Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
- KJV Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
- ESV Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel.
- NKJV Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
- NASB Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel.
- NLT Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the assembly in humble intercession or grief. Their posture contrasts sharply with the people's defiance.
Overview
Facedown before the congregation, Moses and Aaron displayed humility and likely pleaded with God amid the crisis. Their submission stands against the people's proud rebellion. Moses repeatedly intercedes in Numbers, prefiguring Christ, the greater Mediator who stands between a sinful people and a holy God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Num 16:4When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.
- Num 16:22But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the whole congregation?”
- Num 16:45“Get away from this congregation so that I may consume them in an instant.” And Moses and Aaron fell facedown.
- Ezek 9:8While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, “Oh, Lord GOD, when You pour out Your wrath on Jerusalem, will You destroy the entire remnant of Israel?”
- Josh 5:14“Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as Commander of the LORD’s army.” Then Joshua fell facedown in reverence and asked Him, “What does my Lord have to say to His servant?”
- 1 Chr 21:16When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.
- Gen 17:3Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
- Lev 9:24Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.
- Dan 10:9I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.
- 1 Kgs 18:39When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”
- Josh 7:10But the LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face?
- Rev 4:10the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
- Matt 26:39Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
- Rev 7:11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,
- Rev 5:14And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 14:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.