Numbers 16:4

16:3 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? Ye take: Heb. It is much for you

And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

KJV

Save image

When Moses heard it, he fell on his face.

And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

And when Moses heard it, he fell on his face:

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.

What does Numbers 16:4 mean?

Numbers 16:4 is a verse in the book of Numbers, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh), שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ), נָפַל (nâphal). It connects to 21 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

And

when

MosesמֹשֶׁהMôsheh/mo-sheh'/H4872Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver

heardשָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

it,

fellנָפַלnâphal/naw-fal'/H5307to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

upon

his

face:פָּנִיםpânîym/paw-neem'/H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)

Commentary on Numbers 16:4

HENRY_FULL · Numbers 16:4

"x-p" Hitherto things had gone pretty well in Israel; little interruption had been given to the methods of God's favour to them since the matter of the golden calf; the people seemed teachable in marshalling and purifying the camp, the princes devout and generous in dedicating the altar, and there was good hope that they would be in Canaan presently. But at this chapter begins a melancholy scene; the measures are all broken, God has turned to be their enemy, and fights against them—and it is sin that makes all this mischief. I. Their murmurings kindled a fire among them, which yet was soon quenched by the prayer of Moses, ver. 1-3 . II. No sooner was the fire of judgment quenched than the fire of sin breaks out again, and God takes occasion from it to magnify both his mercy and his justice. 1. The people fret for want of flesh, ver. 4-9 . 2. Moses frets for want of help, ver. 10-15 . Now, (1.) God promises to gratify them both, to appoint help for Moses ( ver. 16, 17 ), and to give the people flesh, ver. 18-23 . And, (2.) He presently makes good both these promises. For, [1.] The Spirit of God qualifies the seventy elders for the government, ver. 24-30 . [2.] The power of God brings quails to feast the people, ver. 31, 32 . Yet [3.] The justice of God plagued them for their murmurings, ver. 33 , &c.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 18:23

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Exodus 32:10

Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

Exodus 32:31

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

Exodus 32:32

Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

Exodus 34:9

And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.

Numbers 14:13

And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)

Numbers 16:45

Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

Numbers 21:7

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

Deuteronomy 9:19

For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.

Deuteronomy 9:20

And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.

Isaiah 37:4

It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left. left: Heb. found

Jeremiah 15:1

Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

Jeremiah 37:3 Jeremiah 42:2 Amos 7:2 Acts 8:24 Hebrews 7:26 James 5:16 1 John 2:1 1 John 2:2 1 John 5:16

Topics

Aaron Dathan Levites, the Priests

People & places in this verse

People

Moses

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Numbers 16:4.

1 Samuel 14:13

And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

2 Samuel 21:9

And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

Deuteronomy 2:25

This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.

Leviticus 10:20

And when Moses heard that, he was content.

Leviticus 8:9

And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 11:10

Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.

Numbers 17:10

And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. rebels: Heb. children of rebellion

Frequently asked questions

What does Numbers 16:4 say?

Numbers 16:4 (King James Version) reads: "And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:"

Is Numbers 16:4 in the Old or New Testament?

Numbers 16:4 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Numbers.

Reflect

As you read Numbers 16:4, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Numbers 16:4 →

← 16:3 16:5 →