Numbers 16:17
And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
Original Language Analysis
אִ֥ישׁ
each
H376
אִ֥ישׁ
each
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
2 of 18
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם
and put
H5414
וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם
and put
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
4 of 18
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
עֲלֵיהֶם֙
H5921
עֲלֵיהֶם֙
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֞ם
in them and bring
H7126
וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֞ם
in them and bring
Strong's:
H7126
Word #:
7 of 18
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
לִפְנֵ֤י
ye before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֤י
ye before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
8 of 18
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָה֙
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
9 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אִ֥ישׁ
each
H376
אִ֥ישׁ
each
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
10 of 18
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
וּמָאתַ֖יִם
two hundred
H3967
וּמָאתַ֖יִם
two hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
13 of 18
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
Historical Context
Only Aaronic priests could burn incense on the golden altar in the Holy Place (Exodus 30:7-8). When King Uzziah later usurped this privilege (2 Chronicles 26:16-21), God struck him with leprosy—demonstrating that even kings couldn't bypass priestly appointments.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'censers' might you presume to carry—ministry roles or spiritual authority God hasn't actually given you?
- How does this passage inform the NT teaching that believers are priests (1 Peter 2:9) but also that church leadership requires divine calling (Hebrews 5:4)?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Take every man his censer, and put incense in them—The maḥtah (מַחְתָּה, censer/fire pan) was a priestly implement used for burning incense before God. Moses's challenge is brilliant: if Korah's company truly believes 'all the congregation are holy' (v. 3), let them perform the priests' most sacred duty—offering incense at the tabernacle. Two hundred and fifty censers indicates the scale of this rebellion; these were influential men, not a fringe group.
Incense symbolized prayer ascending to God (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4), but unauthorized incense was capital sacrilege (Leviticus 10:1-2, where Nadab and Abihu died for this). Moses essentially says, 'Let God choose whom He has sanctified'—echoing v. 5's qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ, holy). This was ordeal by liturgy.