Numbers 16:40

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

[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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

to remind the people of Isra'el that an ordinary person, not descended from Aharon, is not to approach and burn incense before ADONAI, if he wants to avoid the fate of Korach and his group - as ADONAI had said to him through Moshe.

Berean Standard Bible:

just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.

American Standard Version:

to be a memorial unto the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, that is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to burn incense before Jehovah; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as Jehovah spake unto him by Moses.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

To be a memorial^{H2146} unto the children^{H1121} of Israel^{H3478}, that^{{H834}{H4616}} no stranger^{{H376}{H2114}}, which is not of the seed^{H2233} of Aaron^{H175}, come near^{H7126} to offer^{H6999} incense^{H7004} before^{H6440} the LORD^{H3068}; that he be not as Korah^{H7141}, and as his company^{H5712}: as the LORD^{H3068} said^{H1696} to him by the hand^{H3027} of Moses^{H4872}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Numbers 16:40

1. **Themes:**
- **Holiness and Exclusivity of Priesthood:** The verse emphasizes the exclusive right of the Aaronic priesthood to offer incense before the Lord, reinforcing the distinction between the priests and the laity, and the sanctity of priestly duties.
- **Divine Instruction and Authority:** It underscores the authority of Moses as the mediator of God's commands, highlighting the importance of adhering to divine instructions.
- **Warning and Remembrance:** The verse serves as a warning to future generations against usurping priestly privileges, using the example of Korah's rebellion as a cautionary tale.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Korah's Rebellion:** Numbers 16 recounts the rebellion led by Korah, a Levite, who challenged Moses' leadership and Aaron's exclusive right to the priesthood. Korah, along with 250 other leaders, offered incense, which was a duty reserved for the high priest.
- **God's Judgment:** As a result of their actions, God punished Korah and his followers, either by consuming them with fire or by swallowing them alive when the earth opened up.
- **Reaffirmation of Aaronic Priesthood:** Following this event, God reaffirmed the unique role of the Aaronic priesthood in the tabernacle service. The censers of the rebels were turned into a covering for the altar as a lasting sign of the sanctity of the priesthood.
- **Codification of Law:** The incident led to a clear codification of the law regarding who could approach the altar to offer incense, thereby preventing future challenges to the priestly order.

In summary, Numbers 16:40 serves as a historical marker and a didactic tool to reinforce the boundaries of the priesthood and to remind the Israelites of the consequences of disobeying God's established order through the dramatic example of Korah's rebellion.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2146
   There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זִכְרוֹן
   Transliteration: zikrôwn
   Pronunciation: zik-rone'
   Description: from זָכַר; a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing); memorial, record.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a 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.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
4. Strong's Number: H834
   There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲשֶׁר
   Transliteration: ʼăsher
   Pronunciation: ash-er'
   Description: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.; [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4616
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַעַן
   Transliteration: maʻan
   Pronunciation: mah'-an
   Description: from עָנָה; properly, heed, i.e. purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that; because of, to the end (intent) that, for (to,... 's sake), [phrase] lest, that, to.
   
6. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a 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); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2114
   There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זוּר
   Transliteration: zûwr
   Pronunciation: zoor
   Description: a primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be aforeigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery; (come from) another (man, place), fanner, go away, (e-) strange(-r, thing, woman).
   
8. Strong's Number: H2233
   There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זֶרַע
   Transliteration: zeraʻ
   Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
   Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.
   
9. Strong's Number: H175
   There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
   Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
   Pronunciation: a-har-one'
   Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7126
    There are 259 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָרַב
    Transliteration: qârab
    Pronunciation: kaw-rab'
    Description: a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose; (cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take.
    
11. Strong's Number: H6999
    There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָטַר
    Transliteration: qâṭar
    Pronunciation: kaw-tar'
    Description: a primitive root (identical with through the idea of fumigation in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the occupants); to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship); burn (incense, sacrifice) (upon), (altar for) incense, kindle, offer (incense, a sacrifice).
    
12. Strong's Number: H7004
    There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קְטֹרֶת
    Transliteration: qᵉṭôreth
    Pronunciation: ket-o'-reth
    Description: from קָטַר; a fumigation; (sweet) incense, perfume.
    
13. Strong's Number: H6440
    There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּנִים
    Transliteration: pânîym
    Pronunciation: paw-neem'
    Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the 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.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
    
14. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
    
15. Strong's Number: H7141
    There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קֹרַח
    Transliteration: Qôrach
    Pronunciation: ko'rakh
    Description: from קָרַח; ice; Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites; Korah.
    
16. Strong's Number: H5712
    There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵדָה
    Transliteration: ʻêdâh
    Pronunciation: ay-daw'
    Description: feminine of עֵד in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd); assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare עֵדָה.
    
17. Strong's Number: H1696
    There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָבַר
    Transliteration: dâbar
    Pronunciation: daw-bar'
    Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
    
18. Strong's Number: H3027
    There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָד
    Transliteration: yâd
    Pronunciation: yawd
    Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
    
19. Strong's Number: H4872
    There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
    Transliteration: Môsheh
    Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
    Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.