Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!”
- BSB “Separate yourselves from this congregation so that I may consume them in an instant.”
- NKJV “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.”
- NASB “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, so that I may consume them instantly.”
- NLT “Get away from all these people so that I may instantly destroy them!”
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
God told Moses and Aaron to separate from the congregation so he might consume them at once. The whole assembly stood under threat of judgment.
Overview
The LORD's command to stand apart signals imminent, total judgment on the rebellious community. God's holiness cannot tolerate such defiance, and the people are in mortal danger. Yet the call to separate also opens the door for intercession, foreshadowing the mediator who stands between God's wrath and the people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Exod 32:10Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
- Num 16:45Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
- Rev 18:4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
- Ps 73:19How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
- Exod 33:5For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.
- Num 14:12I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
- Gen 19:15–22And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
- Jer 5:16Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.
- Isa 37:36Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
- Num 14:15Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
- Heb 12:28–29Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
- Acts 2:40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
- 2 Cor 6:17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
- Eph 5:6–7Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 16:21 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.