Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi! Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of Yahweh’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? Do you seek the priesthood also? Therefore you and all your company have gathered together against Yahweh! What is Aaron that you complain against him?”
Parallel Translations
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Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi!
Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of Yahweh’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;
and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? Do you seek the priesthood also?
Therefore you and all your company have gathered together against Yahweh! What is Aaron that you complain against him?”
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And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:
Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?
For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
Show all 3 translations
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And Moses said unto Korah: 'Hear now, ye sons of Levi:
is it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them;
and that He hath brought thee near, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee? and will ye seek the priesthood also?
Therefore thou and all thy company that are gathered together against the LORD —; and as to Aaron, what is he that ye murmur against him?'
Cross-references (35)
- Deuteronomy 10:8 (v9) At that time Yahweh set apart the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, to stand before Yahweh to minister to him, and to…
- Isaiah 7:13 (v9) He said, “Listen now, house of David. Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God also?
- Exodus 16:7-8 (v11) In the morning, you shall see Yahweh’s glory; because he hears your murmurings against Yahweh. Who are we, that you murmur against us?”…
- Exodus 17:2 (v11) Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you…
- Ezekiel 44:10-11 (v9) “ ‘ “But the Levites who went far from me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, they will bear their…
Show all 35 cross-references
- Numbers 1:53 (v9) But the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of…
- Numbers 3:6 (v9) “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.
- Numbers 16:3 (v11) They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much on yourself, since all the…
- Numbers 16:13 (v9) Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but you must also…
- 1 Samuel 18:23 (v9) Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I…
- Nehemiah 12:44 (v9) On that day, men were appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the wave offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to…
- 1 Corinthians 3:5 (v11) Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him?
- Genesis 30:15 (v9) Leah said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes, also?” Rachel said,…
- Numbers 3:10 (v10) You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood, but the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”
- Numbers 3:41-45 (v9) You shall take the Levites for me—I am Yahweh—instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the livestock of the Levites…
- Numbers 8:14-16 (v9) Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. “After that, the Levites shall go in…
- Numbers 18:2-6 (v9) Bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, near with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you;…
- Numbers 18:7 (v10) You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil. You shall serve. I give…
- 1 Samuel 8:7 (v11) Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected…
- 2 Samuel 7:19 (v9) This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh; but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come; and this…
- 2 Chronicles 35:3 (v9) He said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to Yahweh, “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king…
- Proverbs 13:10 (v10) Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.
- Ezekiel 34:18 (v9) Does it seem a small thing to you to have fed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture? And…
- Matthew 20:21-22 (v10) He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your…
- Luke 10:16 (v11) Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
- Luke 22:24 (v10) A dispute also arose among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.
- John 13:20 (v11) Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”
- Acts 5:4 (v11) While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in…
- Romans 12:10 (v10) In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
- Romans 13:2 (v11) Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
- Philippians 2:3 (v10) doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
- 3 John 1:9 (v10) I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.
- Acts 13:2 (v9) As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 (v9) But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self.
- 1 Corinthians 10:10 (v11) Don’t grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v10 To serve in the Congregation, as in the verse…
To serve in the Congregation, as in the verse before.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv8–11 Num 16:8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I…
Num 16:8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:
Ver. 8. Ye sons of Levi.] He took these to task apart; as hoping, haply, to withdraw them from their purpose, and to hide pride from them, {Job 33:17} but they proved uncounsellable, incorrigible.
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 vv8–11 Consider what I say before it be too late,…
Consider what I say before it be too late, and repent of your great wickedness.
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 vv8–11 And Moses said unto Korah,.... Continued his discourse to…
And Moses said unto Korah,.... Continued his discourse to him, as the head of the conspiracy, and the ringleader of it:
hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi; to whom also he had been before speaking; though Aben Ezra thinks the first speech was made to Korah and his company, and what follows to the Levites.
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 vv8, 9, 11 Ye sons of Levi - They were of his…
Ye sons of Levi - They were of his own tribe, nay, they were of God's tribe. It was therefore the worse in them thus to mutiny against God and against him.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v8 Num 16:8-11. Ye sons of Levi — They were…
Num 16:8-11. Ye sons of Levi — They were of his own tribe; nay, they were of God’s tribe. It was therefore the worse in them thus to mutiny against God and against him. To minister to them — So they were the servants both of God and of the church, which was a high dignity, though not sufficient for their ambitious minds. Against the Lord — Whose chosen servant Aaron is. You strike at God through Aaron’s sides.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv9, 11 “Seemeth” is not in the original. Render it as:…
“Seemeth” is not in the original. Render it as: Is it too little for you, i. e. “is it less than your dignity demands?”
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv9, 11 To him: Hebrew and Septuagint, "to them," or instead…
To him: Hebrew and Septuagint, "to them," or instead of the people. God had chosen them for that post of honour, to the exclusion of all the rest, so that they ought, the least of all, to have complained. But it often happens, that those who are the most exalted, take occasion to esteem themselves deserving of still higher honours; and thus, like Lucifer, fall into the bottomless pit! (Haydock) --- Core was perhaps the more irritated, because he was not at the head of the Caathites, though a descendant of the second son of Caath, while Elisaphan, sprung from a fourth son, was preferred to him, chap. iii. (Tirinus)
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).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv9–11 9. Separated you — The Levites had been appointed…
9. Separated you — The Levites had been appointed over the tabernacle (Num_1:50) in the place of the firstborn sons. Num_3:11-13, note. Moses now appeals to their sense of gratitude for this mark of God’s favour.
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 vv8, 9, 11 8–11. In these verses Korah’s company, represented as Levites,…
8–11. In these verses Korah’s company, represented as Levites, claim the privileges of the priesthood (see prelim. note to the chapter).
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 v10 (10) And seek ye the priesthood also?—The Targums of…
(10) And seek ye the priesthood also?—The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan understand the reference to be to the high priesthood. As the other Levites who belonged to Korah’s company sought the priesthood, so Korah may have aimed at the high priesthood.
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 vv8, 9, 11 Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi. No…
Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi. No son of Levi is mentioned in the narrative except Korah, and this address itself passes into the second person singular (verses 10, 11), as though Korah alone were personally guilty. It is possible enough that behind him was a considerable body of public opinion among the Levites more or less decidedly supporting him; but there is no need to impute any general disloyalty to them.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v10 Seek ye the priesthood also
Seek ye the priesthood also
The "gainsaying of Korah" was intrusion into the priest’s office ("no man taketh this honour unto himself,") Heb 5:4. It was an attempt to create a priestly order without the divine authority Heb 5:10. The modern analogue is Nicolaitanism Rev 2:6; Rev 2:15 the division of an equal brotherhood Mat 23:8 into "clergy" and "laity"; a vastly different thing from the due recognition of ministry-gifts; 1Co 12:4-31; Eph 4:8; Eph 4:11; Eph 4:12 or of elders and deacons; 1Ti 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-9.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v8 is it a small thing for you ... to…
is it a small thing for you ... to serve them?
Moses uses this question to rebuke Korah and the men with him. It can be translated as a statement. AT: "You behave as though it it is a small thing for you ... to serve them!" or "You should not consider it a small thing ... to serve them!" (See: Rhetorical Question)
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a small thing for you
"not enough for you" or "unimportant to you"
you are seeking the priesthood also
Wanting to have the priesthood is spoken of as if they were looking for it. AT: "you want to have the priesthood too" or "you want to be priests also" (See: Metaphor)
So why are you complaining about Aaron, who obeys Yahweh?
Moses uses this question to show them that when they complain about what Aaron does, they are really complaining against Yahweh, because Aaron was doing what Yahweh told him to do. AT: "You are not really complaining about Aaron, but about Yahweh, whom Aaron obeys!" (See: Rhetorical Question)
translationWords
Moses
Korah
descend
Levi
God
Israel
Yahweh
tabernacle
servant
kin
priest
Aaron
obey
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 v10 16:10 The special ministry of the Levites is described…
16:10 The special ministry of the Levites is described in chs 3–4. The priesthood was the province of Aaron’s descendants (3:1-4). The rebels’ complaint was not with Moses or Aaron, but with the Lord.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.