhere in the narrative (e.g., Korah’s sons, or the 250 leaders dying by fire), this specific judgment against the people swallowed by the earth reinforces the severity applied to those who explicitly challenged Moses from their household positions, showing total obliteration.

Numbers 16 32 Bonus section

• The judgment here is an ultimate form of "cutting off from the people," a consequence often mentioned for various transgressions in the Torah (e.g., Exod 12:15, Lev 7:20). However, here it is literal and absolute, demonstrating God’s ultimate power to sever individuals from His holy nation and from existence in the physical realm.
• This specific judgment (earth swallowing) serves to publicly validate Moses's divine calling, demonstrating that the word of God spoken through His prophet carries the very power of creation and destruction. It leaves no room for doubt concerning Moses's legitimate authority.
• The inclusion of "dwellings" and "possessions" extends the judgment beyond the individuals to their entire legacy. This complete destruction implies a form of disinheritance not just from the earthly realm but from any future hope of descendants inheriting land within Israel.
• The fact that it happened in the "midst of all Israel" (Deut 11:6) underscores its public nature as a lesson and warning to the entire assembly, fostering reverence and obedience to God and His chosen servants.

Numbers 16 32 Commentary

Numbers 16:32 is the awe-inspiring fulfillment of Moses's pronouncement, an event unprecedented in its physical manifestation of divine judgment. It uniquely underscores God's absolute sovereignty and vindication of His appointed leaders. The earth's act of opening its mouth and swallowing the rebels—Dathan, Abiram, their families, dwellings, and possessions—was a miraculous sign. It definitively demonstrated that their rebellion was not merely against Moses, but directly against the Living God who empowered him. The complete consumption, including homes and wealth, symbolized an utter severance from the covenant community and an eradication of their very memory among the living, emphasizing the high cost of challenging God’s order and the purity demanded by His holiness. This act served as a fearsome warning for all future generations in Israel about the severity of rebelling against divine authority and the dire consequences of despising God's appointed instruments. It also showcased God’s precision in judgment, distinguishing those consumed by the earth from those consumed by fire and even saving specific innocent individuals like Korah's sons. This moment solidified the fear of the Lord among the Israelites, reaffirming His unique covenant relationship and the legitimacy of the Tabernacle priesthood.