21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!”
22 They fell on their faces, and said, “God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?”
KJVKing James Version
20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
Show all 3 translations
JPSJPS Tanakh (1917)
20 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying:
21 'Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.'
22 And they fell upon their faces, and said: 'O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with all the congregation?'
Numbers 27:16(v22)“Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
Job 12:10(v22)in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
Zechariah 12:1(v22)A revelation, Yahweh’s word concerning Israel. Yahweh, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the…
Ecclesiastes 12:7(v22)and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Hebrews 12:9(v22)Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the…
Show all 29 cross-references
Numbers 16:45(vv21–22)“Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” They fell on their faces.
Genesis 18:23-25(v22)Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you…
Exodus 32:10(v21)Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation.”
Romans 5:18(v22)So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.
Genesis 18:32(v22)He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it…
Exodus 33:5(v21)Yahweh had said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I…
Numbers 14:5(v22)Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
2 Samuel 24:17(v22)David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these…
Psalms 73:19(v21)How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
Isaiah 57:16(v22)For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls whom I have made.
Revelation 18:4(v21)I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t…
Genesis 19:15-22(v21)When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be…
Numbers 14:12(v21)I will strike them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
Numbers 14:15(v21)Now if you killed this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying,
Isaiah 37:36(v21)Then Yahweh’s angel went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the…
Jeremiah 5:16(v21)Their quiver is an open tomb. They are all mighty men.
Acts 2:40(v21)With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
2 Corinthians 6:17(v21)Therefore “ ‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
Ephesians 5:6-7(v21)Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Therefore…
Hebrews 12:28-29(v21)Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for…
Numbers 16:4(v22)When Moses heard it, he fell on his face.
Joshua 7:1-26(v22)But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of…
2 Samuel 24:1(v22)Again Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, “Go, count Israel and Judah.”
1 Corinthians 13:7(v22)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
29 distinct cross-references across this passage (30 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Geneva Bible translators1599 · Public DomainOn v22Or, of every creature.
Or, of every creature.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp1656 · Public DomainOn vv21–22Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that…
Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
Ver. 21. Separate yourselves.] Good men are taken away from the evil to come. When God pulls away the pillars, what will become of the building? Lot was no sooner taken out of Sodom, but Sodom was taken out of the world.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole1685 · Public DomainOn vv21–22To wit, Korah and his two hundred and fifty…
To wit, Korah and his two hundred and fifty men, and the people whom he gathered against Moses and Aaron, Num 16:19.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill1763 · Public DomainOn vv20–22And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron,....…
And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron,.... Out of the cloud:
saying; as follows.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley1765 · Public DomainOn v22The spirits - And this is no empty title…
The spirits - And this is no empty title here, but very emphatical. Thou art the maker of spirits, destroy not thy own workmanship! O thou who art the preserver of men, and of their spirits, the Lord of spirits, Job xii, 10, who as thou mayst justly destroy this people, so thou canst preserve whom thou pleasest: the father of spirits, the souls. Deal mercifully with thy own children: the searcher of spirits, thou canst distinguish between those who have maliciously railed this tumult, and those whose ignorance and simple credulity hath made them a prey to crafty seducers. Of all flesh - Of all mankind: the word flesh is often put for men. One man - Korah, the ringleader of this sedition.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke1810 · Public DomainOn v22Verse 22. O God, the God of the spirits…
Verse 22. O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh] אל אלהי הרוחת לכל בשר El Elohey haruchoth lechol basar. This address sufficiently proves that these holy men believed that man is a being compounded of flesh and spirit, and that these principles are perfectly distinct. Either the materiality of the human soul is a human fable, or, if it be a true doctrine, these men did not pray under the influence of the Divine Spirit. In Nu 27:16 there is a similar form of expression: Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh. And in Job 12:10: In whose hand is the soul (נפש nephesh) of all living; and the spirit (רוח ruach) of all flesh of man. Are not these decisive proofs that the Old Testament teaches that there is an immortal spirit in man? "But does not רוח ruach signify wind or breath?" Sometimes it does, but certainly not here; for how absurd would it be to say, O God, the God of the breaths of all flesh!
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson1811 · Public DomainOn v22Num 16:22. The God of the spirits of all…
Num 16:22. The God of the spirits of all flesh — And this is no empty title here, but very emphatical. Thou art the Maker of spirits, destroy not thy own workmanship. O thou who art the preserver of men, and of their spirits, the Lord of spirits, (Job 12:10,) who, as thou mayest justly destroy this people, so thou canst preserve whom thou pleasest; the Father of spirits, the souls. Deal mercifully with thy own children: the Searcher of spirits, thou canst distinguish between those who have maliciously raised this tumult, and those whose ignorance and simple credulity hath made them a prey to crafty seducers. Of all flesh — Of all mankind: the word flesh is often put for men. One man — Korah, the ringleader of this division.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary1859 · Public DomainOn v22God, who givest life to all, and searchest the…
God, who givest life to all, and searchest the inmost recesses of the heart. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown1871 · Public DomainOn vv20, 22the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, Separate…
the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among this congregation--Curiosity to witness the exciting spectacle attracted a vast concourse of the people, and it would seem that the popular mind had been incited to evil by the clamors of the mutineers against Moses and Aaron. There was something in their behavior very offensive to God; for after His glory had appeared--as at the installation of Aaron (Lev 9:23), so now for his confirmation in the sacred office--He bade Moses and Aaron withdraw from the assembly "that He might consume them in a moment."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon1874 · Public DomainOn vv21–2221. Separate yourselves — This command to withdraw themselves…
21. Separate yourselves — This command to withdraw themselves from the congregation was not obeyed, but through intercession the command was tacitly countermanded.
Consume them — By assembling at the instigation of Korah this whole congregation had avowed their adherence to the rebels.
Read full note →
In a moment — Here is an outflashing of justice untempered by mercy.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1878 · Public DomainOn vv20, 2220–24. Jehovah threatens to destroy the whole congregation; but…
20–24. Jehovah threatens to destroy the whole congregation; but at Moses’ intercession He relents, and commands them to depart from the Tabernacle, leaving Korah and his company to be destroyed.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers1878 · Public DomainOn v21(21) Separate yourselves from among this congregation . .…
(21) Separate yourselves from among this congregation . . . —By their obedience to the summons of Korah the congregation generally, or at Yeast a large portion of it, had made themselves partakers in his sin, and had become obnoxious to the Divine wrath.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary1880 · Public DomainOn vv21–22That I may consume them in a moment. Literally,…
That I may consume them in a moment. Literally, "and I will consume them." The same thing must be said of this as of Num_14:11, Num_14:12.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0On v20that I may consume them
that I may consume them
Destroying them is spoken of as if God were to eat them. AT: "that I may destroy them" or "and I will destroy them" (See: Metaphor)
Read full note →
lay facedown
This shows that Moses and Aaron were humbling themselves before God. (See: Symbolic Action)
the God of the spirits of all humanity
Here "spirits" represents the ability to live. AT: "the God who gives life to all humanity" (See: Metonymy)
if one man sins, must you be angry with all the community?
Moses and Aaron use this question to plead with God for the people. It can be translated as a statement. AT: "please do not be angry with all the community because one man sins" (See: Rhetorical Question)
Tyndale Open Study Notes2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0On v2116:21-26 The Lord threatened to destroy the entire community…
16:21-26 The Lord threatened to destroy the entire community because of its pervasive sin (cp. Gen 18:16-33). Moses and Aaron interceded to narrow the Lord’s judgment down to those who were guilty of this particular rebellion.
GEBible — Godless Engineer's Bible App
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v22 Or, of every creature.
Or, of every creature.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv21–22 Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that…
Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
Ver. 21. Separate yourselves.] Good men are taken away from the evil to come. When God pulls away the pillars, what will become of the building? Lot was no sooner taken out of Sodom, but Sodom was taken out of the world.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv21–22 To wit, Korah and his two hundred and fifty…
To wit, Korah and his two hundred and fifty men, and the people whom he gathered against Moses and Aaron, Num 16:19.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv20–22 And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron,....…
And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron,.... Out of the cloud:
saying; as follows.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v22 The spirits - And this is no empty title…
The spirits - And this is no empty title here, but very emphatical. Thou art the maker of spirits, destroy not thy own workmanship! O thou who art the preserver of men, and of their spirits, the Lord of spirits, Job xii, 10, who as thou mayst justly destroy this people, so thou canst preserve whom thou pleasest: the father of spirits, the souls. Deal mercifully with thy own children: the searcher of spirits, thou canst distinguish between those who have maliciously railed this tumult, and those whose ignorance and simple credulity hath made them a prey to crafty seducers. Of all flesh - Of all mankind: the word flesh is often put for men. One man - Korah, the ringleader of this sedition.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v22 Verse 22. O God, the God of the spirits…
Verse 22. O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh] אל אלהי הרוחת לכל בשר El Elohey haruchoth lechol basar. This address sufficiently proves that these holy men believed that man is a being compounded of flesh and spirit, and that these principles are perfectly distinct. Either the materiality of the human soul is a human fable, or, if it be a true doctrine, these men did not pray under the influence of the Divine Spirit. In Nu 27:16 there is a similar form of expression: Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh. And in Job 12:10: In whose hand is the soul (נפש nephesh) of all living; and the spirit (רוח ruach) of all flesh of man. Are not these decisive proofs that the Old Testament teaches that there is an immortal spirit in man? "But does not רוח ruach signify wind or breath?" Sometimes it does, but certainly not here; for how absurd would it be to say, O God, the God of the breaths of all flesh!
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v22 Num 16:22. The God of the spirits of all…
Num 16:22. The God of the spirits of all flesh — And this is no empty title here, but very emphatical. Thou art the Maker of spirits, destroy not thy own workmanship. O thou who art the preserver of men, and of their spirits, the Lord of spirits, (Job 12:10,) who, as thou mayest justly destroy this people, so thou canst preserve whom thou pleasest; the Father of spirits, the souls. Deal mercifully with thy own children: the Searcher of spirits, thou canst distinguish between those who have maliciously raised this tumult, and those whose ignorance and simple credulity hath made them a prey to crafty seducers. Of all flesh — Of all mankind: the word flesh is often put for men. One man — Korah, the ringleader of this division.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v22 God, who givest life to all, and searchest the…
God, who givest life to all, and searchest the inmost recesses of the heart. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv20, 22 the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, Separate…
the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among this congregation--Curiosity to witness the exciting spectacle attracted a vast concourse of the people, and it would seem that the popular mind had been incited to evil by the clamors of the mutineers against Moses and Aaron. There was something in their behavior very offensive to God; for after His glory had appeared--as at the installation of Aaron (Lev 9:23), so now for his confirmation in the sacred office--He bade Moses and Aaron withdraw from the assembly "that He might consume them in a moment."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv21–22 21. Separate yourselves — This command to withdraw themselves…
21. Separate yourselves — This command to withdraw themselves from the congregation was not obeyed, but through intercession the command was tacitly countermanded.
Consume them — By assembling at the instigation of Korah this whole congregation had avowed their adherence to the rebels.
Read full note →
In a moment — Here is an outflashing of justice untempered by mercy.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv20, 22 20–24. Jehovah threatens to destroy the whole congregation; but…
20–24. Jehovah threatens to destroy the whole congregation; but at Moses’ intercession He relents, and commands them to depart from the Tabernacle, leaving Korah and his company to be destroyed.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v21 (21) Separate yourselves from among this congregation . .…
(21) Separate yourselves from among this congregation . . . —By their obedience to the summons of Korah the congregation generally, or at Yeast a large portion of it, had made themselves partakers in his sin, and had become obnoxious to the Divine wrath.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv21–22 That I may consume them in a moment. Literally,…
That I may consume them in a moment. Literally, "and I will consume them." The same thing must be said of this as of Num_14:11, Num_14:12.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v20 that I may consume them
that I may consume them
Destroying them is spoken of as if God were to eat them. AT: "that I may destroy them" or "and I will destroy them" (See: Metaphor)
Read full note →
lay facedown
This shows that Moses and Aaron were humbling themselves before God. (See: Symbolic Action)
the God of the spirits of all humanity
Here "spirits" represents the ability to live. AT: "the God who gives life to all humanity" (See: Metonymy)
if one man sins, must you be angry with all the community?
Moses and Aaron use this question to plead with God for the people. It can be translated as a statement. AT: "please do not be angry with all the community because one man sins" (See: Rhetorical Question)
translationWords
consume
God
spirit
sin
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v21 16:21-26 The Lord threatened to destroy the entire community…
16:21-26 The Lord threatened to destroy the entire community because of its pervasive sin (cp. Gen 18:16-33). Moses and Aaron interceded to narrow the Lord’s judgment down to those who were guilty of this particular rebellion.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.