The Meaning of Numbers 16:5 Explained

Numbers 16:5

KJV: And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

YLT: and he speaketh unto Korah, and unto all his company, saying, 'Morning! -- and Jehovah is knowing those who are his, and him who is holy, and hath brought near unto Him; even him whom He doth fix on He bringeth near unto Him.

Darby: And he spoke to Korah and to all his band, saying, Even to-morrow will Jehovah make known who is his, and who is holy; and he will cause him to come near to him; and him whom he has chosen, him will he cause to come near to him.

ASV: and he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, In the morning Jehovah will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he shall choose will he cause to come near unto him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he spake  unto Korah  and unto all his company,  saying,  Even to morrow  the LORD  will shew  who [are] his, and [who is] holy;  and will cause [him] to come near  unto him: even [him] whom he hath chosen  will he cause to come near  unto him. 

What does Numbers 16:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 16:1-19 - The Rebellion Of Koran
This was a very serious revolt, because so many princes associated themselves with the Levites. Jealousy was at the root of the entire movement. "All the congregation are holy," they said. "Wherefore lift ye up yourselves?" There is no root of bitterness that needs such careful watching as jealousy! If it is in your heart you must, like Samuel of old and General Gordon in our own times, "hew Agag in pieces before the Lord."
The record of Moses' meekness precedes this story of his testing. Whatever is strongest and best in us will be searched as by fire. Even Moses was ruffled by these gross charges. See Numbers 16:15. The best of men are but men at the best. Only Jesus was without a flaw.
What a beautiful thought is expressed in Numbers 16:5; Numbers 16:7; Numbers 16:9. There are holy and blessed souls who have an especial right of access into God's presence-chamber. See Zechariah 3:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Numbers 16:5 mean?

and he spoke to Korah and all his company saying Tomorrow morning and will show Yahweh - who [is] His and [who is] holy and will cause [him] to come near to Him and that one whom He chooses in him He will cause to come near to Him
וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל־ קֹ֜רַח וְאֶֽל־ כָּל־ עֲדָתוֹ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ בֹּ֠קֶר וְיֹדַ֨ע יְהוָ֧ה אֶת־ אֲשֶׁר־ ל֛וֹ וְאֶת־ הַקָּד֖וֹשׁ וְהִקְרִ֣יב אֵלָ֑יו וְאֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַר־ בּ֖וֹ יַקְרִ֥יב אֵלָֽיו

וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר  and  he  spoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
קֹ֜רַח  Korah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹרַח  
Sense: son of Izhar, grandson of Kohath, great grandson of Levi and leader of the rebellion of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron while in the wilderness; punished and died by an earthquake and flames of fire.
עֲדָתוֹ֮  his  company 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
לֵאמֹר֒  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בֹּ֠קֶר  Tomorrow  morning 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
וְיֹדַ֨ע  and  will  show 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
יְהוָ֧ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲשֶׁר־  who  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
ל֛וֹ  His 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
הַקָּד֖וֹשׁ  [who  is]  holy 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָדֹושׁ  
Sense: sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart.
וְהִקְרִ֣יב  and  will  cause  [him]  to  come  near 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
אֵלָ֑יו  to  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that  one  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יִבְחַר־  He  chooses 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
בּ֖וֹ  in  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
יַקְרִ֥יב  He  will  cause  to  come  near 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
אֵלָֽיו  to  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).