Numbers 16 49

Numbers 16:49 kjv

Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

Numbers 16:49 nkjv

Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident.

Numbers 16:49 niv

But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.

Numbers 16:49 esv

Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died in the affair of Korah.

Numbers 16:49 nlt

But 14,700 people died in that plague, in addition to those who had died in the affair involving Korah.

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 49 Meaning

Numbers 16:49 precisely records the severe cost of Israel's grumbling against Moses and Aaron, stating that fourteen thousand seven hundred individuals perished by a divine plague. This immense toll is specified as being in addition to those who had already died in the direct judgments immediately following Korah's initial rebellion. The verse concludes a dramatic narrative of rebellion and immediate divine consequence, highlighting the severe wrath that erupted against the congregation's persistent unbelief and defiance after witnessing God's powerful acts of judgment.

Numbers 16 49 Context

Numbers chapter 16 unfolds a major challenge to God's established authority within Israel, beginning with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram leading a rebellion against Moses' leadership and Aaron's divinely appointed priesthood. They accused Moses and Aaron of overreaching their authority, claiming that all Israelites were equally holy and chosen by God. God swiftly intervened, demonstrating His clear demarcation of authority: the earth supernaturally swallowed Dathan, Abiram, and their households, and fire consumed the 250 rebel leaders offering unauthorized incense. However, the very next day, the entire congregation defiantly grumbled against Moses and Aaron, accusing them: "You have killed the people of the LORD." This immediate and stubborn act of blaming God's chosen servants for God's judgment directly provoked a new wave of divine wrath in the form of a devastating plague. Moses, seeing the plague begin, immediately instructed Aaron to intercede with incense at the altar. Aaron bravely rushed into the midst of the dying, standing between the dead and the living, and the plague ceased. Numbers 16:49 specifies the final tally of this particular divine plague, emphasizing the staggering death count distinct from the earlier deaths of Korah's immediate faction. It underscores the severity of collective grumbling and the critical role of divine intervention through intercession.

Numbers 16 49 Word analysis

• Now (וַיִּהְיוּ - wa-yihyu): This introductory connective, often translated "and" or "now," smoothly links this verse to the preceding narrative, signaling a continuation of the judgment and its final outcome. It emphasizes the immediacy and direct causality between the people's renewed grumbling and the ensuing deaths.

• those who died (הַמֵּתִים - ham-mēṯîm): Derived from the root מות (mut), "to die." It simply refers to individuals who succumbed to death. In this specific context, the deaths are directly attributed to a divinely sent "plague," distinguishing them from other forms of natural or incidental death.

• in the plague (בַּמַּגֵּפָה - ba-maggēpāh): "In" (בְּ - be) denotes the instrument or cause. "Plague" (מַגֵּפָה - maggēpāh) is a significant term for a swift, widespread, and supernaturally inflicted calamity or pestilence, explicitly demonstrating divine judgment. It emphasizes the direct hand of God in bringing about these deaths.

• were fourteen thousand seven hundred (אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר אֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת - ’ar-bā‘āh ‘āśār ’elep̄ ū-šəḇa‘ mē’ōṯ): This precise, large numerical count signifies the vast scale and devastating impact of the judgment. The exactness of the number highlights God's meticulous record-keeping and the measurable, severe consequences of corporate sin and rebellion.

• besides (לְבַד - lə-ḇaḏ): This crucial pre-position means "apart from," "separately," or "in addition to." It serves to explicitly differentiate the fourteen thousand seven hundred deaths from the previous casualties (those swallowed by the earth and consumed by fire), indicating a distinct, yet related, wave of divine wrath.

• those who died (אֲשֶׁר־מֵתוּ - ’ăšer-mētû): A reiteration of "those who died," specifically preceding the distinction. This repetition highlights that all these deaths, though from different manifestations of judgment, are part of the broader consequence of the overall rebellion.

• in the matter of Korah (עַל־דְּבַר־קֹרַח - ‘al-dəḇar-Qōraḥ): "Concerning the word/affair/reason/event of Korah." This phrase attributes the previous deaths directly to Korah's instigation and his rebellion against God's appointed order and priesthood. It underscores the core sin that precipitated the entire series of judgments.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred": This segment announces the terrible outcome of the second phase of God's judgment against Israel. It specifically points to the deaths caused by the sudden, sweeping plague that erupted after the congregation blamed Moses and Aaron. The precise figure underscores the magnitude and undeniable reality of divine retribution for their renewed defiance.
  • "besides those who died in the matter of Korah": This critically separates the casualties, distinguishing between those directly killed in the initial stages of Korah's rebellion (swallowed by the earth or consumed by fire) and the victims of the subsequent plague. It clarifies that the total number of deaths stemming from the rebellion and its immediate aftermath was even higher than 14,700, underscoring the compounding severity of God's wrath when defiance and grumbling persist even after divine intervention. The "matter of Korah" broadly encompasses the entire insurrection against God's ordained leadership and sacred priesthood.

Numbers 16 49 Bonus section

The Hebrew word maggēpāh (plague) specifically carries the nuance of a divine "blow" or "stroke," indicating God's direct, purposeful infliction of disease or death. This term is consistently used in scripture for supernatural visitations of judgment, emphasizing that these deaths were not a natural calamity but a direct punitive act from the Almighty. The narrative's careful accounting of these two distinct sets of deaths—those initially swallowed or consumed by fire, and then the thousands by plague—serves a significant pedagogical purpose for the Israelites. It solidified the understanding of God's righteous character, demonstrating that He judges not only overt rebellion but also the persistent sin of a rebellious, unbelieving heart and a complaining tongue, even when the complainers had just witnessed divine judgment. This incident, often referenced in later scriptures, provided a powerful, living illustration of God's intolerance for any challenge to His sovereign order, preparing Israel for the reverence due to the covenant and its divine administrators. It profoundly emphasizes that a corporate attitude of grievance can provoke as severe a divine reaction as direct, upfront defiance, cementing the importance of spiritual obedience and genuine faith.

Numbers 16 49 Commentary

Numbers 16:49 provides the devastating statistical conclusion to a momentous account of divine wrath. It is a stark declaration of God's unyielding holiness and His resolute response to flagrant rebellion and persistent grumbling. The precisely recorded number, 14,700, dying by a direct "plague," is distinct from the thousands who perished earlier when the ground swallowed Dathan, Abiram, and their households, and fire consumed the 250 men. This separation underscores that the plague was a specific judgment for the congregation's renewed defiance and accusations against Moses and Aaron, immediately after witnessing the earlier, terrifying divine interventions. The incident serves as an eternal warning against questioning God's divine appointments, illustrating that such opposition is not merely against human leaders but directly against God Himself. Aaron's quick, courageous intercession, rushing with incense between the living and the dead, crucially halted this devastating plague. This pivotal act highlights the indispensable role of a divinely appointed mediator, foreshadowing the ultimate and perfect intercessory work of Jesus Christ, who stands between humanity and God's righteous wrath, offering perfect atonement and eternal salvation through His sacrifice.

Practical usage examples:

• The severe consequence of the Israelites' actions reminds us that persistent grumbling and blaming God's leaders can carry significant spiritual danger, even after witnessing divine correction.
• The contrast between widespread death and Aaron's intercession teaches the profound importance of intercessory prayer and seeking God's mercy in times of corporate sin.
• This passage underscores the necessity of respecting spiritual authority, recognizing that it is ultimately God-ordained.