Numbers 17 13

Numbers 17:13 kjv

Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

Numbers 17:13 nkjv

Whoever even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD must die. Shall we all utterly die?"

Numbers 17:13 niv

Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to die?"

Numbers 17:13 esv

Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, shall die. Are we all to perish?"

Numbers 17:13 nlt

Everyone who even comes close to the Tabernacle of the LORD dies. Are we all doomed to die?"

Numbers 17 verses

Numbers 17 13 Meaning

Numbers 17:13 emphatically declares that any unauthorized individual approaching the sacred Tabernacle of the LORD would face death. This statement encapsulates the terror and awe of the Israelites, reflecting their realization of the extreme holiness of God's dwelling place and the absolute necessity of respecting divine protocols regarding access. It reinforces the exclusive role of the Levitical priesthood, specifically the Aaronic line, in mediating between God and the people. The verse is a stark warning, stressing the deadly consequences of disregarding the established boundaries set by God, especially after the recent rebellion of Korah.

Numbers 17 13 Context

Numbers 17:13 is the concluding verse of a pivotal chapter demonstrating God's confirmation of the Aaronic priesthood. Immediately prior, the chapter details the blossoming of Aaron's staff, miraculously validating his family's exclusive right to priestly service after the extensive challenge and devastating judgment upon Korah's rebellion (Num 16). God commanded that Aaron's staff, bearing almonds, be placed permanently before the ark as a warning to potential rebels. The verse directly reflects the people's horrified reaction to this divine confirmation and the earlier judgments. They finally grasped the profound seriousness of God's holiness and the specific, severe boundaries He had set around His sacred dwelling. This realization marks a shift from their continuous murmurings and rebellions to a terrified acknowledgment of divine authority, particularly concerning proximity to the holy things of God.

Numbers 17 13 Word analysis

• וְכֹל (wəḵōl): "And anyone" / "And whoever"
  • וְ (wə): The conjunctive "and," connecting this statement to the preceding confirmation of Aaron's priesthood, implying a direct consequence or summary of the preceding divine actions and human reactions.
  • כֹל (ḵōl): Means "all," "every," "anyone." Its use here makes the prohibition absolute and universal to all except those divinely appointed.
• הַקָּרֵב (haqqārēḇ) הַקָּרֵב (haqqārēḇ): "who comes near, who comes near" / "the one drawing near, the one drawing near"
  • הַקָּרֵב (haqqārēḇ): A participial form of the verb qarab (קרב), meaning "to draw near," "to approach." It signifies an intentional act of moving closer. The use of the definite article ha- emphasizes "the one who is drawing near."
  • Repetition: The emphatic repetition of "haqqārēḇ haqqārēḇ" is a literary device in Hebrew. It heightens the urgency, seriousness, and certainty of the prohibition and its consequence. It conveys that any approach, no matter how slight, by any unauthorized person, is forbidden. This intensified warning reinforces the terrifying nature of the sacred boundary after the severe judgment on Korah, Nadab, and Abihu. It emphasizes that no casual or accidental approach will be excused.
• אֶל (ʾel): "to" / "towards"
  • A preposition indicating direction towards a specific location. It is precise: "to the Tabernacle," not merely "near the Tabernacle," but directly toward it as if attempting to enter or operate within its forbidden bounds.
• מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָה (miškan YHWH): "the tabernacle of the LORD" / "dwelling of Yahweh"
  • מִשְׁכַּן (miškan): "Dwelling place," "Tabernacle." This term points to the physical structure designed as God's mobile sanctuary where He condescended to dwell among His people. Its holiness is intrinsic because of God's presence.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The Tetragrammaton, the personal, covenantal name of God. This divine name underscores that the sanctity of the Tabernacle derives solely from the nature of the holy God who resides there, making violation of its boundaries a direct offense against Him. It is not just a building, but the residence of the Almighty, Yahweh.
• יָמוּת (yāmûṯ): "shall die" / "he shall die"
  • A simple, unadorned future tense verb meaning "he will die" or "he must die." It declares an absolute, inevitable, and immediate consequence for violating the divine decree. There is no possibility of pardon or mitigation for this specific offense. It is a divine sentence. This blunt declaration emphasizes God's absolute holiness and justice.

Numbers 17 13 Bonus section

The strong emotional reaction expressed in Numbers 17:13 is unique because it signals a momentary breaking through of Israel's persistent rebellious spirit. After numerous episodes of murmuring against God and Moses, and even directly challenging divine authority, this verse shows genuine terror and acknowledgment of divine power. It indicates that the physical manifestations of God's judgment (the ground swallowing Korah and his followers, fire consuming others, and the plague) finally ingrained a fearful reverence in the community, albeit for a time. This fear of death related to divine boundaries was a foundational teaching moment about the absolute distinction between the holy and the common, preparing the nation for proper worship and conduct.

Numbers 17 13 Commentary

Numbers 17:13 serves as a chilling summary of the lessons God powerfully delivered through the Korah rebellion and Aaron's blossoming staff. It expresses the culmination of Israel's fear and awe, born from witnessing God's judicial wrath against unauthorized sacred service. The repeated phrase "who comes near, who comes near" is crucial; it stresses the extreme peril of even an ill-considered step across the sacred boundary by those not specifically called. This was not a physical perimeter but a spiritual boundary, representing access to God's immediate, terrifying holiness. The people finally understood that death was the direct, inevitable consequence of trespassing these divine ordinances.

This verse emphasizes several theological points: the absolute holiness of God, the meticulous nature of His prescribed worship, the clear delineation of roles in the Old Covenant, and the dire consequences of presumptuousness in approaching the divine. It undergirds the entire sacrificial system, where authorized priests alone could bridge the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. Without a divinely appointed mediator, access was lethal.

In the New Testament, the shadow of this severe restriction gives way to the glorious reality of Christ's perfect mediation. Jesus, our ultimate High Priest (Heb 4:14-16, 7:23-25, 9:11-14), through His sacrifice on the cross, has torn the veil (Matt 27:51), providing "confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus" (Heb 10:19). What once brought death to unauthorized access now brings life and bold access through faith in Him. The terrifying restriction of Numbers 17:13 powerfully highlights the immense privilege Christians now have through Christ, turning potential death into confident communion with God.