Verse (Click for Chapter) 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 Versionand 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 BibleAnd 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 BibleAnd 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 1917and 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.… 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… Jump to Previous Aaron Assembly Congregation Holy Lift Moses Themselves Together Wherefore YourselvesJump to Next Aaron Assembly Congregation Holy Lift Moses Themselves Together Wherefore YourselvesNumbers 16 1. The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram23. 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 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 You have taken 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? Persons / Places / Events 1. KorahA Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, questioning their leadership and authority. 2. Dathan and Abiram Reubenites who joined Korah in his rebellion, challenging Moses' leadership. 3. Moses The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. 4. Aaron Moses' brother and the appointed high priest, serving as a mediator between God and the Israelites. 5. The Congregation of Israel The assembly of the Israelites, who were influenced by Korah's rebellion. Teaching Points Understanding God-Ordained AuthorityGod establishes leaders for His purposes. Questioning or rebelling against them can be seen as questioning God's authority. The Danger of Pride and Envy Korah's rebellion was rooted in pride and envy. Believers must guard their hearts against these sins, which can lead to division and destruction. The Importance of Humility and Submission Moses and Aaron's response to the rebellion was one of humility and reliance on God. Believers should emulate this attitude in times of conflict. Recognizing the Holiness of God’s Calling While all believers are called to be holy, God assigns specific roles and responsibilities. Respecting these roles is crucial for unity and order. Consequences of Rebellion The account of Korah serves as a warning of the severe consequences of rebelling against God's appointed leaders.(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.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 togetherוַיִּֽקָּהֲל֞וּ (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 Links Numbers 16:3 NIVNumbers 16:3 NLT Numbers 16:3 ESV Numbers 16:3 NASB Numbers 16:3 KJV Numbers 16:3 BibleApps.com Numbers 16:3 Biblia Paralela Numbers 16:3 Chinese Bible Numbers 16:3 French Bible Numbers 16:3 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 16:3 And they assembled themselves together against Moses (Nu Num.) |
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