Back to Numbers 16

Numbers 16:31-35

As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split apart. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Korah’s men, and all their goods. So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly. All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!” Fire came out from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split apart.

    The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Korah’s men, and all their goods.

    So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly.

    All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”

    Fire came out from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.

  • KJV King James Version

    And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

    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.

    They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

    And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

    And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And it came to pass, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground did cleave asunder that was under them.

    And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

    So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit; and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly.

    And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them; for they said: 'Lest the earth swallow us up.'

    And fire came forth from the LORD, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.

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Contradictions (1)

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Cross-references (37)

  • Leviticus 10:2 (v35) Fire came out from before Yahweh, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.
  • Numbers 26:10 (v35) and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died; at the time the fire devoured two hundred…
  • Numbers 26:11 (v32) Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah didn’t die.
  • Psalms 106:17 (v32) The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
  • Psalms 106:18 (v35) A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.
Show all 34 cross-references
  • Numbers 11:1-3 (v35) The people were complaining in the ears of Yahweh. When Yahweh heard it, his anger burned; and Yahweh’s fire burned among them, and…
  • Revelation 12:16 (v32) The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth.
  • Numbers 16:17 (vv32, 35) Each man take his censer and put incense on it, and each man bring before Yahweh his censer, two hundred fifty censers; you also, and…
  • Numbers 27:3 (vv31–32) “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against Yahweh in the company of…
  • Deuteronomy 11:6 (vv31–32) and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben—how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their…
  • Numbers 16:2 (v35) They rose up before Moses, with some of the children of Israel, two hundred fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men…
  • 1 Chronicles 6:22 (v32) The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
  • Psalms 106:17-18 (v31) The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the…
  • Isaiah 5:14 (v32) Therefore Sheol has enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who…
  • Numbers 16:30 (v32) But if Yahweh makes a new thing, and the ground opens its mouth, and swallows them up with all that belong to them, and they go down alive…
  • Numbers 17:12-13 (v34) The children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we perish! We are undone! We are all undone! Everyone who keeps approaching…
  • Numbers 26:10-11 (v31) and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died; at the time the fire devoured two hundred…
  • 1 Chronicles 6:37 (v32) the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
  • Psalms 9:15 (v33) The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made. In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.
  • Psalms 55:23 (v33) But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I…
  • Psalms 69:15 (v33) Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.
  • Psalms 84:1 (v32) How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Armies!
  • Psalms 85:1 (v32) Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.
  • Psalms 88:1 (v32) Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.
  • Psalms 143:7 (v33) Hurry to answer me, Yahweh. My spirit fails. Don’t hide your face from me, so that I don’t become like those who go down into the pit.
  • Isaiah 14:9 (v33) Sheol from beneath has moved for you to meet you at your coming. It stirs up the departed spirits for you, even all the rulers of the…
  • Isaiah 14:15 (v33) Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit.
  • Isaiah 33:3 (v34) At the noise of the thunder, the peoples have fled. When you lift yourself up, the nations are scattered.
  • Ezekiel 32:18 (v33) “Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her and the daughters of the famous nations, to the lower parts of…
  • Ezekiel 32:30 (v33) “There are the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who have gone down with the slain. They are put to shame in the…
  • Zechariah 14:5 (v34) You shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azel; yes, you shall flee, just like you fled…
  • Jude 1:11 (v33) Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
  • Revelation 6:15-17 (v34) The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the…
  • Genesis 4:11 (v32) Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

34 distinct cross-references across this passage (37 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (16 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv31–35 Num 16:31 And it came to pass, as he…

Num 16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that [was] under them:

Ver. 31. As he had made an end of speaking.] Dictum factum; so it is still. {Joh 20:23} Vengeance is every whit as ready in God’s hands, as in his ministers’ mouths. {2Co 10:6}

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 vv32, 33, 35 i.e. All his family which were there, women, children,…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v35 We must now look back to the door of…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv31–35 And it came to pass, as he had made…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv32, 33, 35 All that appertained unto Korah - That is, all…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v33 Verse 33. They, and all that appertained to them]…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv32, 35 Num 16:32. All that appertained unto Korah — That…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv32, 35 All the men ... - Not his sons (see…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv32, 33, 35 Tents. Hebrew adds, "all those who belonged to (or…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v35 there came out a fire from the Lord--that is,…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv31–35 31. The ground clave asunder — There may have…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On v35 35. The sin of Korah’s company was the same…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv32, 35 (32) And the earth opened her mouth . .…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv31, 32, 34, 35 The ground clave asunder that was under them. As…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv31, 33 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv31, 34 16:31-33 Korah’s sons did not die at this time…
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