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.

NUMBERS 16:17KJV
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Numbers 16:17 (KJV)

What does Numbers 16:17 mean?

Numbers 16:17 instructs each man to take his own censer, put incense in it, and bring it before the LORD, with a total of 250 censers being presented, including those of Aaron and the speaker. This verse sets up a test where many men, not just the priests, are told to approach God with incense to see whom God accepts.

Moses is speaking to Korah and his followers, who have challenged Aaron’s and Moses’ leadership and priestly roles. The setting is a confrontation where Korah’s group claims they should also be able to serve as priests. By telling each man to bring a censer with incense before the LORD, Moses is arranging a public demonstration to let God show whom He has chosen for the priesthood.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 16:17

  • "Censer" (מַחְתָּה, maḥtah): This word refers to a small pan or vessel used for burning incense. The repeated use emphasizes that each man is acting individually, not as a group.
  • "Incense" (קְטֹרֶת, qetoret): This is the fragrant substance burned as an offering. In the tabernacle, only priests were permitted to offer incense, so this act highlights the seriousness of the challenge.
  • "Bring" (קָרַב, qarav): This verb means to come near or present something before someone, often in a ritual sense. Here, it underlines the act of approaching God’s presence, which was a sacred and potentially dangerous act for those not chosen.

Why Numbers 16:17 matters

  • Numbers 16:17 clarifies that the confrontation is not just about leadership but about who is allowed to perform priestly duties, specifically offering incense.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of approaching God in ways He has not commanded, setting the stage for the dramatic outcome that follows.
  • By specifying 250 censers, the verse shows the scale of the rebellion and the public nature of the test, making clear that this is a significant challenge to God’s established order.

Where else these words appear

“censer” Hebrew H4289 · used in 19 verses

  • Exodus 25:38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
  • Numbers 4:9 And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:
  • Numbers 16:39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

“incense” Hebrew H7004 · used in 58 verses

  • Exodus 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
  • Leviticus 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
  • Numbers 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

“fifty” Hebrew H2572 · used in 141 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • Numbers 4:30 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.