Numbers 16:27 - So they went away from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.

Generated Verse: Numbers 16:27

What does "Numbers 16:27" mean?


This verse describes the scene just before a dramatic judgment from God in the story of Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16). Let's break down the meaning:

"So they went away from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side": This refers to the rest of the Israelites. Moses had just warned them to distance themselves from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. He prophesied that if these men died a natural death, then he had not been sent by God. This shows that many people listened to Moses and believed him, fearing God's judgment. They were separating themselves from the rebels.

"Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little ones": Dathan and Abiram, two of the leaders of the rebellion against Moses's authority, defiantly came out of their tents. The fact that they brought their entire families—wives, sons, and even little children—is significant. It suggests:

Brazen defiance: They were openly defying Moses and God's authority.
Family involvement: Their families were complicit in their rebellion, or at least publicly supportive of it. This meant the judgment would extend to the families, not just the individuals.
A tragic display: It emphasizes the scope of the tragedy about to unfold. These were not just rebellious individuals; they were families being judged.

In summary, this verse paints a picture of a stark separation: the Israelites who feared God heeding Moses's warning and distancing themselves, and the defiant rebels, Dathan and Abiram, with their families, standing as a unified front against God's appointed leadership. This sets the stage for the dramatic judgment that follows, where the earth opens up and swallows them and their households as a sign of God's displeasure with their rebellion.