Numbers 16:10

10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.

Numbers 16:10 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also?
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well?
The Message Bible (MSG)
10 He has brought you and all your brother Levites into his inner circle, and now you're grasping for the priesthood too.
American Standard Version (ASV)
10 and that he hath brought thee near, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee? and seek ye the priesthood also?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
10 He has brought you and all the other Levites near himself, but now you demand to be priests.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
10 He has brought you near, and all your fellow Levites who are with you, but you are seeking the priesthood as well.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
10 He has already brought you and all of the other Levites near him. But now you want to be priests too.

Numbers 16:10 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 16:10

And he hath brought thee near [to him]
To be in his courts, to watch in his house, and wait on his priests, for which an ample provision was made by tithes. Korah is there personally addressed:

and all thy brethren, the sons of Levi, with thee;
the whole tribe of them, excepting Aaron and his family, who were advanced to be priests:

and seek ye the priesthood also?
the high priesthood, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; this opens the true cause of their discontent and rebellion; they could not be satisfied with being the ministers of the priests, but wanted to be priests themselves, and Korah perhaps to be high priest.

Numbers 16:10 In-Context

8 Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites!
9 Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the LORD’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?
10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.
11 It is against the LORD that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?”
12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come!

Cross References 1

  • 1. Numbers 3:10; Numbers 18:7; Judges 17:5,12
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