Numbers 16 45

Numbers 16:45 kjv

Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

Numbers 16:45 nkjv

"Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces.

Numbers 16:45 niv

"Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." And they fell facedown.

Numbers 16:45 esv

"Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces.

Numbers 16:45 nlt

"Get away from all these people so that I can instantly destroy them!" But Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground.

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 45 Meaning

Numbers 16:45 describes God's urgent command to Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the rebellious assembly of Israel. This command came as a direct prelude to divine judgment, signifying God's intent to instantly and completely destroy those who had challenged His authority and rejected His chosen leaders. Moses and Aaron's immediate response of prostration underscores their humility, their fear of God's wrath, and their desperate posture of intercession on behalf of the people.

Numbers 16 45 Context

Numbers chapter 16 details the intense rebellion led by Korah, a Levite, along with Dathan, Abiram, and On, descendants of Reuben, and 250 prominent men of the assembly. Their defiance was twofold: Korah challenged Aaron’s priesthood and the exclusivity of the Levites' service, asserting that all the congregation were holy and had a right to approach God. Dathan and Abiram refused to acknowledge Moses' leadership and rejected his authority, even refusing to come when summoned. This was not merely a personal affront but a direct challenge to God's appointed order and divine authority. The assembly's swift siding with the rebels and their grumbling against Moses and Aaron made them complicit in the sin. The specific setting for verse 45 is after the initial judgment on Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (the earth opening to swallow them) and the 250 men (consumed by fire from the Lord), but while the congregation continues to murmur against Moses and Aaron for the deaths, mistakenly accusing them of causing the destruction. God's response to this continued defiance is a renewed intent to unleash a plague, necessitating Moses and Aaron's immediate intercession to avert wholesale destruction.

Numbers 16 45 Word analysis

• "Get" (קוּמָה - qumah): An imperative verb meaning "rise," "stand up," or "get up." In this context, it signifies an urgent, immediate command for action. It conveys God's swift resolve for judgment.

• "away" (מִתּוֹךְ - mittoch): "From the midst of," "from among." This preposition highlights the necessity of physical and spiritual separation from the defiled group. It indicates God's desire to protect His faithful servants from the coming judgment.

• "from this assembly" (הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת - ha'edah hazo'th): "The congregation, this one." "Assembly" (edah) typically refers to the lawful, holy congregation of Israel, God's chosen people. However, here it has become an assembly in rebellion against God's appointed leadership, thus corrupted and ripe for judgment. The demonstrative "this one" specifies the particular, now unholy, assembly directly involved in the grumbling.

• "that I may consume" (כַלֶּה - khalleh; from כלה kalah): "Finish," "complete," "destroy entirely," "bring to an end." This is a strong verb indicating absolute, decisive, and final destruction, signifying God's intent to completely eradicate the rebellious elements.

• "them" (אוֹתָם - otam): Refers directly to the assembly, or rather, the culpable portion of it that was actively rebelling and murmuring against Moses and Aaron.

• "in a moment" (כְרֶגַע - ke-rega): "As in an instant," "in a twinkle of an eye," "suddenly." This adverbial phrase emphasizes the immediacy and rapidity of the impending divine judgment. It conveys that there will be no warning or prolonged suffering, just instantaneous eradication.

• "And they fell" (וַיִּפְּלוּ - vayyiplu; from נפל naphal): "They fell," "they prostrated themselves." This verb describes Moses and Aaron's immediate physical action. Their fall to the ground is an act of deep humility, worship, and fervent intercession, showing submission to God's will and desperate pleading.

• "upon their faces" (עַל פְּנֵיהֶם - al p'neihem): A common posture in the Bible signifying extreme reverence, abject humility, and urgent prayer or intercession before a deity. It often accompanies an encounter with the terrifying holiness of God or a moment of great crisis where human inadequacy is profoundly felt.

• "Get away from this assembly, that I may consume them in a moment.": This entire phrase encapsulates God's severe and urgent command for separation and divine judgment. It demonstrates God's immediate response to prolonged, severe rebellion within His camp, where His patience has been exhausted. It signifies a distinction between those who serve Him faithfully (Moses and Aaron) and those who defy Him.

• "And they fell upon their faces.": This reaction from Moses and Aaron is pivotal. It highlights their role as intercessors. Their immediate prostration is a desperate plea for God's mercy, a humble acknowledgement of His justice, and an act that likely gave them the spiritual authority to mediate on behalf of the people. This act reveals their selfless devotion to God and their compassion for even the rebellious people.

Numbers 16 45 Bonus section

The rapid succession of judgment (earth opening, fire consuming, plague starting "in a moment") demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty and control over life and death. The act of "falling on their faces" by Moses and Aaron in such moments of intense divine wrath is a recurring pattern for leaders in the Bible, reflecting their utter reliance on God's mercy when confronted with His awesome power (e.g., Abraham, Gen 17:3; Joshua, Josh 5:14; Ezekiel, Eze 1:28). This specific posture and immediate action bought time and allowed for the ritualistic, prescribed means of atonement to be deployed by Aaron (Num 16:46-48), saving thousands more lives. The incident serves as a strong polemic against any attempt to usurp the Divinely instituted Aaronic priesthood and implicitly warns against despising or rejecting God's chosen vessels for leadership, whether in ancient Israel or in the New Covenant church. The incident powerfully teaches that grace (God's patience, and the effectiveness of intercession and atonement) is profound but never cancels the reality of divine justice.

Numbers 16 45 Commentary

Numbers 16:45 presents a profound snapshot of God's character and the dynamics of His covenant relationship with Israel. It reveals His unwavering holiness and His intolerance for direct rebellion against His appointed authority, which is viewed as rebellion against Him personally. The severity of "consume them in a moment" underscores the danger of challenging divine order, particularly after previous warnings and judgments. The phrase also showcases the terrifying speed of God's justice when His patience reaches its limit, emphasizing that His wrath is not slow in coming once justly provoked. Crucially, the verse immediately follows with Moses and Aaron's prostration, highlighting their indispensable role as mediators. Their spontaneous act of falling on their faces signifies not only reverence and submission to a holy God but also desperate, compassionate intercession for a people who do not deserve it. This moment is a critical intercession point, leading to Aaron's swift action with the incense to atone and halt the spreading plague. It demonstrates the balance between God's imminent judgment and the power of intercessory prayer and atoning sacrifice to mitigate His wrath. It stands as a timeless lesson on the consequences of defying God's ordained leadership and the salvific power of humility and intercession.