Numbers 16:33
New International Version
They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community.

New Living Translation
So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel.

English Standard Version
So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

Berean Standard Bible
They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.

King James Bible
They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

New King James Version
So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.

New American Standard Bible
So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

NASB 1995
So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

NASB 1977
So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

Legacy Standard Bible
So they and all that belonged to them went down to Sheol alive; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

Amplified Bible
So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.

Christian Standard Bible
They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.

American Standard Version
So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol: and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly.

English Revised Version
So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit: and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They went down alive to their graves with everything that belonged to them. The ground covered them, and so they disappeared from the assembly.

Good News Translation
So they went down alive to the world of the dead, with their possessions. The earth closed over them, and they vanished.

International Standard Version
So they and all that belonged to them descended alive to Sheol. Then the earth closed over them. That's how they were annihilated from the assembly.

Majority Standard Bible
They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.

NET Bible
They and all that they had went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed over them. So they perished from among the community.

New Heart English Bible
So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol: and the earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly.

Webster's Bible Translation
They, and all that appertained to them went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

World English Bible
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they go down—they and all that they have—alive to Sheol, and the earth closes over them, and they perish from the midst of the assembly;

Young's Literal Translation
and they go down, they, and all that they have, alive to Sheol, and the earth closeth over them, and they perish from the midst of the assembly;

Smith's Literal Translation
And they went down, and all which is to them, living, to hades, and the earth shall cover over them; and they shall perish from the midst of the gathering.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they went down alive into hell the ground closing upon them, and they perished from among the people.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they descended alive, the ground closing around them, into the underworld, and they perished from the midst of the mulititude.

New American Bible
They went down alive to Sheol with all belonging to them; the earth closed over them, and they disappeared from the assembly.

New Revised Standard Version
So they with all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol; the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the congregation.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And those went down, and everything that they had, alive to Sheol, and the Earth was covered over them and they were destroyed from within the assembly.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit; and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they went down and all that they had, alive into Hades; and the ground covered them, and they perished from the midst of the congregation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Earth Swallows Korah
32and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions. 33They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly. 34At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled, saying, “The earth may swallow us too!”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 11:6
and what He did in the midst of all the Israelites to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that belonged to them.

Psalm 106:17-18
The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the assembly of Abiram. / Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked.

Jude 1:11
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Hebrews 12:25
See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?

1 Corinthians 10:10-11
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. / Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Matthew 11:23
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

Revelation 12:16
But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

Isaiah 5:14
Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers!

Ezekiel 32:18-32
“Son of man, wail for the multitudes of Egypt, and consign her and the daughters of the mighty nations to the depths of the earth with those who descend to the Pit: / Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down and be placed with the uncircumcised! / They will fall among those slain by the sword. The sword is appointed! Let them drag her away along with all her multitudes. ...

Job 31:12
For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.

Luke 10:15
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!

Acts 5:5-10
On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened. / Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. / About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened. ...

2 Peter 2:4-6
For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; / if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight; / if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;

Matthew 23:33
You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?

Isaiah 14:9-11
Sheol beneath is eager to meet you upon your arrival. It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you—all the rulers of the earth. It makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones. / They will all respond to you, saying, “You too have become weak, as we are; you have become like us!” / Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket.


Treasury of Scripture

They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed on them: and they perished from among the congregation.

into the

Psalm 9:15
The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

Psalm 55:23
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Psalm 69:15
Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

they perished

Jude 1:11
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

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Alive Appertained Assembly Belonged Closed Community Congregation Covered Cut Earth Meeting Midst Owned Perished Pit Sheol Shut Theirs Underworld
Numbers 16
1. The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
23. Moses separates the people from the rebels' tents
31. The earth swallows up Korah, and a fire consumes others
36. The censers are reserved to holy use
41. 14,700 are slain by a plague, for murmuring against Moses and Aaron
46. Aaron by incense stays the plague














So they went down alive into Sheol
The phrase "So they went down alive into Sheol" is a vivid depiction of divine judgment. The Hebrew word "Sheol" refers to the realm of the dead, a shadowy place where the departed souls reside. In the context of Numbers 16, this descent into Sheol is not a natural death but a supernatural act of God’s judgment against Korah, Dathan, and Abiram for their rebellion against Moses and Aaron. The fact that they went "alive" into Sheol underscores the severity and immediacy of God's judgment. It serves as a stark reminder of the holiness of God and the seriousness of rebellion against His appointed leaders.

with all that belonged to them
This phrase emphasizes the totality of the judgment. Not only were the men themselves judged, but "all that belonged to them" was also swallowed up. This included their families, possessions, and tents. The comprehensive nature of this judgment highlights the communal aspect of sin and its consequences. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a person's identity and legacy were closely tied to their family and possessions. Thus, the destruction of everything associated with these men signifies a complete erasure of their legacy and a warning to the community about the dangers of rebellion.

The earth closed over them
The imagery of "the earth closed over them" is both dramatic and final. It signifies the irreversible nature of God's judgment. In the Hebrew mindset, the earth opening and closing is an act of divine intervention, demonstrating God's control over creation. This event would have been a powerful visual and spiritual lesson for the Israelites, reinforcing the message that God is sovereign and that His judgments are just and final. The closing of the earth also symbolizes the sealing of their fate, with no possibility of escape or redemption from this particular act of rebellion.

and they vanished from the assembly
The phrase "and they vanished from the assembly" indicates the sudden and complete removal of the rebels from the community of Israel. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion. In the broader biblical narrative, the assembly of Israel represents the people of God, called to be holy and set apart. The removal of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram from the assembly underscores the necessity of purity and obedience within the community. It also serves as a warning to the Israelites and to future generations about the dangers of challenging God's ordained order and leadership.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They
הֵ֣ם (hêm)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

went down
וַיֵּ֨רְד֜וּ (way·yê·rə·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

alive
חַיִּ֖ים (ḥay·yîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

into Sheol
שְׁאֹ֑לָה (šə·’ō·lāh)
Noun - common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death)

with all
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

they owned.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

The earth
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

closed
וַתְּכַ֤ס (wat·tə·ḵas)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

over them,
עֲלֵיהֶם֙ (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and they vanished
וַיֹּאבְד֖וּ (way·yō·ḇə·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish

from
מִתּ֥וֹךְ (mit·tō·wḵ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

the assembly.
הַקָּהָֽל׃ (haq·qā·hāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6951: Assembly, convocation, congregation


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OT Law: Numbers 16:33 So they and all that appertained (Nu Num.)
Numbers 16:32
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