King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?
Complete Jewish Bible:
Whenever anyone approaches the tabernacle of ADONAI, he dies! Will we all perish?"
Berean Standard Bible:
Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”
American Standard Version:
Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of Jehovah, dieth: shall we perish all of us?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Whosoever cometh any thing near{H7131} unto the tabernacle{H4908} of the LORD{H3068} shall die{H4191}: shall we be consumed{H8552} with dying{H1478}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Job 34:14
- If he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
Job 34:15
- All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
2 Samuel 6:6
- ¶ And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook [it].
2 Samuel 6:12
- ¶ And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that [pertaineth] unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
Deuteronomy 2:16
- So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,
Acts 5:11
- And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Acts 5:14
- And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 17:13
1. **Themes:**
- **Holiness of God:** The verse emphasizes the holiness of God and the serious consequences of approaching His dwelling place without proper reverence or permission.
- **Divine Sanction:** It reflects the theme of divine sanction, where disobedience to God's commands can lead to immediate and severe punishment.
- **Fear of the Lord:** The question "shall we be consumed with dying?" expresses the fear and awe of the Israelites in the presence of God's holy sanctuary.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Tabernacle:** The tabernacle was the portable dwelling place of God among the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings, constructed according to divine instructions given to Moses.
- **The Rebellion:** Numbers 17 follows an incident where Korah and his followers challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron, questioning their exclusive right to serve as priests. God had just demonstrated His choice of Aaron and his line by causing Aaron's staff to bud miraculously, while the staffs of the other tribal leaders did not.
- **Reaffirmation of Priestly Role:** This verse comes after the miraculous sign and serves to reaffirm the special role of the Levitical priesthood in approaching God on behalf of the people. It underscores the importance of respecting the boundaries and rituals established for worship.
- **Wilderness Wanderings:** The Israelites were in the wilderness after being delivered from Egypt and before entering the Promised Land. This period was marked by repeated instances of rebellion and God's subsequent judgments.
In summary, Numbers 17:13 reflects the themes of God's holiness, the importance of obeying divine commands, and the special role of the priesthood in ancient Israelite society. It occurs within the broader narrative of the Israelites' journey in the wilderness, where they are learning to live in accordance with God's laws and respect the sanctity of His presence.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7131
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרֵב
Transliteration: qârêb
Pronunciation: kaw-rabe'
Description: from קָרַב; near; approach, come (near, nigh), draw near. - Strong's Number: H4908
There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁכָּן
Transliteration: mishkân
Pronunciation: mish-kawn'
Description: from שָׁכַן; a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden walls); dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent. - 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. - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. - Strong's Number: H8552
There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּמַם
Transliteration: tâmam
Pronunciation: taw-mam'
Description: a primitive root; to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive; accomplish, cease, be clean (pass-) ed, consume, have done, (come to an, have an, make an) end, fail, come to the full, be all gone, [idiom] be all here, be (make) perfect, be spent, sum, be (shew self) upright, be wasted, whole. - Strong's Number: H1478
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּוַע
Transliteration: gâvaʻ
Pronunciation: gaw-vah'
Description: a primitive root; to breathe out, i.e. (by implication) expire; die, be dead, give up the ghost, perish.