“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!”
- KJV 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.”
- 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 leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation.”
- Num 16:45“Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” They fell on their faces.
- Rev 18:4I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of her plagues,
- Ps 73:19How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
- Exod 33:5Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up into the middle of you for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you.’”
- Num 14:12I will strike them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
- Gen 19:15–22When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.”
- Jer 5:16Their quiver is an open tomb, they are all mighty men.
- Isa 37:36Yahweh’s angel went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.
- Num 14:15Now if you killed this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying,
- Heb 12:28–29Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
- Acts 2:40With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
- 2 Cor 6:17Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
- Eph 5:6–7Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on 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.