The Meaning of Numbers 17:13 Explained

Numbers 17:13

KJV: Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

YLT: any who is at all drawing near unto the tabernacle of Jehovah dieth; have we not been consumed -- to expire?'

Darby: Every one that comes at all near to the tabernacle of Jehovah shall die: shall we then expire altogether?

ASV: Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of Jehovah, dieth: shall we perish all of us?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whosoever cometh any thing near  unto the tabernacle  of the LORD  shall die:  shall we be consumed  with dying? 

What does Numbers 17:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 17:1-13 - The Budding Of Aaron's Rod
The controversy about the priesthood needed authoritative settlement, and to remove all grounds of dissension a notable sign was wrought on Aaron's rod. "The man whom I shall choose, his rod shall bud." This is an eternal principle. There is an indissoluble connection between God's choice and our fruitfulness. "I have chosen you and ordained you," said our Lord, "that ye should go and bring forth fruit."
In the Epistle to the Hebrews we learn that Aaron's budding rod symbolized our Lord's unwithering priesthood. See Hebrews 7:24. He seemed as a root out of the dry ground; but in the grave the rod of Jesse began to bud and blossom and bear fruit. We may seem to be mere bare rods, but if we become united to Christ by a living faith we shall partake of His strength and beauty. "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." "From me is thy fruit found," Hosea 14:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 17

1  Aaron's rod, among all the rods of the tribes, only flourishes
10  It is left for a monument against the rebels

What do the individual words in Numbers 17:13 mean?

Whoever near near unto the tabernacle of Yahweh must die Shall we all utterly die -
כֹּ֣ל הַקָּרֵ֧ב ׀ הַקָּרֵ֛ב אֶל־ מִשְׁכַּ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה יָמ֑וּת הַאִ֥ם תַּ֖מְנוּ ؟ לִגְוֺֽעַ ס

כֹּ֣ל  Whoever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַקָּרֵ֧ב ׀  near 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָרֵב  
Sense: near, approaching.
הַקָּרֵ֛ב  near 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָרֵב  
Sense: near, approaching.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מִשְׁכַּ֥ן  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
יְהוָ֖ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יָמ֑וּת  must  die 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
תַּ֖מְנוּ  we  all 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: תָּמַם  
Sense: to be complete, be finished, be at an end.
؟ לִגְוֺֽעַ  utterly  die 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: גָּוַע  
Sense: to expire, die, perish, give up the ghost, yield up the ghost, be dead, be ready to die.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation