Numbers 16:38
New International Version
the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the LORD and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites.”

New Living Translation
Take the incense burners of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, and hammer the metal into a thin sheet to overlay the altar. Since these burners were used in the LORD’s presence, they have become holy. Let them serve as a warning to the people of Israel.”

English Standard Version
As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the LORD, and they became holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel.”

Berean Standard Bible
As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”

King James Bible
The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

New King James Version
The censers of these men who sinned against their own souls, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar. Because they presented them before the LORD, therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”

New American Standard Bible
As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their own lives, have them made into hammered sheets as plating for the altar, since they did present them before the LORD and they are holy; and they shall serve as a sign to the sons of Israel.”

NASB 1995
“As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered sheets for a plating of the altar, since they did present them before the LORD and they are holy; and they shall be for a sign to the sons of Israel.”

NASB 1977
“As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered sheets for a plating of the altar, since they did present them before the LORD and they are holy; and they shall be for a sign to the sons of Israel.”

Legacy Standard Bible
As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, make them into hammered sheets for a plating of the altar, since they brought them near before Yahweh, and they are holy; and they shall be for a sign to the sons of Israel.”

Amplified Bible
As for the censers of these people who have sinned at the cost of their lives, have the censers made into hammered sheets as a plating for the altar [of burnt offering], for they were presented before the LORD and they are sacred. They shall be a [warning] sign to the sons of Israel.”

Christian Standard Bible
As for the firepans of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, make them into hammered sheets as plating for the altar, for they presented them before the LORD, and the firepans are holy. They will be a sign to the Israelites.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As for the firepans of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, make them into hammered sheets as plating for the altar, for they presented them before the LORD, and the firepans are holy. They will be a sign to the Israelites.”

American Standard Version
even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Jehovah; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

Contemporary English Version
because they were used for offering incense to me. Have them hammered into a thin layer of bronze as a covering for the altar. Those men died because of their sin, and now their fire pans will become a warning for the rest of the community."

English Revised Version
even the censers of these sinners against their own lives, and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are holy: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The incense burners of these men who sinned and lost their lives are holy, because they were offered to the LORD. Hammer them into thin metal sheets to cover the altar. This will be a sign to the Israelites."

Good News Translation
They became holy when they were presented at the LORD's altar. So take the fire pans of these who were put to death for their sin, beat them into thin plates, and make a covering for the altar. It will be a warning to the people of Israel."

International Standard Version
As for the censers of those rebels who died, fasten them into beaten plates to line the altar. Since they brought them into the LORD's presence, they're holy. They are to become a reminder to the Israelis."

Majority Standard Bible
As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”

NET Bible
As for the censers of these men who sinned at the cost of their lives, they must be made into hammered sheets for covering the altar, because they presented them before the LORD and sanctified them. They will become a sign to the Israelites."

New Heart English Bible
even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel."

Webster's Bible Translation
The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.

World English Bible
even the censers of those who sinned against their own lives. Let them be beaten into plates for a covering of the altar, for they offered them before Yahweh. Therefore they are holy. They shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
[As for] the censers of these sinners against their own souls, indeed, they have made them [into] spread-out plates [for] a covering for the altar, for they have brought them near before YHWH, and they are hallowed; and they become a sign to the sons of Israel.”

Young's Literal Translation
even the censers of these sinners against their own souls; and they have made them spread-out plates, a covering for the altar, for they have brought them near before Jehovah, and they are hallowed; and they are become a sign to the sons of Israel.'

Smith's Literal Translation
The censers of these sinners against their souls, and they made them beaten plates, a covering for the altar: for they brought them before Jehovah, and they will be consecrated: and they will be for a sign to the sons of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
In the deaths of the sinners: and let him beat them into plates, and fasten them to the altar, because incense hath been offered in them to the Lord, and they are sanctified, that the children of Israel may see them for a sign and a memorial.

Catholic Public Domain Version
in the deaths of these sinners. And let him form them into plates, and affix them to the altar, because incense had been offered in them to the Lord, and they were sanctified, and so that the sons of Israel may discern in them a sign and a memorial.”

New American Bible
the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their lives. Have them hammered into plates to cover the altar, because in being presented before the LORD they have become holy. In this way they shall serve as a sign to the Israelites.

New Revised Standard Version
For the censers of these sinners have become holy at the cost of their lives. Make them into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they presented them before the LORD and they became holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the Israelites.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The censers of these who sinned against their own souls, make them thin plates for a covering of the altar; for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The censers of these sinners were among them and make them into thin plates covering the altar because they offered them before LORD JEHOVAH and they were hallowed and they shall be for a sign among the children of Israel.’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
even the fire-pans of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar--for they are become holy, because they were offered before the LORD--that they may be a sign unto the children of Israel.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
of these sinners against their own souls, and do thou make them beaten plates a covering to the altar, because they were brought before the Lord and hallowed; and they became a sign to the children of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Censers Reserved for Holy Use
37“Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to remove the censers from the flames and to scatter the coals far away, because the censers are holy. 38 As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.” 39So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar,…

Cross References
Exodus 30:9-10
On this altar you must not offer unauthorized incense or a burnt offering or grain offering; nor are you to pour a drink offering on it. / Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.”

Leviticus 10:1-2
Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

1 Kings 13:1-2
Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD. / And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, O altar, this is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and human bones will be burned upon you.’”

2 Chronicles 26:16-21
But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. / Then Azariah the priest, along with eighty brave priests of the LORD, went in after him. / They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.” ...

Psalm 106:16-18
In the camp they envied Moses, as well as Aaron, the holy one of the LORD. / The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the assembly of Abiram. / Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked.

Isaiah 66:24
“As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”

Jeremiah 7:31
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.

Ezekiel 20:40-41
For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices. / When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.

Malachi 1:11
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Mark 7:6-7
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’

Luke 20:46-47
“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. / They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

John 4:24
God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Acts 5:1-11
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. / With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. / Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? ...

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.


Treasury of Scripture

The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.

sinners

1 Kings 2:23
Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

Proverbs 1:18
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

Proverbs 8:36
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

a sign

Numbers 16:40
To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

Numbers 17:10
And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

Numbers 26:10
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.

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Altar Beaten Broad Censers Children Covering Hallowed Hammered Holy Israel Offered Plates Plating Sheets Sign Sinned Sinners Souls
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














As for the censers
The term "censers" refers to the metal vessels used for burning incense. In the Hebrew context, the word is "מַחְתּוֹת" (machtot), which signifies a firepan or censer. These censers were integral to the worship practices of the Israelites, symbolizing the prayers and offerings ascending to God. The use of censers in this narrative underscores the gravity of approaching God with reverence and the consequences of misusing sacred objects.

of these men who sinned
The phrase highlights the transgression of Korah and his followers, who challenged the God-ordained leadership of Moses and Aaron. The Hebrew word for "sinned" is "חָטָא" (chata), meaning to miss the mark or to err. This rebellion was not merely against human authority but against God's divine order, illustrating the seriousness of sin and rebellion in the biblical narrative.

at the cost of their own lives
This phrase emphasizes the severe consequence of their rebellion. The Hebrew word "נֶפֶשׁ" (nephesh) is often translated as "soul" or "life," indicating the totality of one's being. The cost of their sin was their very lives, serving as a sobering reminder of the wages of sin and the holiness of God.

hammer them into sheets
The act of hammering the censers into sheets signifies transformation and redemption. The Hebrew verb "רָקַע" (raqa) means to beat or spread out, suggesting a process of reshaping. This transformation from individual censers into sheets for the altar symbolizes how God can take the consequences of sin and repurpose them for His glory and the instruction of His people.

to overlay the altar
The altar, central to Israelite worship, was a place of sacrifice and atonement. By overlaying it with the hammered censers, the altar becomes a tangible reminder of the rebellion and its consequences. This act serves to sanctify the altar further, reinforcing its sacredness and the need for purity in worship.

for they were presented before the LORD
This phrase underscores the initial intention of the censers as offerings to God. The Hebrew word "קָרַב" (qarab) means to bring near or present, indicating that these objects, despite their misuse, were once dedicated to God. Their presentation before the LORD imbues them with a degree of holiness, even in the context of judgment.

and have become holy
The transformation of the censers into holy objects illustrates the concept of sanctification. The Hebrew word "קָדַשׁ" (qadash) means to set apart or consecrate. Despite their association with sin, the censers are repurposed for a holy purpose, demonstrating God's ability to redeem and sanctify even the instruments of rebellion.

They will be a sign to the Israelites
The censers, now part of the altar, serve as a perpetual sign or "אוֹת" (oth) in Hebrew, meaning a token or symbol. This sign is a reminder to the Israelites of the consequences of rebellion and the importance of obedience to God's commands. It stands as a testament to God's justice and mercy, teaching future generations the importance of reverence and submission to divine authority.

(38) These sinners against their own souls.--i.e., men who have forfeited their lives by their sin.

Let them make them broad plates . . . --It was thus that the sacrilegious act of Korah and his company was made the occasion of a permanent warning against all similar profanation of holy things. The altar of burnt-offering had already a covering of brass; but, as the altar was made of wood, an additional covering afforded further security against the fire which was continually burning on it. The censers of Korah and his company were made of brass (Numbers 16:39). Those of Aaron and his sons are thought by some to have been made of silver, but there seems to be no sufficient authority for this supposition; and in Exodus 38:3, where the same Hebrew word is used, but which in the English version is rendered "firepans," it is said that all the vessels of the altar were made of brass. In the time of Solomon the censers were made of gold (1Kings 7:50). That used by Aaron on the great day of atonement was of gold. (Comp. Hebrews 9:4; Revelation 8:3.) . . .

Verse 38. - These sinners against their own souls, בְּנַפְשֹׁתָם, "against their own lives." The thought is not that they had ruined their souls, but that they had forfeited their lives. The Pentateuch does not contemplate any consequences of sin beyond physical death. The same phrase occurs in Proverbs 20:2. For a covering of the altar. The altar of burnt incense. The censers were no doubt brazen pans, and when beaten out would form plates which could be affixed to the boards of which the frame of the altar was composed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As for the censers
מַחְתּוֹת֩ (maḥ·tō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4289: A fireholder, censer, snuff dish

of those
הָאֵ֜לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

who sinned
הַֽחַטָּאִ֨ים (ha·ḥaṭ·ṭā·’îm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2400: A criminal, one accounted guilty

at the cost of their own lives,
בְּנַפְשֹׁתָ֗ם (bə·nap̄·šō·ṯām)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

hammer them into
רִקֻּעֵ֤י (riq·qu·‘ê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7555: Beaten out, a, plate

sheets
פַחִים֙ (p̄a·ḥîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6341: A, sheet, a spring net

to overlay
צִפּ֣וּי (ṣip·pui)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6826: (metal) plating

the altar,
לַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (lam·miz·bê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

these were presented
הִקְרִיבֻ֥ם (hiq·rî·ḇum)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

before
לִפְנֵֽי־ (lip̄·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD,
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and so have become holy.
וַיִּקְדָּ֑שׁוּ (way·yiq·dā·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

They will serve as
וְיִֽהְי֥וּ (wə·yih·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a sign
לְא֖וֹת (lə·’ō·wṯ)
Preposition | Noun - common singular
Strong's 226: A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence

to the Israelites.”
לִבְנֵ֥י (liḇ·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT Law: Numbers 16:38 Even the censers of these sinners against (Nu Num.)
Numbers 16:37
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