Numbers 16:3 They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, "You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"

◄ Numbers 16:3 ►

New International Version
They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?”

New Living Translation
They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the LORD’s people?”

English Standard Version
They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

Berean Standard Bible
They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

King James Bible
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

New King James Version
They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

New American Standard Bible
They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough! For all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

NASB 1995
They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

NASB 1977
And they assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then they assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Yahweh is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of Yahweh?”

Amplified Bible
They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

Christian Standard Bible
They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have gone too far! Everyone in the entire community is holy, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the LORD’s assembly? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have gone too far! Everyone in the entire community is holy, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?”

American Standard Version
and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Jehovah is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of Jehovah?

Contemporary English Version
and Aaron and said, "Why do you think you're so much better than everyone else? We're part of the LORD's holy people, and he's with all of us. What makes you think you're the only ones in charge?"

English Revised Version
and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They came together to confront Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You've gone far enough! Everyone in the whole community is holy, and the LORD is among them. Why do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"

Good News Translation
They assembled before Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! All the members of the community belong to the LORD, and the LORD is with all of us. Why, then, Moses, do you set yourself above the LORD's community?"

International Standard Version
They gathered together against Moses and Aaron and told them, "You have appropriated too much for yourselves from the entire congregation, since all of them are holy, and the LORD is among them, too. Why do you exalt yourselves over the LORD's assembly?"

Majority Standard Bible
They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, ?You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD??

NET Bible
And they assembled against Moses and Aaron, saying to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, seeing that the whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the community of the LORD?"

New Heart English Bible
and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much on yourself, since all the congregation are holy, everyone of them, and the LORD is among them: why then lift yourselves up above the assembly of the LORD?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And they assembled themselves against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: why then do ye raise yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

World English Bible
They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much on yourself, since all the congregation are holy, everyone of them, and Yahweh is among them! Why do you lift yourselves up above Yahweh’s assembly?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and they are assembled against Moses and against Aaron, and say to them, “Enough of you! For all the congregation—all of them [are] holy, and YHWH [is] in their midst; and why do you lift yourselves up above the assembly of YHWH?”

Young's Literal Translation
and they are assembled against Moses and against Aaron, and say unto them, 'Enough of you! for all the company -- all of them are holy, and in their midst is Jehovah; and wherefore do ye lift yourselves up above the assembly of Jehovah?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will gather together against Moses, and against Aaron, and they will say to them, Much to you for all the assembly, all of them are holy, and Jehovah in the midst of them: and wherefore shall be lifted up over the gathering of Jehovah?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they had stood up against Moses and Aaron, they said: Let it be enough for you, that all the multitude consisteth of holy ones, and the Lord is among them: Why lift you up yourselves above the people of the Lord?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when they had stood against Moses and Aaron, they said: “Let it be sufficient for you that the entire multitude is of holy ones, and that the Lord is among them. Why do you elevate yourselves above the people of the Lord?”

New American Bible
Holding an assembly against Moses and Aaron, they said, “You go too far! The whole community, all of them, are holy; the LORD is in their midst. Why then should you set yourselves over the LORD’s assembly?”

New Revised Standard Version
They assembled against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone too far! All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. So why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, Is it not enough for you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them; wherefore then do you lift up yourselves above the whole congregation of the LORD?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they assembled with Moshe and with Ahron and they said to them: “Is it not enough for you that all of the assembly are holy ones and LORD JEHOVAH is among them, but you will be lifted up above all of the assembly of LORD JEHOVAH?”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them: 'Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them; wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They rose up against Moses and Aaron, and said, Let it be enough for you that all the congregation are holy, and the Lord is among them; and why do ye set up yourselves against the congregation of the Lord?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Korah's Rebellion
…2a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 men of Israel renowned as leaders of the congregation and representatives in the assembly. 3They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” 4When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 19:6
And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Revelation 1:6
who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

Deuteronomy 9:24
You have been rebelling against the LORD since the day I came to know you.

Jude 1:11
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

1 Samuel 8:7
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

1 Corinthians 10:10
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

Hebrews 3:16
For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?

Psalm 106:16-18
In the camp they envied Moses, as well as Aaron, the holy one of the LORD. / The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the assembly of Abiram. / Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked.

Matthew 23:2-3
“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. / So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”

Isaiah 30:9
These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction.

Acts 7:39
But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

Romans 13:2
Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Jeremiah 5:23
But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned aside and gone away.

Treasury of Scripture

And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, You take too much on you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: why then lift you up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

gathered

Numbers 16:11
For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

Numbers 12:1,2
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman…

Numbers 14:1-4
And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night…

ye take too much upon you.

Exodus 19:6
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Ezra 9:2
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

Isaiah 1:11-16
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats…

the Lord

Numbers 14:14
And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

Numbers 35:34
Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

Exodus 29:45,46
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God…

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Numbers 16

1. The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
23. Moses separates the people from the rebels' tents
31. The earth swallows up Korah, and a fire consumes others
36. The censers are reserved to holy use
41. 14,700 are slain by a plague, for murmuring against Moses and Aaron
46. Aaron by incense stays the plague

Berean Study Bible

They came together against Moses and Aaron
This phrase marks a significant moment of rebellion in the wilderness journey of the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "came together" is "קהל" (qahal), which means to assemble or gather. This assembly is not a peaceful congregation but a rebellious uprising. Historically, this reflects the frequent challenges to leadership that Moses and Aaron faced, highlighting the human tendency to resist divinely appointed authority. The phrase "against Moses and Aaron" underscores the direct challenge to God's chosen leaders, emphasizing the gravity of the rebellion.

and told them
The act of speaking against Moses and Aaron signifies a bold confrontation. The Hebrew verb "אמר" (amar) is used here, which means to say or declare. This is not a mere conversation but a declaration of dissent. In the context of ancient Israel, speaking against God's anointed leaders was tantamount to speaking against God Himself, reflecting a deep-seated discontent and lack of faith among the people.

You have taken too much upon yourselves
This accusation implies that Moses and Aaron have overstepped their bounds. The Hebrew phrase "רַב־לָכֶם" (rav-lakhem) suggests an overreach of authority. Historically, this reflects the tension between theocratic leadership and the people's desire for autonomy. Theologically, it challenges the divine order established by God, as Moses and Aaron were acting under His command.

for all the congregation is holy
Here, the rebels assert that the entire community is holy, not just Moses and Aaron. The Hebrew word for "holy" is "קָדוֹשׁ" (qadosh), meaning set apart or consecrated. This claim distorts the truth, as while the congregation is called to be holy, God had specifically set apart Moses and Aaron for leadership. This reflects a misunderstanding or deliberate twisting of God's covenantal promises and the unique roles within the community.

every one of them
This phrase emphasizes the inclusivity of the rebels' claim. The Hebrew "כֻּלָּם" (kullam) means all or every one. It suggests a democratic approach to holiness and leadership, which contradicts the divinely instituted hierarchy. This reflects a modern tendency to equate equality with uniformity, ignoring the distinct roles and responsibilities assigned by God.

and the LORD is among them
The rebels acknowledge God's presence but use it to justify their rebellion. The Hebrew "יְהוָה" (YHWH) is the sacred name of God, indicating His covenantal presence. While it is true that God dwells among His people, the rebels misuse this truth to undermine the authority He established. This reflects a common error of using theological truths to support personal agendas rather than submitting to God's revealed will.

Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?
This question challenges the perceived self-exaltation of Moses and Aaron. The Hebrew "תִּתְנַשְּׂאוּ" (titnasse'u) means to lift oneself up. Ironically, Moses is described in Scripture as the most humble man on earth (Numbers 12:3), indicating that this accusation is unfounded. The "assembly of the LORD" refers to the entire community of Israel, highlighting the rebels' misunderstanding of God's chosen leadership structure. This reflects a timeless struggle with pride and the rejection of divinely appointed authority, urging believers to recognize and respect God's order.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Ye take too much upon you . . . --Or, enough for you (comp. Gen. 14:28), i.e., you have held the priesthood and the government long enough; or, Let it be enough for you to be numbered amongst the holy people without usurping dominion over them. It is evident from the whole tenour of the address that Korah laid claim to a universal priesthood on behalf of the people, designing probably to secure the chief place in that priesthood for himself.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - They gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. They had risen up before Moses, i.e., made a tumult in his presence, because they regarded him (and rightly) as the actual ruler of Israel in religious as well as in secular matters. At the same time, the attack of Korah and his company (with whom alone the narrative is really concerned here) was directed especially against the ecclesiastical rule which Moses exercised through his brother Aaron. Ye take too much upon you. רַב־לָכֶם, "much for you," probably in the sense of "enough for you" (cf. the use of רַב in Genesis 45:28), i.e., you have enjoyed power long enough; so the Targum Palestine. It may, however, be taken with the following כִּי as meaning, "let it suffice you that all the congregation," etc.; and so the Septuagint, ἐχέτω ὑμῖν ὅτι, κ.τ.λ. The Targum of Onkelos renders it in the same sense as the A.V. All the congregation are holy, every one of them. This was perfectly true, m a sense. There was a sanctity which pertained to Israel as a nation, in which all its members shared as distinguished from the nations around (Exodus 19:6; Leviticus 20:26); there was a priesthood which was inherent in all the sons of Israel, older and more indelible than that which was conferred on Aaron's line - a priesthood which, apart from special restrictions, or in exceptional circumstances, might and did assert itself in priestly acts (Exodus 24:5, and compare the cases of Samuel, Elijah, and others who offered sacrifice during the failure of the appointed priesthood). It Moses had taken the power to himself, or it he had (as they doubtless supposed) restricted active priestly functions to Aaron because he was his brother, and wholly under his influence, their contention would have been quite right. They erred, as most violent men do, not because they asserted what was false, but because they took for granted that the truth which they asserted was really inconsistent with the claims which they assailed. The congregation were all holy; the sons of Israel were all priests; that was true - but it was also true that by Divine command Israel could only exercise his corporate priesthood outwardly through the one family which God had set apart for that purpose. The same God who has lodged in the body certain faculties and powers for the benefit of the body, has decreed that those faculties and powers can only be exercised through certain determinate organs, the very specialization of which is both condition and result of a high organization. The congregation of the Lord. There are two words for congregation in this verse: קָהָל here, and עֵדָה before. The former seems to be used in the more solemn sense, but they are for the most part indistinguishable, and certainly cannot be assigned to different authors.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

They came together
וַיִּֽקָּהֲל֞וּ (way·yiq·qā·hă·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6950: To gather as an assembly or congregation

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֣ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

and
וְעַֽל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Aaron
אַהֲרֹ֗ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

and told them,
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“You have gone too far!
רַב־ (raḇ-)
Adverb
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

Everyone
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

in the entire
כֻּלָּ֣ם (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

congregation
הָֽעֵדָה֙ (hā·‘ê·ḏāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5712: A stated assemblage

is holy,
קְדֹשִׁ֔ים (qə·ḏō·šîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6918: Sacred, God, an angel, a saint, a sanctuary

and the LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

is in their midst.
וּבְתוֹכָ֖ם (ū·ḇə·ṯō·w·ḵām)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

Why
וּמַדּ֥וּעַ (ū·mad·dū·a‘)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4069: Why? for what reason?

then do you exalt
תִּֽתְנַשְּׂא֖וּ (tiṯ·naś·śə·’ū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

yourselves above
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the assembly
קְהַ֥ל (qə·hal)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6951: Assembly, convocation, congregation

of the LORD?”
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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OT Law: Numbers 16:3 And they assembled themselves together against Moses (Nu Num.)