Then all Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth might swallow us!”
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.
- BSB At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled, saying, “The earth may swallow us too!”
- NKJV Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!”
- 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 shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azel; yes, you shall flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Yahweh my God will come, and all the holy ones with you.
- Isa 33:3At the noise of the thunder, the peoples have fled. When you lift yourself up, the nations are scattered.
- Num 17:12–13The children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we perish! We are undone! We are all undone!
- Rev 6:15–17The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in 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.