Font Size
Numbers 16
Revised Geneva Translation
Numbers 16
Revised Geneva Translation
16 Now Korah (the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi) went with Dathan and Abiram (the sons of Eliab) and On (the son of Peleth), sons of Reuben.
2 And they rose up against Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred fifty captains of the assembly, famous in the Congregation and men of renown.
3 They gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You take too much upon yourself, seeing all the Congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD among them. Why then do you lift yourselves above the Congregation of the LORD?”
4 But when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face
5 and spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, “Tomorrow, the LORD will show who is His and who is holy and who ought to approach Him. And whom He has chosen, He will cause to come near Him.
6 “Do this: Take censers, Korah and all his company,
7 “and put fire and incense in them before the LORD tomorrow. And the man whom the LORD chooses, the same shall be holy. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!”
8 Again Moses said to Korah, “Please hear, you sons of Levi.
9 “Does it seem a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the multitude of Israel, to take you near to Himself to do the service of the Tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the Congregation and to minister to them.
10 “And that He has taken you and all your brothers to Himself, you and the sons of Levi? And yet you seek also the office of the Priest?
11 “For which cause, you and all your company have gathered together against the LORD. And what is Aaron, that you murmur against him?”
12 And Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, who answered, “We will not come up.
13 “Is it a small thing that you have brought us out of a land that flows with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, unless you make yourself lord and ruler over us?
14 “Also, you have not brought us to a land that flows with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up.”
15 Then Moses became very angry, and said to the LORD, “Do not look upon their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them. Nor have I hurt any of them.”
16 And Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company be before the LORD tomorrow — you, they, and Aaron.
17 “And every man take his censer and put incense in it, and every man bring his censer before the LORD (two hundred and fifty censers), including you and Aaron, everyone his censer.”
18 So every man took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and stood in the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation with Moses and Aaron.
19 And Korah gathered the whole multitude against them at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. Then the Glory of the LORD appeared to all the Congregation.
20 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
21 “Separate yourselves from among this Congregation, so that I may consume them at once.”
22 And they fell upon their faces and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, has not only one man sinned? And will You be angry with all the Congregation?”
23 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
24 “Speak to the Congregation, and say, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’”
25 Then Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram. And the elders of Israel followed him.
26 And he spoke to the Congregation, saying, “Please depart from the tents of these wicked men! And touch nothing of theirs, lest you perish in all their sins!”
27 So they got away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram on every side. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the door of their tents, with their wives and their sons and their little children.
28 And Moses said, “By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works. For I have not done them of my own will.
29 “If these men die the common death of all men, or if they are visited after the visitation of all men, the LORD has not sent me.
30 “But if the LORD makes a new thing, and the Earth opens her mouth and swallows them up with all that they have. And they go down quickly into the pit, then you shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.”
31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split apart.
32 And the Earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, with their families and all the men who were with Korah and all their goods.
33 So they and all that they had went down, alive, into the pit. And the earth covered them. So they perished from among the Congregation.
34 And all Israel who were around them fled at the cry of them. For they said, “Let us flee, lest the Earth swallow us up!”
35 But there came out a fire from the LORD and consumed the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.
36 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
37 “Speak to Eleazar, the son of Aaron the Priest, so that he takes up the censers out of the burning and scatters the fire beyond the Altar. For they are hallowed,
38 “the censers of these sinners against themselves. And let them make broad plates from them, for a covering of the Altar. For they offered them before the LORD. Therefore, they shall be Holy. And they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”
39 Then Eleazar the Priest took the brazen censers which those who were burnt had offered and made broad plates from them, for a covering of the Altar.
40 It is a remembrance to the children of Israel that no stranger who is not of the seed of Aaron comes near to offer incense before the LORD, so that he is not like Korah and his company, as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.
41 But the next day all the multitude of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the LORD.”
42 And when the Congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, then they turned their faces toward the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And behold, the cloud covered it. And the Glory of the LORD appeared.
43 Then Moses and Aaron came before the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
45 “Get away from among this Congregation. For I will consume them quickly.” Then they fell upon their faces.
46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take the censer and put fire in it from the Altar. And put incense in it. And go quickly to the Congregation and make an atonement for them. For wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun.”
47 Then Aaron took as Moses commanded him and ran into the midst of the Congregation. And behold, the plague had begun among the people. And he put in the incense and made an atonement for the people.
48 And when he stood between the dead and those who were alive, the plague was stopped.
49 So fourteen thousand seven hundred died of this plague, in addition to those who died in the conspiracy of Korah.
50 And Aaron again went to Moses before the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the plague was stopped.
Numbers 16
English Standard Version
Numbers 16
English Standard Version
Korah's Rebellion
16 Now (A)Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and (B)Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. 2 And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. 3 (C)They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, (D)“You have gone too far! For (E)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?” 4 When Moses heard it, (F)he fell on his face, 5 and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the Lord will show (G)who is his,[a] and who is (H)holy, and will bring him near to him. The one (I)whom he chooses he will (J)bring near to him. 6 Do this: take (K)censers, Korah and all his company; 7 put fire in them and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow, and the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the holy one. (L)You have gone too far, sons of Levi!” 8 And Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: 9 is it (M)too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has (N)separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, 10 and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? 11 Therefore it is against the Lord that you and all your company have gathered together. What is (O)Aaron that you grumble against him?”
12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they said, “We will not come up. 13 Is it (P)a small thing that you have brought us up out of (Q)a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also (R)make yourself a prince over us? 14 Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up.” 15 And Moses was very angry and said to the Lord, (S)“Do not respect their offering. (T)I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them.”
16 And Moses said to Korah, “Be present, you and all your company, (U)before the Lord, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. 17 And (V)let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it, and every one of you bring before the Lord his censer, (W)250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer.” 18 So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19 Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. (X)And the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation.
20 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21 (Y)“Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them (Z)in a moment.” 22 And they (AA)fell on their faces and said, “O God, (AB)the God of the spirits of all flesh, (AC)shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” 23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, (AD)“Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.” 27 So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood (AE)at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. 28 And Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been (AF)of my own accord. 29 If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, (AG)then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord creates something new, and (AH)the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they (AI)go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord.”
31 (AJ)And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and (AK)all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and (AL)they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!” 35 And (AM)fire came out from the Lord and consumed (AN)the 250 men offering the incense.
36 [b] Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 37 “Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy. 38 As for the censers of (AO)these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the Lord, and they became holy. (AP)Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel.” 39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar, 40 to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so (AQ)that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the Lord, lest he become like Korah and his company—as the Lord said to him through Moses.
41 But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel (AR)grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the Lord.” 42 And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, (AS)the cloud covered it, and (AT)the glory of the Lord appeared. 43 And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 (AU)“Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” (AV)And they fell on their faces. 46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for (AW)wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun.” 47 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. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living, and (AX)the plague was stopped. 49 Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, (AY)besides those who died in the affair of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.
Footnotes
- Numbers 16:5 Septuagint The Lord knows those who are his
- Numbers 16:36 Ch 17:1 in Hebrew
Numbers 16
New International Version
Numbers 16
New International Version
Korah, Dathan and Abiram
16 Korah(A) son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram(B), sons of Eliab,(C) and On son of Peleth—became insolent[a] 2 and rose up against Moses.(D) With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.(E) 3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron(F) and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy,(G) every one of them, and the Lord is with them.(H) Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”(I)
4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.(J) 5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy,(K) and he will have that person come near him.(L) The man he chooses(M) he will cause to come near him. 6 You, Korah, and all your followers(N) are to do this: Take censers(O) 7 and tomorrow put burning coals(P) and incense(Q) in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses(R) will be the one who is holy.(S) You Levites have gone too far!”
8 Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! 9 Isn’t it enough(T) for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?(U) 10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.(V) 11 It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble(W) against him?(X)”
12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram,(Y) the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come!(Z) 13 Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey(AA) to kill us in the wilderness?(AB) And now you also want to lord it over us!(AC) 14 Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey(AD) or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards.(AE) Do you want to treat these men like slaves[b]?(AF) No, we will not come!(AG)”
15 Then Moses became very angry(AH) and said to the Lord, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey(AI) from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”
16 Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron.(AJ) 17 Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.(AK)” 18 So each of them took his censer,(AL) put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them(AM) at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the Lord(AN) appeared to the entire assembly. 20 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 21 “Separate yourselves(AO) from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”(AP)
22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown(AQ) and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things,(AR) will you be angry with the entire assembly(AS) when only one man sins?”(AT)
23 Then the Lord said to Moses, 24 “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”
25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel(AU) followed him. 26 He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men!(AV) Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away(AW) because of all their sins.(AX)” 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.(AY) Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children(AZ) and little ones at the entrances to their tents.(BA)
28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know(BB) that the Lord has sent me(BC) to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29 If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me.(BD) 30 But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth(BE) and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead,(BF) then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.(BG)”
31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart(BH) 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them(BI) and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the realm of the dead,(BJ) with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”
35 And fire came out from the Lord(BK) and consumed(BL) the 250 men who were offering the incense.
36 The Lord said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar(BM) son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers(BN) from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy— 38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives.(BO) Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar,(BP) for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign(BQ) to the Israelites.”
39 So Eleazar the priest(BR) collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death,(BS) and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40 as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense(BT) before the Lord,(BU) or he would become like Korah and his followers.(BV)
41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.
42 But when the assembly gathered in opposition(BW) to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord(BX) appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end(BY) to them at once.” And they fell facedown.
46 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer(BZ) and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly(CA) to make atonement(CB) for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord;(CC) the plague(CD) has started.” 47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people,(CE) but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.(CF) 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.(CG) 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.[c]
Footnotes
- Numbers 16:1 Or Peleth—took men
- Numbers 16:14 Or to deceive these men; Hebrew Will you gouge out the eyes of these men
- Numbers 16:50 In Hebrew texts 16:36-50 is numbered 17:1-15.
Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)
© 2019, 2024 by Five Talents Audio. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.