Numbers 16 41

Numbers 16:41 kjv

But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.

Numbers 16:41 nkjv

On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the LORD."

Numbers 16:41 niv

The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. "You have killed the LORD's people," they said.

Numbers 16:41 esv

But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the LORD."

Numbers 16:41 nlt

But the very next morning the whole community of Israel began muttering again against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You have killed the LORD's people!"

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 41 Meaning

Numbers 16:41 reveals the astonishing and deeply ingrained rebellion of the Israelite congregation. Immediately following the terrifying divine judgment that consumed Korah and his associates, and swallowed Dathan and Abiram, and incinerated 250 men offering unauthorized incense, the entire assembly unjustly accused Moses and Aaron. Their words, "You have killed the people of the LORD," were a defiant denial of God's direct intervention, a profound distortion of truth, and a blasphemous assault on His divinely appointed leaders. This verse tragically illustrates Israel's profound spiritual blindness and hardened hearts, unable or unwilling to discern divine justice from human fault.

Numbers 16 41 Context

Numbers chapter 16 details the severe rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron's leadership and God's chosen priesthood. This insurrection, supported by 250 prominent men, challenged Moses' authority and Aaron's divinely appointed role as High Priest, implying that "all the congregation are holy" and therefore Moses and Aaron had "lifted themselves above the assembly of the LORD" (Num 16:3). God's immediate and dramatic judgment swiftly consumed the rebels: the earth swallowed Dathan and Abiram and their households, and fire from the LORD consumed the 250 men offering unauthorized incense. This divine wrath demonstrated unequivocally that the challenge to Moses and Aaron was, in fact, a challenge to God Himself. Verse 41 occurs "on the next day," signifying an immediate and unrepentant response from the very congregation that had witnessed these terrifying demonstrations of God's holy wrath. Despite seeing indisputable proof of divine endorsement for Moses and Aaron, the people twisted the narrative, placing the blame for the deaths not on God's judgment of their sin, but on the very leaders He upheld. This highlights the deep spiritual malaise and stubbornness of the wilderness generation, whose pattern of rebellion and grumbling consistently led to divine chastisement and exclusion from the promised land.

Numbers 16 41 Word analysis

• But on the next day: Hebrew mi-maharat (מִֽמָּחֳרָ֖ת). This phrase signifies immediate timing, not allowing for time to process the magnitude of God's judgment. The swiftness of their reaction underscores the hardened nature of their hearts; there was no repentance, only a deepening of rebellion.
• all the congregation: Hebrew kol-hā‘ēḏâ (כׇּל־הָעֵדָ֖ה).
  • all: kol (כֹּל), meaning "the whole" or "entirety," emphasizes the unanimous nature of this fresh outburst of rebellion, signifying it was not just a few malcontents but the vast majority of the community.
  • congregation: 'edah (עֵדָה), a key term in Numbers and Exodus, typically refers to the divinely established assembly of Israel, often meeting for sacred purposes or judgment. The term itself points to a gathered body, usually functioning as a unity. The use of 'all' before 'congregation' is striking; it represents a unified, widespread defection. This was not a private murmur but a public, collective accusation, demonstrating corporate spiritual blindness.
• of the people of Israel: Clearly identifies the rebellious group, linking them directly to the covenant people.
• grumbled: Hebrew wayyillonu (וַיִּלֹּ֧ונוּ). Derived from the root luwn (לון), meaning to murmur, complain, show discontent, lodge an objection. This word is consistently used throughout Exodus and Numbers to describe Israel's recurring sin against God or His appointed leaders. It signifies a deep dissatisfaction that often escalates into open rebellion, questioning divine providence and authority. Their grumbling here is particularly egregious because it comes immediately after seeing God's fearful judgment, revealing a profound lack of fear and repentance.
• against Moses and Aaron: These were God's divinely appointed leaders and mediators. Grumbling against them was consistently depicted in Scripture as grumbling against God Himself (Exod 16:8). This shows a direct challenge to the authority and anointing established by the Lord.
• saying: Introduces their direct accusation, highlighting their outspoken and unrepentant defiance.
• "You have killed the people of the LORD.":
  • You have killed: Hebrew attem hemittem (אַתֶּם־הֲמִתֶּ֖ם). A direct and severe accusation. They held Moses and Aaron personally responsible for the deaths, entirely absolving the victims of their sin and implicitly absolving God of His righteous judgment. This is a complete distortion of reality; Moses and Aaron had pleaded for the people, and it was God who had judged.
  • the people of the LORD: Hebrew ʿam-YHWH (עַם־יְהוָֽה). They identified the victims as "the LORD's people," trying to leverage this term to highlight the apparent injustice of their deaths, suggesting that God would not have permitted His own people to be killed in such a way. This shows a twisted theology—claiming association with God while denying His righteous character and His authority over their rebellion. They failed to grasp that belonging to the Lord's people did not grant immunity from judgment for severe sin.

Numbers 16 41 Bonus section

This verse stands as a powerful example of an immediate, unreasoned, and rebellious human reaction to divine judgment. The people had just witnessed God’s fiery wrath and the earth swallowing up the tents of the wicked, yet they lacked fear. Their quick reversal of blame, accusing Moses and Aaron of murder rather than acknowledging God's justice upon rebellion, indicates a complete rejection of divine truth and a desperate attempt to justify their own rebellious spirit. This is a profound polemic against those who deny God's sovereignty and righteousness, choosing instead to scapegoat His faithful servants or even God Himself for the consequences of their own sin. This incident is frequently cited by scholars to underscore the dangers of collective delusion and the spiritual risks of associating with rebellion. The swiftness of their complaint led immediately to a fresh plague, demonstrating God's unyielding response to such persistent and unrepentant defiance.

Numbers 16 41 Commentary

Numbers 16:41 is a chilling testament to the persistent hardness of the human heart, particularly within the wilderness generation of Israel. Following a series of God's most terrifying judgments, where His direct intervention was undeniable, the immediate response of the congregation was not repentance or fear, but an escalation of defiance. Their accusation, "You have killed the people of the LORD," was an extreme form of spiritual denial, attempting to transfer divine agency and moral culpability from God (and the rebels themselves) to His faithful servants. This indicates a profound spiritual blindness, an inability to connect cause (sin and rebellion against God) with effect (divine judgment). It exemplifies what theologians term "hardening of the heart"—a state where even overwhelming evidence of God's power and justice fails to lead to humility and obedience. This act of collective blasphemy against God's appointed leadership reveals how deeply rebellion had taken root, preparing the way for further divine chastisement and illustrating the stark consequences of unchecked unbelief.