Numbers 16 34

Numbers 16:34 kjv

And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

Numbers 16:34 nkjv

Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up also!"

Numbers 16:34 niv

At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, "The earth is going to swallow us too!"

Numbers 16:34 esv

And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up!"

Numbers 16:34 nlt

All the people around them fled when they heard their screams. "The earth will swallow us, too!" they cried.

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 34 Meaning

Numbers 16:34 describes the terrified reaction of the surrounding Israelites as they witnessed God's judgment unfold against Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who were swallowed alive by the earth. Their immediate, instinctive response was to flee, driven by the profound fear that they might suffer the same divine retribution. The verse highlights the overwhelming terror that accompanied this unprecedented display of God's holy wrath against rebellion.

Numbers 16 34 Context

Numbers chapter 16 recounts the brazen rebellion of Korah, a Levite, and Dathan and Abiram, Rubenites, who challenged the divinely established leadership of Moses and the unique priesthood of Aaron. They accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the congregation, asserting that "all the congregation are holy." In response, Moses called upon God to demonstrate who He had chosen. God's response was a swift and extraordinary act of judgment: the earth miraculously opened and swallowed the principal rebels, their families, and all their possessions. This unparalleled event confirmed Moses's authority and validated the Aaronic priesthood, setting a terrifying precedent for those who would defy God's ordained order. Verse 34 describes the immediate reaction of the remaining Israelite congregation to this horrifying spectacle.

Numbers 16 34 Word analysis

• And all Israel: This refers to the larger assembly, excluding those directly swallowed. It emphasizes that a broad audience witnessed this profound judgment, solidifying its impact as a warning to the entire nation.

• that were round about them: (Hebrew: saviyv, סָבִיב). This signifies close proximity and direct observation. They were not distant onlookers but intimately near the site of divine judgment, experiencing the full horror of the event visually and aurally.

• fled: (Hebrew: yānušu, יָנוּסוּ). This verb conveys an immediate, panicked, and unthinking flight, indicative of deep terror. It signifies an instinctive response to perceived imminent danger.

• at the cry of them: This likely refers to the agonizing screams of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their families as they were swallowed, or potentially the loud rending of the earth. The sound directly amplified the horror and immediacy of the judgment, prompting swift escape.

• for they said: This indicates the rationalization or internal motivation behind their panicked flight, making explicit the cause-and-effect of the judgment and their reaction.

• Lest: An expression of apprehension or fear concerning a potential undesirable outcome. Here, it denotes their extreme caution and dread.

• the earth swallow us up also: (Hebrew: bala', בָּלַע, to swallow, consume, engulf). This phrase directly describes the unique and terrifying nature of the judgment. The "us also" highlights their recognition that this judgment was not exclusive to the rebels but could extend to anyone else present who might be deemed deserving, implying their fear of guilt by association or shared rebellion.

• Words-group "fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.": This phrase captures the immediate, visceral impact of God's judgment. The cries of the perishing rebels (or the earth's sounds) instilled such overwhelming dread that the observing Israelites reacted with panicked flight. Their stated reason—fear of sharing the same horrific fate—underscores the judgment's severity and its immediate, tangible warning effect. This instantaneous fear of perishing similarly speaks to human instinct for self-preservation in the face of manifest divine wrath.

Numbers 16 34 Bonus section

• This particular judgment, being the earth opening up, is cited throughout the Old Testament as a unique display of God's power against rebellion (Deut 11:6; Ps 106:17-18).
• The immediate, collective flight indicates the potent psychological impact of seeing divine justice executed with such physical devastation. It functioned as a clear warning sign.
• While this incident generated fear, it also highlighted a theme throughout Israel's wilderness journey: God's severe judgments often prompted temporary fear and compliance, but true, sustained obedience often proved elusive for the grumbling generation.
• The judgment distinguished between the "holy" as claimed by Korah and the "holy" as chosen and set apart by God (Aaron's priesthood).

Numbers 16 34 Commentary

Numbers 16:34 serves as a stark testament to the terrifying and effective nature of God's judgment. The scene of the earth literally consuming Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, accompanied by their desperate cries, was a spectacle of unparalleled horror designed to instil profound fear in the assembly. The surrounding Israelites fled not out of calculated strategy, but from overwhelming primal terror, convinced that the same fate could befall them. This reaction underscore's the gravity of defying divinely appointed authority and illustrates the swift and formidable consequences of rebellion against the Lord's chosen. The flight represents not necessarily a repentance, but an instinctual human reaction to divine power. It vividly demonstrates that God's holiness demands reverence, and those who provoke His wrath face dreadful, unescapable consequences, ultimately serving to separate the obedient from the disobedient and solidify Moses's authority in the eyes of the people.