Korah
maleExodusMeaning: “Bald; ice”
A Levite who led 250 leaders in rebellion against the authority of Moses and Aaron and was swallowed by the earth in God’s judgment.
Biography
Korah, a Levite of the family of Kohath and a cousin of Moses and Aaron, became the leader of the most serious revolt against Moses' leadership in the wilderness.
The rebellion
Korah, with the Reubenites Dathan and Abiram and 250 prominent leaders, challenged Moses and Aaron: "ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy… wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?" (Numbers 16:3). At its heart it was a grasp for the priesthood that God had given to Aaron.
The earth opens
Moses let God decide. The ground split open and swallowed Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their households, while fire consumed the 250 men offering incense (Numbers 16:31–35). Yet "the children of Korah died not" (Numbers 26:11) — and their descendants became honored temple singers, named in the titles of several Psalms. The New Testament holds up Korah as a warning against rebellion (Jude 11).
Life Timeline
Leads 250 leaders in revolt against Moses and Aaron
Swallowed by the earth in God’s judgment
On the Bible timeline
Korah belongs to the The Exodus & Wilderness era (c. 1446 BC (early) / 1260 BC (late)).
- c. 1446 BC (early) / 1260 BC (late)The Exodus from Egypt
- c. 1446 BCThe Law Given at Sinai
- c. 1406 BCThe Conquest of Canaan
Themes & lessons from Korah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Korah appears.
People they appear with
Things in their story
Scripture Appearances
17 verses in 2 booksExodus2 verses
Exodus 6:21
And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.
Exodus 6:24
And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.
Numbers15 verses
Numbers 16:1
Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Numbers 16:5
And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
Numbers 16:6
This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;
Numbers 16:8
And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:
Numbers 16:16
And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:
Numbers 16:19
And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
Numbers 16:24
Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
Numbers 16:27
So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
Numbers 16:32
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
Numbers 16:40
To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.
Numbers 16:49
Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.
Numbers 26:9
And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:
Numbers 26:10
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
Numbers 26:11
Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
Numbers 27:3
Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.
Frequently asked about Korah
Who was Korah in the Bible?
A Levite who led 250 leaders in rebellion against the authority of Moses and Aaron and was swallowed by the earth in God’s judgment.
What does the name Korah mean?
The name Korah means “Bald; ice”.
Where does Korah appear in the Bible?
Korah is mentioned 17 times across 2 books: Exodus, Numbers.
What can we learn from Korah?
The story of Korah touches on themes of priests, dathan, levites, the, incense — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Korah's life.
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