Numbers 16 37

Numbers 16:37 kjv

Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.

Numbers 16:37 nkjv

"Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, to pick up the censers out of the blaze, for they are holy, and scatter the fire some distance away.

Numbers 16:37 niv

"Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy?

Numbers 16:37 esv

"Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy.

Numbers 16:37 nlt

"Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to pull all the incense burners from the fire, for they are holy. Also tell him to scatter the burning coals.

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 37 Meaning

The Lord instructs Eleazar, Aaron’s son, to remove the bronze censers that were used by the rebellious company of Korah from the site of the consuming divine fire. The reason given is profound: despite being used in an act of rebellion and unauthorized worship, these censers became consecrated or "holy" simply by virtue of having been presented before the Lord. Therefore, they could not be used for common purposes. Eleazar is also commanded to scatter the coals within them far away, signifying their defiled nature and rejection. This divine command underscores the absolute sanctity of God and the profound impact of His presence, even upon objects associated with sin.

Numbers 16 37 Context

Numbers chapter 16 vividly records the rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron. Their challenge centered on questioning Moses’ leadership and Aaron’s divinely appointed priesthood, asserting that all in the congregation were holy and equally qualified. As a divine test, Moses instructed Korah's 250 followers, along with Korah himself, to bring their censers and offer incense before the Lord. Immediately following this audacious act of rebellion and prior to the Lord’s confirming response, fire from the Lord consumes the 250 men who were offering the incense (Num 16:35), and the earth opens up to swallow Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with their families (Num 16:32). Verse 37 immediately follows these devastating judgments, providing the specific divine instruction regarding the fate of the censers left behind. This command ensures the preservation of the sanctity of God's presence and serves as a powerful, permanent reminder of the grave consequences of unauthorized spiritual activity and rebellion against His established order.

Numbers 16 37 Word analysis

• Tell Eleazar:
  • "Tell" (דַּבֵּר - dābēr): An imperative verb, signaling a direct and authoritative divine command from God, communicated through Moses, to Eleazar.
  • "Eleazar" (אֶלְעָזָר - Elʿāzār): Meaning "God has helped." He is Aaron’s son, chosen to succeed him as high priest (Num 20:25-28). The command is given specifically to him, signifying his immediate responsibility in dealing with holy matters and preparing him for his future priestly duties.
• Aaron’s son:
  • "Aaron’s son" (בֶן־אַהֲרֹן - ben-ʾAharon): This explicitly highlights Eleazar’s lineage within the divinely chosen priestly family, counteracting the very essence of Korah's rebellion, which sought to challenge and overthrow the exclusive Aaronic priesthood. It validates Eleazar's authority to handle these sacred items.
• to pick up:
  • "to pick up" (הָרֵם - hārēm): An imperative, indicating to lift, remove, or set apart. This is not a casual gathering but an act of reverent removal, acknowledging the sanctity of the objects. It implies separation from the common, unholy surroundings of the burning judgment.
• the censers (מַחְתֹּת - maḥtōṯ):
  • "the censers": Firepans, typically made of copper or bronze, used for carrying coals and offering incense in ancient worship. These were specifically the 250 censers of Korah’s company, which had been presented before the Lord in their act of unauthorized worship. They become central to a visual lesson.
• out of the burning (הַשְּׂרֵפָה - hašśərēp̄â):
  • "out of the burning": Refers to the residue and ashes where the 250 rebellious men were consumed by fire from the Lord (Num 16:35). The censers are found amidst the horrifying evidence of divine judgment, emphasizing the stark reality of God's fiery holiness.
• for they are holy (קָדְשָׁו - qādəšāw):
  • "for they are holy": The pivotal phrase. "Holy" (קָדוֹשׁ - qāḏōš) means set apart, consecrated, distinct. Even though these censers were used in an illegitimate act by rebellious men, their proximity to and presentation before the supremely Holy God consecrated them. This is a profound theological statement: God’s holiness has a transformative power that affects even the instruments used in an attempted profanation, preventing their common re-use. This demonstrates that holiness is intrinsic to God and not merely dependent on human intention or righteousness.
• and scatter the coals (וְאֶת־הָאֵשׁ זְרֹה הָלְאָה):
  • "and scatter the coals": An imperative, instructing to spread or throw far away. This refers specifically to the ashes and embers inside the censers, which were part of the unauthorized fire.
  • "yonder" / "far away" (הָלְאָה - hāləʾâ): Denotes separation and removal from the tabernacle precincts. Unlike the censers, the coals from the unauthorized offering are to be completely discarded as defiled and rejected. This sharp distinction highlights that while the container (censer) acquired a holy status by presentation to God, the contents (coals) were inextricably tied to the defiling act and thus polluted.

Numbers 16 37 Bonus section

• The instruction in this verse sets the stage for the following verses (Num 16:38-40), where God commands that the recovered censers be hammered into plates and used to overlay the altar. This transformation serves as a visible, enduring "sign to the Israelites" (Num 16:38) against future challenges to the Aaronic priesthood and a memorial of God’s decisive judgment.
• The fact that God specifically identifies the censers as "holy" illustrates a profound principle in Old Testament theology: items brought near the holy presence of YHWH, whether legitimately or illegitimately, take on a sacred quality due to their contact with Him. This sacredness necessitates a unique form of handling, different from ordinary objects, to prevent further profanation of His name or presence.

Numbers 16 37 Commentary

Numbers 16:37 delivers a potent theological message immediately following the catastrophic judgment on Korah’s rebellion. It reveals the paradoxical nature of God's holiness: while human sin invites His wrath, His very presence, even in judgment, indelibly consecrates that which comes into contact with Him. The censers, instruments of audacious defiance, became "holy" not through the integrity of their bearers, but by being presented before the Lord. This signifies God's sovereign holiness that transcends human intentions, good or bad, and imparts a unique, irreversible sacredness to objects dedicated to Him. This mandate prevents their re-use for ordinary purposes, transforming them from tools of rebellion into permanent monuments to God's strict requirements for worship and the exclusivity of the Aaronic priesthood. The scattering of the coals emphasizes the definitive rejection of the unauthorized offering itself, making a critical distinction between the vessel and its contaminated contents, serving as a chilling reminder of divine wrath and meticulous discernment.