Numbers 16:47 kjv
And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.
Numbers 16:47 nkjv
Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people.
Numbers 16:47 niv
So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them.
Numbers 16:47 esv
So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.
Numbers 16:47 nlt
Aaron did as Moses told him and ran out among the people. The plague had already begun to strike down the people, but Aaron burned the incense and purified the people.
Numbers 16 47 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 16:48 | So he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. | Aaron's role as mediator explicitly stated. |
| Num 16:41 | But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured... against Moses and against Aaron. | Direct context: The people's rebellion led to the plague. |
| Num 16:46 | And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer... and go quickly unto the congregation... for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. | Moses' specific command to Aaron and urgency. |
| Exo 30:7-8 | Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning... when he dresses the lamps. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it... a perpetual incense. | The daily practice of burning incense in the Tabernacle. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | Nadab and Abihu... offered strange fire before the LORD... and there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them. | Illustrates the severity of disobedience in priestly duties, contrast to Aaron's obedience. |
| Lev 16:12-13 | And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar... and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small... that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat. | Incense used on Day of Atonement for protection and propitiation. |
| Psa 106:30 | Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed. | Parallel priestly action by Phinehas to stop a plague through righteous zeal. |
| 2 Sam 24:16 | And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough... | A plague is stopped through divine intervention and intercession (David's repentance). |
| 1 Chr 21:26-27 | And David built there an altar unto the LORD... and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And called upon the LORD... And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof. | God's wrath averted through sacrifice and obedience at the place of atonement. |
| Heb 7:25 | Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. | Christ as the permanent High Priest making perpetual intercession. |
| Heb 9:24 | For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands... but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. | Christ's heavenly intercession contrasted with earthly tabernacle rituals. |
| Heb 10:1-4 | For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. | Old Testament sacrifices and priestly acts as foreshadowing, not ultimate salvation. |
| Heb 10:10 | By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. | Christ's one-time sacrifice fulfills all needs for atonement. |
| Rom 5:10 | For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son... | Atonement and reconciliation through Christ. |
| Rom 8:34 | Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. | Christ's current intercessory role. |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; | Christ as the sole Mediator, fulfilling Aaron's symbolic role perfectly. |
| 1 Jn 2:1-2 | My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins... | Christ as Advocate and Propitiation for sin. |
| Rev 8:3-4 | And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. | Incense symbolizing prayers, reflecting its spiritual significance. |
| Gal 3:19 | Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. | Moses acted as a mediator between God and Israel, foreshadowing Christ. |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. | Christ as the ultimate access point to God, superseding human mediators. |
Numbers 16 verses
Numbers 16 47 Meaning
Numbers 16:47 describes Aaron's immediate, obedient, and decisive action to intercede for the Israelite congregation during a divinely sent plague. At Moses' command, Aaron quickly took a censer with incense, placing himself between the living and the dead to halt the spreading judgment and make atonement for the people. This act effectively stopped the plague.
Numbers 16 47 Context
Numbers chapter 16 details a severe rebellion against the divinely appointed leadership of Moses and Aaron, initiated by Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 princes. Their challenge to Moses and Aaron's authority was seen as a direct challenge to God's own authority. As a consequence, God executes swift and dramatic judgment, first by causing the earth to swallow Korah's group and consuming the 250 with fire. Immediately following this, the entire congregation of Israel murmurs against Moses and Aaron, blaming them for the deaths. In response, God sends a devastating plague upon the people. Numbers 16:47 is the pivotal moment where, upon Moses' instruction, Aaron bravely intervenes by making atonement with incense, standing between the dead and the living to stop the divine wrath and prevent the complete annihilation of the people. This act demonstrates the essential role of the priesthood in mediating between a holy God and sinful humanity, particularly in times of divine judgment.
Numbers 16 47 Word analysis
And Aaron took it as Moses commanded:
- "Aaron": (אֲהַרֹן - Aharon). The high priest, demonstrating obedience and fulfilling his covenantal duty. This emphasizes the hierarchical structure and the importance of following divinely established authority. His actions here uphold his priesthood, contrasting with the rebels' defiance.
- "took it": (וַיִּקַּח – vayyiqqaḥ from לָקַח – laqach, to take, seize). Implies decisive and swift action in obedience to Moses' instruction. The object "it" refers to the censer, fire from the altar, and incense from the previous verse.
- "as Moses commanded": Underlines Aaron's absolute and immediate obedience to divine instruction given through Moses. This contrasts sharply with the widespread rebellion just witnessed and underscores the principle of delegated authority. It highlights the effectiveness of God's prescribed means of atonement.
and ran into the midst of the congregation:
- "ran": (וַיָּרָץ – vayyaraṭs from רוּץ – ruts, to run quickly). Denotes extreme urgency and a courageous, self-sacrificial spirit. The plague was spreading rapidly, necessitating immediate intervention.
- "into the midst of the congregation": (תּוֹךְ – tokh, midst, middle). Aaron's physical placement at the interface between the stricken and the yet unstricken parts of the assembly. This powerfully visualizes his mediatorial role: he literally places himself between God's judgment and the people, and between life and death.
and, behold, the plague was begun among the people:
- "behold": (וְהִנֵּה – vəhinneh). An interjection drawing attention to a sudden, dramatic, and significant event. It emphasizes the immediacy and visibility of God's judgment.
- "the plague": (הַמַּגֵּפָה – hammaggēphāh from מַגֵּפָה – maggēphah, blow, slaughter, plague). This refers to a direct, supernatural judgment from God, distinguishing it from natural illness. It signifies God's holiness and zero tolerance for rebellion against His appointed ones.
- "was begun": (נֶגְפָה – negphāh from נָגַף – nagaph, to strike, smite, plague). Indicates that the judgment was not merely threatened but actively manifesting and spreading.
and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people:
- "put on incense": (וַיִּתֵּן קְטֹרֶת – vayyitten qeṭōreth, literally, "and he gave incense," from נָתַן – nathan, to give, put; and קְטֹרֶת – qeṭōreth, incense, fumigation). The prescribed incense, made of specific holy ingredients (Exo 30:34-38), was not merely aromatic smoke but symbolized prayer ascending to God (Psa 141:2, Rev 8:3-4) and served as a means of propitiation, covering or appeasing divine wrath. It required fire from the altar, linking it to sacrifice and holiness.
- "made an atonement": (וַיְכַפֵּר – vayĕkhapper from כָּפַר – kaphar, to cover, pacify, make atonement, cleanse). This is the pivotal priestly action. The incense served as the means by which atonement was made. Here, "atonement" implies averting or covering the divine wrath and the resultant judgment (the plague) rather than the removal of the sin that provoked it, although it provided a temporal stay of the judgment the sin invited. It highlights the efficacy of God's appointed rituals when performed in obedience.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran": This sequence underscores prompt, unhesitating, and complete obedience to divine instruction, paramount in spiritual leadership, especially in crisis. It shows personal courage motivated by faith.
- "into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun": This highlights the acute danger and Aaron's daring action. He places himself in direct proximity to the spreading divine judgment, embodying the mediator's position. "Behold" accentuates the palpable threat.
- "he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people": This phrase encapsulates the core priestly function: applying divinely prescribed means (incense from the altar's fire) to achieve reconciliation or avert wrath on behalf of the people. This act of "covering" wrath points towards the ultimate atonement through Christ.
Numbers 16 47 Bonus section
The speed of Aaron's reaction in running, often highlighted by commentators, implies a desperate awareness of the immediate threat of God's consuming judgment. It’s not a leisurely walk but a full sprint into the danger zone, demonstrating compassion mixed with courage and a clear understanding of his sacred duty. The "censer" was an instrument typically used for sacred fire and incense in Tabernacle service. Taking it "from the LORD" (Num 16:46) signifies that the means of stopping the plague was itself sacred and divinely appointed, not a human invention. This event firmly re-established Aaron's priesthood and his house's covenant, even amidst the ongoing murmuring and challenge. It proved that access to God, especially in judgment, was strictly through His ordained channels. This specific plague-stopping intervention by Aaron through incense stands as a type of intercessory action, much like Phinehas' zealous act (Num 25:6-13), both illustrating the power of obedience and righteous mediation to turn away divine wrath.
Numbers 16 47 Commentary
Numbers 16:47 depicts a profoundly impactful moment showcasing the vital role of mediation in the face of divine judgment. Aaron, the high priest, responds with incredible speed and courage to Moses' command. His "running into the midst" vividly illustrates the priest's essential function: to stand between God's consuming wrath and a sinful humanity. The "incense," divinely ordained and often symbolic of acceptable prayer, here serves as an immediate means of propitiation. Its power comes not from its intrinsic properties but from God's command to use it in this context. Aaron's act of making "atonement" (covering) instantly halted the spreading plague, revealing God's mercy alongside His fierce holiness. This episode underscores that salvation from judgment, both then and now, flows from a divinely provided intermediary who perfectly intercedes. While Aaron's act offered a temporary reprieve for a physical plague, it foreshadows the perfect and ultimate intercession and propitiatory work of Jesus Christ, who through His perfect sacrifice and High Priestly ministry, forever stands between God's just wrath and repentant believers, securing their spiritual life.