Bible/Numbers/16

Numbers 16:40

16:39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:
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.

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to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, who isn’t of the offspring of Aaron, would come near to burn incense before Yahweh, that he not be as Korah, and as his company; as Yahweh spoke to him by Moses.

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.

To be a memorial to 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. ¶

16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.

What does Numbers 16:40 mean?

Numbers 16:40 is a verse in the book of Numbers, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include זִכְרוֹן (zikrôwn), בֵּן (bên), יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl). It connects to 21 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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To
be
a
memorialזִכְרוֹןzikrôwn/zik-rone'/H2146a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing)
unto
the
childrenבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
of
Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêl/yis-raw-ale'/H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
thatאֲשֶׁרʼăsher/ash-er'/H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
no
stranger,אִישׁʼîysh/eesh/H376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
which
is
not
of
the
seedזֶרַעzeraʻ/zeh'-rah/H2233seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
of
Aaron,אַהֲרוֹןʼAhărôwn/a-har-one'/H175Aharon, the brother of Moses
come
nearקָרַבqârab/kaw-rab'/H7126to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
to
offerקָטַרqâṭar/kaw-tar'/H6999to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)
incenseקְטֹרֶתqᵉṭôreth/ket-o'-reth/H7004a fumigation
beforeפָּנִיםpânîym/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.)
the
LORD;יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
that
he
be
not
as
Korah,קֹרַחQôrach/ko'rakh/H7141Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites
and
as
his
company:עֵדָהʻêdâh/ay-daw'/H5712a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
as
the
LORDיְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
saidדָבַרdâbar/daw-bar'/H1696perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
to
him
by
the
handיָדyâd/yawd/H3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
of
Moses.מֹשֶׁהMôsheh/mo-sheh'/H4872Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver

Commentary on Numbers 16:40

HENRY_FULL · Numbers 16:40
" In the foregoing chapter we had the vexation which the people gave to Moses; in this we have his patience tried by his own relations. I. Miriam and Aaron, his own brother and sister, affronted him, ver. 1-3 . II. God called them to an account for it, ver. 4-9 . III. Miriam was smitten with a leprosy for it, ver. 10 . IV. Aaron submits, and Moses meekly intercedes for Miriam, ver. 11-13 . V. She is healed, but put to shame for seven days, ver. 14-16 . And this is recorded to show that the best persons and families have both their follies and their crosses.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 29:33

And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. Simeon: that is, Hearing

Exodus 4:30

And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

Exodus 5:1

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

Exodus 7:10

And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Exodus 15:20

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

Exodus 15:21

And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Numbers 11:1

And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. complained: or, were as it were complainers it displeased: Heb. it was evil in the ears of

Numbers 11:29

And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

Numbers 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

2 Samuel 11:27

And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. displeased: Heb. was evil in the eyes of

2 Kings 19:4

It may be the LORD thy God will hear all 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 are left. left: Heb. found

Proverbs 13:10

Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

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

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Numbers 16:40.

Genesis 13:16

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

Genesis 1:11

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. grass: Heb. tender grass

Genesis 11:7

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

Genesis 12:11

And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

Genesis 22:18

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Genesis 27:41

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Genesis 3:16

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. to thy: or, subject to thy husband

Genesis 4:25

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Seth: Heb. Sheth: that is Appointed, or, Put

Frequently asked questions

What does Numbers 16:40 say?

Numbers 16:40 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Numbers 16:40 in the Old or New Testament?

Numbers 16:40 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Numbers.

Reflect

As you read Numbers 16:40, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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