Numbers 16:33 - So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly.
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What does "Numbers 16:33" mean?
This verse from Numbers 16:33 describes the horrific punishment of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with their families and possessions, for their rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Let's break down the meaning:
"So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol": This is the core of the verse.
"They": Refers to Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and "all that belonged to them," which includes their families (wives, children) and likely possessions as well.
"Went down alive": Emphasizes that they didn't die a natural death or a quick death. They were plunged into the underworld while still living and conscious. This highlights the severity and unnaturalness of their fate.
"Sheol": This is a Hebrew word that generally refers to the underworld, the place where the dead reside. It's a dark and shadowy realm, often considered a grave-like place. It's not necessarily equivalent to the Christian concept of hell with eternal torment, although the verse is often used to argue for a specific view of hell.
"The earth closed on them": This is a literal description of what happened. God caused the ground to open up beneath them, swallowing them and everything belonging to them. The earth then closed, sealing them in.
"and they perished from among the assembly": This explains the final result of their actions.
"Perished": They died in this terrible event.
"From among the assembly": This emphasizes that they were completely removed from the Israelite community. Their rebellion was a direct challenge to the authority of Moses and God's chosen leadership, and their punishment served as a stark warning to anyone else who might consider similar dissent.
In Summary:
The verse describes a divine judgment where Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their households were swallowed alive by the earth and sent to Sheol (the underworld) as a consequence of their rebellion against Moses and Aaron. This event served to remove them from the community and reaffirm the authority of God-appointed leadership, in doing so setting an example for the Israelites. This is a very disturbing verse about how God punished disobedience in Old Testament times.
Numbers 16:33 - So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly.
What does "Numbers 16:33" mean?
This verse from Numbers 16:33 describes the horrific punishment of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with their families and possessions, for their rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Let's break down the meaning:
"So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol": This is the core of the verse.
"They": Refers to Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and "all that belonged to them," which includes their families (wives, children) and likely possessions as well.
"Went down alive": Emphasizes that they didn't die a natural death or a quick death. They were plunged into the underworld while still living and conscious. This highlights the severity and unnaturalness of their fate.
"Sheol": This is a Hebrew word that generally refers to the underworld, the place where the dead reside. It's a dark and shadowy realm, often considered a grave-like place. It's not necessarily equivalent to the Christian concept of hell with eternal torment, although the verse is often used to argue for a specific view of hell.
"The earth closed on them": This is a literal description of what happened. God caused the ground to open up beneath them, swallowing them and everything belonging to them. The earth then closed, sealing them in.
"and they perished from among the assembly": This explains the final result of their actions.
"Perished": They died in this terrible event.
"From among the assembly": This emphasizes that they were completely removed from the Israelite community. Their rebellion was a direct challenge to the authority of Moses and God's chosen leadership, and their punishment served as a stark warning to anyone else who might consider similar dissent.
In Summary:
The verse describes a divine judgment where Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their households were swallowed alive by the earth and sent to Sheol (the underworld) as a consequence of their rebellion against Moses and Aaron. This event served to remove them from the community and reaffirm the authority of God-appointed leadership, in doing so setting an example for the Israelites. This is a very disturbing verse about how God punished disobedience in Old Testament times.