Numbers 16 4

Numbers 16:4 kjv

And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

Numbers 16:4 nkjv

So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face;

Numbers 16:4 niv

When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.

Numbers 16:4 esv

When Moses heard it, he fell on his face,

Numbers 16:4 nlt

When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground.

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 4 Meaning

Numbers 16:4 describes Moses' immediate and characteristic reaction upon hearing the rebellious words of Korah and his company. Rather than responding defensively or with anger to the challenge against his God-given leadership, Moses prostrated himself on the ground. This action signifies profound humility, deep distress, earnest intercession, and complete submission to God's will and authority in the face of widespread insubordination against divine order. It was a plea for God to intervene and demonstrate His sovereignty.

Numbers 16 4 Context

Numbers chapter 16 recounts the severe rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Korah, a Levite, resented his priestly restrictions and coveted the priesthood, while Dathan and Abiram, Reubenites, rejected Moses' authority outright. They challenged Moses and Aaron, claiming, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all 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?" (Num 16:3). This challenge was not merely against human leaders but fundamentally against God's established order for His people and the authority He had explicitly granted. Moses' immediate reaction in verse 4, falling on his face, sets the stage for God's divine vindication of His appointed leaders and the subsequent catastrophic judgment on the rebels. Historically, this incident underscored the sacredness of God's appointed leadership roles and the severe consequences of challenging divine authority during Israel's wilderness journey.

Numbers 16 4 Word analysis

• And when Moses heard it, (וַיִּשְׁמַע מֹשֶׁה – vayyishma Mosheh):

  • וַיִּשְׁמַע (vayyishma): A waw-consecutive imperfect verb meaning "and he heard" or "as he heard." This grammatical form emphasizes the immediate and sequential nature of Moses' action following the hearing of the rebellious words. It conveys prompt recognition of the severity of the situation.
  • מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh): Moses, the divinely appointed leader of Israel, whose authority was directly challenged. His identity is central as he is God's chosen intermediary and prophet. The rebellion directly targeted the Lord's chosen representative.
  • it (implied): Refers to the full accusation and challenge posed by Korah and his company in the preceding verse (Num 16:3), where they questioned Moses' and Aaron's elevated status and asserted the holiness of the entire congregation without distinction. Moses understood this not merely as a personal affront, but a challenge to God Himself.

• he fell upon his face: (וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָיו – vayyipol ʿal panaw):

  • וַיִּפֹּל (vayyipol): Another waw-consecutive imperfect verb, meaning "and he fell" or "he prostrated himself." This signifies an immediate, decisive, and complete physical action. It's a hallmark posture of humility, desperate prayer, intercession, submission, and often great distress or fear in the Bible. Moses frequently adopted this posture when facing significant challenges or when seeking God's intervention.
  • עַל (ʿal): A preposition meaning "upon" or "on."
  • פָּנָיו (panaw): Literally "his face" (plural form used idiomatically). Falling "upon his face" means a full prostration, lying prone with the face touching the ground. This is the deepest posture of humility and surrender, indicating total reliance on God and recognition of His absolute sovereignty. It's distinct from kneeling or bowing slightly; it’s a position of ultimate reverence and abandonment to divine will.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face": This phrase captures Moses' consistent and characteristic response to crises of rebellion or sin among the people. Instead of defending his authority or retaliating in human strength, he immediately turns to God in humility and prayer. This action is a profound theological statement: it acknowledges that true authority originates from God, not from human appointment or popular will, and that judgment and vindication ultimately belong to the Lord. Moses effectively takes the matter out of human hands and places it before the divine Judge, underscoring the spiritual nature of the rebellion against God's appointed order.

Numbers 16 4 Bonus section

Moses' frequent act of falling on his face, seen here and in numerous other instances throughout his ministry (e.g., after the golden calf, the spy report, and other water crises), solidifies this gesture as a signature move. This repetition emphasizes a deep spiritual discipline: when confronted with immense pressure or widespread sin, Moses did not engage in immediate debate or self-justification, nor did he display human anger initially. His immediate recourse was always to appeal directly to the Lord in a posture of complete surrender and profound respect, recognizing the gravity of offending a holy God. This demonstrates that true leadership in God's eyes is characterized not by asserting one's own power, but by constantly acknowledging and relying upon God's supreme authority and power. This characteristic response underscores his profound spiritual maturity and unique relationship with God, allowing God to be the ultimate arbiter and vindicator.

Numbers 16 4 Commentary

Numbers 16:4 vividly portrays Moses' default reaction to direct challenge against God's divine arrangements. This act of falling upon his face is not one of weakness or despair, but of profound strength rooted in absolute dependence on God. It communicates several crucial messages:First, humility and submission: Moses consistently modelled humility before God, despite being the leader chosen to speak with God "face to face" (Num 12:8). His prostration demonstrates that even he, God's servant, viewed himself as utterly dependent on the Most High, especially when faced with the severity of the people's rebellion.Second, intercession and spiritual warfare: Moses' posture was a prayer. He immediately cast the burden of the rebellion, which was fundamentally against God, onto the Lord. He recognized that this was not a dispute he could resolve by his own authority or rhetoric. By falling on his face, he was, in essence, handing the entire conflict over to God for divine intervention and resolution, appealing for God's wisdom, judgment, and perhaps mercy.Third, a contrast to human pride: His act sharply contrasts with the arrogance and self-assertion of Korah and his company, who exalted themselves and despised God's chosen leadership. Moses, despite being God's chosen leader, never acted with presumption; rather, he constantly sought God's will and power. This serves as an eternal example for leaders and all believers: when faced with adversity, especially spiritual opposition, the first recourse should always be humble dependence on God in prayer.