At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled, saying, “The earth may swallow us too!”
Parallel translations
- WEB All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
- KJV And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
- NKJV Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!”
- NASB Then all Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth might swallow us!”
- NLT All the people around them fled when they heard their screams. “The earth will swallow us, too!” they cried.
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
All Israel nearby fled at the rebels' cry, fearing they too would be swallowed. The judgment instilled fear throughout the camp.
Overview
The surrounding Israelites flee in terror, dreading that the earth might take them as well. Their fear shows the awesome impact of God's visible judgment. Such holy fear is meant to turn people from sin, reminding us that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Zech 14:5You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.
- Isa 33:3The peoples flee the thunder of Your voice; the nations scatter when You rise.
- Num 17:12–13Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!
- Rev 6:15–17Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
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 16:34 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.