Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Numbers, Chapter 16ΑΡΙΘΜΟΙ ΙϚ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

IMPORTANT VERSIFICATION NOTE: the Rahlfs/Hebrew chapter division differs from the English Bible here. Rahlfs–Hanhart Numbers 16 runs to 35 verses and closes with the fire from the LORD consuming the 250 men who offered incense (v.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Numbers 16 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. IMPORTANT VERSIFICATION NOTE: the Rahlfs/Hebrew chapter division differs from the English Bible here. Rahlfs–Hanhart Numbers 16 runs to 35 verses and closes with the fire from the LORD consuming the 250 men who offered incense (v. 35). The censer-aftermath (the beaten plates for the altar) and the plague checked by Aaron's incense — which English Bibles number 16:36–50 — fall in Rahlfs chapter 17:1–15. This file therefore annotates verses 1–35 only; readers comparing an English versification should note the one-chapter offset for the material after v. 35. The chapter narrates the rebellion of Korah (Κορε) the Levite, with Dathan and Abiram (Δαθαν, Αβιρων) of Reuben and 250 chiefs of the congregation, against the ordained authority of Moses and Aaron (vv. 1–3); their charge is a populist holiness-claim — πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ πάντες ἅγιοι ('all the congregation, all are holy'), so 'why do you exalt yourselves over the assembly of the LORD?' Moses falls on his face and proposes the censer-test: tomorrow the LORD will show whom he has chosen (ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος, v. 7), grounded in the principle ἔγνω ὁ θεὸς τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ ('God knows those who are his', v. 5) — a verse echoed at 2 Tim 2:19. Moses appeals to Korah's fellow-Levites ('is it a small thing, μὴ μικρόν ἐστιν, that God has separated you?', vv. 8–11), but Dathan and Abiram refuse to come up (οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν, vv. 12–14), mocking the Exodus as a removal from a land 'flowing with milk and honey.' At the tent of meeting the glory of the LORD appears (v. 19); after Moses' intercession (θεὸς τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ πάσης σαρκός, v. 22) the congregation is told to withdraw from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (vv. 23–27). Moses stakes the vindication of his commission on an unprecedented sign (vv. 28–30): if the earth opens its mouth and swallows them alive into Hades, the LORD has sent him. The judgment falls in two strokes: the ground splits and Korah's company go down alive into Hades (κατέβησαν … ζῶντα εἰς ᾅδου, vv. 31–33), and fire goes out from the LORD and consumes the 250 incense-bearers (v. 35). The chapter is the locus classicus for rebellion against divinely ordained authority — 'the gainsaying of Korah' (τῇ ἀντιλογίᾳ τοῦ Κορε, Jude 11).

1

καὶ ἐλάλησεν Κορε υἱὸς Ισσααρ υἱοῦ Κααθ υἱοῦ Λευι καὶ Δαθαν καὶ Αβιρων υἱοὶ Ελιαβ καὶ Αυν υἱὸς Φαλεθ υἱοῦ Ρουβην

And Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, spoke — and Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, son of Reuben —

New narrative episode (the rebellion opens)καὶ ἐλάλησεν Κορε
The chapter opens with a Hebraizing καί-paratactic narrative formula and a dense genealogical roster establishing the rebels' lineage. Korah is traced through the Kohathite line of Levi — making the revolt an inner-Levitical bid for priestly status — while Dathan, Abiram, and On are of Reuben, Jacob's dispossessed firstborn tribe. The singular verb ἐλάλησεν with multiple subjects follows the lead figure Korah; the Greek 'spoke' (for Hebrew וַיִּקַּח, 'took') reflects a textual/translational divergence in the LXX.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (singular agreeing with lead subject Κορε)→ ingressive aorist (onset of the rebellion's agitation)λαλέω: 'speak / talk'; the Greek ἐλάλησεν ('spoke') stands where the Masoretic Hebrew reads וַיִּקַּח Qoraḥ ('and Korah took'), a well-known divergence — the LXX (with some support) construes the verb as 'spoke / made bold,' framing the revolt as an act of speech-agitation rather than of 'taking'; the singular verb follows the principal instigator though several subjects follow.
ΚορεKorahsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΚορε: transliteration of Hebrew קֹרַח (Qoraḥ); indeclinable in the LXX; a Kohathite Levite and the chief instigator; his 'gainsaying' becomes proverbial as a type of rebellion against ordained authority (ἡ ἀντιλογία τοῦ Κορε, Jude 11).
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Κορε (head of genealogical chain)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; introduces the patrilineal chain (Korah → Izhar → Kohath → Levi) that locates the rebellion within the priestly tribe itself.
ΙσσααρIzhargenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Izhar')→ participant identificationΙσσααρ: transliteration of Hebrew יִצְהָר (Izhar); indeclinable; Izhar was a son of Kohath and brother of Amram (Moses' and Aaron's father), so Korah is first cousin to Moses and Aaron — the revolt is a family contest over priestly prerogative.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (continuing the patriline)→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive in apposition (continuing the patriline).
ΚααθKohathgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Kohath')→ participant identificationΚααθ: transliteration of Hebrew קְהָת (Kohath); indeclinable; head of the Kohathite clan of Levites, charged with carrying the most holy objects of the tabernacle (Num 4:4–15) — heightening the irony of a Kohathite reaching for the priesthood itself.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (continuing the patriline)→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive in apposition (continuing the patriline).
ΛευιLevigenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Levi')→ participant identificationΛευι: transliteration of Hebrew לֵוִי (Levi); indeclinable; the eponymous ancestor of the priestly tribe; the chain terminates at Levi to underline that Korah's claim is intra-Levitical — he already belongs to the consecrated tribe but covets the higher Aaronic office.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the Reubenite confederates)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΔαθανDathansubject (coordinate with Κορε; indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαθαν: transliteration of Hebrew דָּתָן (Dathan); indeclinable; a Reubenite; with Abiram he leads the lay component of the revolt, supplying a tribal grievance to Korah's priestly one.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβιρωνAbiramsubject (coordinate; indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβιρων: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִירָם (Abiram, 'my father is exalted'); indeclinable; the irony of the name is sharp — the man whose name claims exalted fatherhood charges Moses with self-exaltation (v. 13, κατάρχεις).
υἱοὶsonsNominativenominative in apposition to Δαθαν and Αβιρων→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): the plural marks Dathan and Abiram together as sons of Eliab; the Reubenite line is given without the long chain afforded Korah.
ΕλιαβEliabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Eliab')→ participant identificationΕλιαβ: transliteration of Hebrew אֱלִיאָב (Eliab); indeclinable; the father of Dathan, Abiram, and Nemuel, of the tribe of Reuben (cf. Num 26:8–9).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑυνOnsubject (coordinate; indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑυν: transliteration of Hebrew אוֹן (On); indeclinable; a Reubenite named only here and never again in the narrative — rabbinic tradition supposed he withdrew from the conspiracy.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Αυν→ participant prominenceυἱὸς: meaning 'son'; it serves as nominative in apposition to Αυν.
ΦαλεθPelethgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Peleth')→ participant identificationΦαλεθ: transliteration of Hebrew פֶּלֶת (Peleth); indeclinable; father of On, of the tribe of Reuben.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (continuing the Reubenite line)→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive in apposition (continuing the Reubenite line).
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Reuben')→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliteration of Hebrew רְאוּבֵן (Reuben); indeclinable; Jacob's firstborn, who forfeited the birthright (Gen 49:3–4); the Reubenites' loss of primacy may underlie their readiness to challenge the established order.
2

καὶ ἀνέστησαν ἔναντι Μωυσῆ καὶ ἄνδρες τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ πεντήκοντα καὶ διακόσιοι ἀρχηγοὶ συναγωγῆς σύγκλητοι βουλῆς καὶ ἄνδρες ὀνομαστοί

And they rose up before Moses, along with men of the sons of Israel — two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, men summoned of the council, men of name.

Sequential narrative: the rebels mass before Mosesκαὶ ἀνέστησαν
ἀνέστησαν ('rose up') is the technical verb of insurrection here; the 250 are not a fringe but the elite — ἀρχηγοί ('leaders'), σύγκλητοι βουλῆς ('summoned men of the council'), ἄνδρες ὀνομαστοί ('men of name / renown'). The triple description stresses that this is a revolt of the establishment, lending the challenge dangerous credibility.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστησανthey rose upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀνίστημιmain verb (insurrection)→ ingressive aorist (the act of rising in revolt)ἀνίστημι: 'rise up / stand up'; renders קוּם; the intransitive aorist active ἀνέστησαν ('they stood up') here carries the hostile sense of rising against authority — the verbal seed of the verb συνέστησαν ('they massed together', v. 3) that follows.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive (confrontational: 'in the face of')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in front of / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; here adversarial — they rise up 'in front of / against' Moses, a posture of direct confrontation.
ΜωυσῆMosesGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined in Rahlfs' LXX with genitive Μωυσῆ; the object of confrontation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the lay confederates)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativenominative (further subject: the 250)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man / male'; renders אִישׁ; here the adult males of standing who join the revolt, specified by number and rank in the appositional phrases that follow.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (partitive genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivepartitive genitive ('men of the sons of Israel')→ relational specificationυἱός (pl. gen. υἱῶν): in the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') the standard LXX designation of the covenant people; partitive here — the 250 are drawn from the whole nation.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; the covenant name of the people descended from Jacob.
πεντήκονταfiftyNominativenumeral (with διακόσιοι: '250')→ measure or countπεντήκοντα: 'fifty'; indeclinable numeral; combined with διακόσιοι to total 250 — the famous number of censer-bearers who will be consumed by fire (v. 35).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the numerals)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διακόσιοιtwo hundredNominativenumeral (nominative, agreeing with ἄνδρες)→ participant prominenceδιακόσιοι: 'two hundred'; declinable numeral, nominative masculine plural agreeing with ἄνδρες / ἀρχηγοί; with πεντήκοντα yields the 250 chiefs.
ἀρχηγοὶleadersNominativenominative in apposition (the rank of the 250)→ participant prominenceἀρχηγός: 'leader / chief / founder'; renders נָשִׂיא / רֹאשׁ; designates men of recognized public authority — these are not malcontents but the leadership class of the congregation.
συναγωγῆςof the congregationGenitivegenitive (defining the sphere of leadership)→ relational specificationσυναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly / gathering'; renders עֵדָה; the key term of this chapter (10× in 35 vv.), denoting the assembled covenant community; the rebels claim to act for the whole συναγωγή while in fact dividing it.
σύγκλητοιsummonedNominativepredicate/appositional adjective ('called to council')→ participant prominenceσύγκλητος: 'summoned / convened (to council)'; the term from which Greek political life derives the 'senate' (ἡ σύγκλητος); renders קְרִאֵי מוֹעֵד ('those called to the assembly'); marks the 250 as men formally seated in the deliberative body of Israel.
βουλῆςof councilGenitivegenitive (defining σύγκλητοι: 'summoned of the council')→ relational specificationβουλή: 'council / deliberative body / counsel'; renders מוֹעֵד here in the sense of the convened assembly; the phrase σύγκλητοι βουλῆς underlines the rebels' official deliberative standing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativenominative (third appositional description)→ participant prominenceἄνδρες: meaning 'men'; it serves as nominative (third appositional description).
ὀνομαστοίof name / renownedNominativeattributive adjective ('men of name')→ participant prominenceὀνομαστός: 'named / of repute / renowned'; renders אַנְשֵׁי שֵׁם ('men of name'); the phrase recalls the antediluvian 'men of name' of Gen 6:4 LXX (οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ ὀνομαστοί) — a possibly ominous echo associating renown with overreach.
3

συνέστησαν ἐπὶ Μωυσῆν καὶ Ααρων καὶ εἶπαν ἐχέτω ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ πάντες ἅγιοι καὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς κύριος καὶ διὰ τί κατανίστασθε ἐπὶ τὴν συναγωγὴν κυρίου

They massed together against Moses and Aaron and said, 'Let it be enough for you! For all the congregation, all are holy, and the LORD is among them; why then do you exalt yourselves over the assembly of the LORD?'

Climax of the rebellion: the formal charge against Moses and Aaronσυνέστησαν ἐπὶ Μωυσῆν
συνέστησαν ('they conspired / massed together') with hostile ἐπί is the verb of organized insurrection. The charge has a populist-egalitarian logic: since the whole congregation is holy and the LORD dwells among all, no mediatorial elevation is legitimate. The accusation κατανίστασθε ('you exalt yourselves over') is the precise inversion Moses will answer in vv. 5–11 — the holiness and nearness are God's gift and God's choice, not a human seizure.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
συνέστησανthey massed togetherAor Act Indic 3 Pl · συνίστημιmain verb (organized confrontation)→ ingressive aorist (the act of banding together in revolt)συνίστημι: 'set together / combine / conspire'; the intransitive aorist συνέστησαν with hostile ἐπί = 'they made common cause / massed against'; the συν- prefix marks collective organization, intensifying ἀνέστησαν of v. 2.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here adversarial, 'against'; the same hostile ἐπί recurs in the rebels' counter-charge κατανίστασθε ἐπὶ τὴν συναγωγήν, turning the accusation back on Moses.
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationΜωυσῆς (acc. Μωυσῆν): the accusative object of hostile ἐπί; Moses and Aaron together are the dual target — civil and cultic leadership at once.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑαρωνAaronaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑαρων: transliteration of Hebrew אַהֲרֹן; indeclinable in the LXX; the high priest, whose office is the real target of Korah's challenge; v. 11 will make explicit that murmuring against Aaron is murmuring against God.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (the spoken charge)λέγω (aor. εἶπαν): the Koine/LXX alpha-aorist form εἶπαν (for classical εἶπον); introduces the rebels' formal accusation.
ἐχέτωlet it be enoughPres Act Impv 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb (idiomatic impersonal imperative)→ imperative of sufficiency ('let it suffice / you have gone far enough')ἔχω (pres. impv. ἐχέτω): lit. 'let it have / hold'; the idiom ἐχέτω ὑμῖν renders Hebrew רַב־לָכֶם ('you have too much / enough for you!'), a rebuke meaning 'you have overstepped.' The same idiom is hurled back at the rebels by Moses in v. 7 (ἱκανούσθω ὑμῖν), creating a pointed verbal duel over who has 'gone too far.'
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of reference (2nd person plural pronoun)→ participant reference or interestσύ (pl. dat. ὑμῖν): dative of advantage/reference with the impersonal ἐχέτω; 'enough for you' addressed to Moses and Aaron.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the rebuke)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the theological ground of the charge — the universal holiness of the congregation.
πᾶσαall / wholeNominativeattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγή)→ participant prominenceπᾶς (fem. πᾶσα): 'all / whole / every'; 'the whole congregation' — the rebels' premise of total, undifferentiated holiness, which denies the validity of any distinct mediatorial office.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴcongregationNominativesubject ('all the congregation')→ participant prominenceσυναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly'; renders עֵדָה; the rebels invoke the holiness of the whole community (cf. Exod 19:6, 'a kingdom of priests, a holy nation') to level the distinction between priest and people.
πάντεςallNominativepredicate (in apposition: 'all are holy')→ participant prominenceπᾶς (masc. pl. πάντες): the shift to masculine plural πάντες ἅγιοι ('all [persons] are holy') personalizes the abstract συναγωγή — every individual, not just the body, is claimed as holy.
ἅγιοιholyNominativepredicate adjective ('all are holy')→ participant prominenceἅγιος: 'holy / set apart'; renders קָדוֹשׁ; the rebels' claim is true in one sense (Israel is a holy people) but misapplied — holiness of status does not abolish the LORD's appointment of particular mediators; Moses answers by redefining holiness as God's choosing (vv. 5, 7).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνamong / inpreposition + dative (locative: 'among them')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'among them').
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (3rd person plural pronoun)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (pl. dat. αὐτοῖς): 'them'; the claim 'the LORD is among them' invokes the indwelling presence (cf. Exod 29:45) as further warrant against any privileged access to God.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (of implied ἐστιν: 'the LORD is among them')→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the rebels appeal to the LORD's universal presence among the people; the irony is that the same LORD will vindicate the very mediation they deny.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the accusatory question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διὰbecause of / why (with τί)preposition + accusative (in interrogative idiom διὰ τί)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: in the fixed interrogative phrase διὰ τί ('on account of what? / why?'); renders מַדּוּעַ.
τίwhat / whyAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (in διὰ τί: 'why?')→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative pronoun; with διά forms 'why?'; the rhetorical question accuses Moses and Aaron of illegitimate self-elevation.
κατανίστασθεdo you exalt yourselvesPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · κατανίστημιmain verb of the accusatory question→ progressive present (an ongoing, charged self-elevation)κατανίσταμαι: 'set oneself up against / rise up over / exalt oneself against'; the middle κατανίστασθε with ἐπί = 'you lift yourselves up over (the assembly)'; the rebels frame legitimate office as arrogant usurpation — the central accusation the chapter exists to refute.
ἐπὶover / againstpreposition + accusative (with κατανίστασθε)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (with κατανίστασθε).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴνassemblyAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationσυναγωγή (acc. συναγωγήν): 'assembly / congregation'; the rebels cast themselves as defenders of 'the assembly of the LORD' against Moses' supposed self-exaltation — appropriating the divine name for their faction.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession ('the LORD's assembly')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton; 'the assembly of the LORD' (συναγωγὴ κυρίου) is a charged phrase the rebels claim for themselves — the chapter's judgment decides whose assembly it truly is.
4

καὶ ἀκούσας Μωυσῆς ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον

And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face.

Moses' response (turn from accusation to divine adjudication)καὶ ἀκούσας Μωυσῆς
Moses' falling on his face (ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον) is a gesture of both humility and intercessory appeal to God (cf. v. 22; Num 14:5; 20:6) — not self-defense but a turning to the LORD for adjudication. The aorist participle ἀκούσας marks the hearing as the trigger; what follows (vv. 5–7) is Moses' Spirit-directed proposal of the censer-test.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκούσαςhaving heardAor Act Part Nom Sg Masc · ἀκούωcircumstantial participle (temporal: 'when he heard')→ antecedent aorist participle (the hearing precedes the falling)ἀκούω: 'hear / listen'; the aorist participle ἀκούσας marks Moses' hearing of the charge as the immediate occasion of his prostration; the response is not argument but appeal to God.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb (gesture of prostration)→ constative aorist (single decisive act)πίπτω: 'fall / fall down'; renders נָפַל; ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ('fell on his face') is the standard LXX idiom for prostration before God — here intercessory rather than defensive, the same posture Moses and Aaron take at v. 22.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (direction of the fall)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of the fall).
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('on his face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / countenance'; renders פָּנִים; in the idiom πίπτειν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον it denotes complete prostration; the gesture signals that Moses refers the dispute to God rather than answering the rebels in kind.
5

καὶ ἐλάλησεν πρὸς Κορε καὶ πρὸς πᾶσαν αὐτοῦ τὴν συναγωγὴν λέγων ἐπέσκεπται καὶ ἔγνω ὁ θεὸς τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἁγίους καὶ προσηγάγετο πρὸς ἑαυτόν καὶ οὓς ἐξελέξατο ἑαυτῷ προσηγάγετο πρὸς ἑαυτόν

And he spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, 'God has visited and known those who are his and the holy ones, and has brought them near to himself; and those whom he chose for himself he has brought near to himself.'

Moses' principle of adjudication: divine election, not human claimκαὶ ἐλάλησεν πρὸς Κορε
Moses' first words after his prostration lay down the theological axis of the whole chapter: holiness and nearness to God are matters of God's knowing and choosing (ἔγνω … ἐξελέξατο), not of self-assertion. The clause ἔγνω ὁ θεὸς τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ ('God has known those who are his') is the verse Paul echoes at 2 Tim 2:19, ἔγνω κύριος τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ, as the seal that 'the LORD knows those who are his.' The doubled προσηγάγετο πρὸς ἑαυτόν ('he brought near to himself') frames election as God's own initiative toward the chosen.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενhe spokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak'; Moses now addresses Korah and his company directly, moving from prostration before God to authoritative proclamation of the test.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΚορεKorahaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΚορε: Hebrew קֹרַח; the address singles out Korah as ringleader, then widens to his whole faction.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
πᾶσανallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγήν)→ object specificationπᾶς (fem. acc. πᾶσαν): 'all / whole'; 'all his company' — the test is addressed to the entire faction, not Korah alone.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (fronted before the noun for emphasis)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; the fronted possessive αὐτοῦ τὴν συναγωγήν is mildly emphatic — pointedly 'his [Korah's own] congregation,' subtly distinguishing it from the LORD's assembly the rebels claimed in v. 3.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴνcompanyAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationσυναγωγή (acc. συναγωγήν): here 'his company / faction' — the same word the rebels used for the holy 'congregation' is now applied to Korah's partisan group, a quiet rhetorical reversal.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. part. λέγων): the redundant participle of saying after ἐλάλησεν is a Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר, marking the onset of direct quotation.
ἐπέσκεπταιhe has visited / taken notePerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιmain verb (perfect of settled divine action)→ resultative perfect (an accomplished, standing act of divine attention)ἐπισκέπτομαι: 'visit / inspect / take note of / muster'; renders פָּקַד / יָדַע; the perfect ἐπέσκεπται denotes a completed act of divine cognizance whose result stands — 'God has taken note (and knows).' The verb couples with ἔγνω to express God's settled discernment of who truly belongs to him, the basis of the test.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔγνωknewAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb ('God knew those who are his')→ constative aorist (settled act of divine knowing/recognition)γινώσκω: 'know / recognize / acknowledge'; renders יָדַע; ἔγνω ὁ θεὸς τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ ('God knew those who are his') is the textual seed of 2 Tim 2:19, ἔγνω κύριος τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ; the 'knowing' is elective acknowledgment, not mere information — God recognizes his own and his holy ones.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (of ἐπέσκεπται / ἔγνω / προσηγάγετο)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the subject of the whole sequence of electing verbs; Moses grounds the test in God's own knowing and choosing, removing the dispute from the realm of human merit.
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantizing the participle ὄντας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνταςbeing / who arePres Act Part Acc Pl Masc · εἰμίsubstantival participle (direct object: 'those who are his')→ progressive (those habitually/currently in the household)εἰμί (pres. part. ὄντας): 'being'; the articular participle τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ ('those who are his / belong to him') defines the elect by relation to God; the genitive αὐτοῦ expresses possessive belonging — God's own people.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('those who are his')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; the possessive genitive marks belonging to God; the phrase τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ is quoted verbatim at 2 Tim 2:19.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἁγίους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁγίουςholy onesAccusativesubstantival adjective (second object of ἔγνω)→ object specificationἅγιος (acc. pl. ἁγίους): 'holy ones'; Moses takes up the rebels' own word ἅγιοι (v. 3) and redefines it — the holy are those God has known and chosen, not those who claim holiness as a right; true holiness is God-conferred, not self-asserted.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσηγάγετοhe brought nearAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσάγωmain verb (divine drawing-near of the elect)→ constative aorist (completed act of bringing near)προσάγω (mid. προσηγάγετο): 'bring near / present (to oneself)'; renders הִקְרִיב; the middle voice ('brought near to himself') marks divine initiative and interest; the cultic verb of presenting offerings is here applied to God's drawing his chosen near — the very privilege the rebels covet is shown to be God's gift.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to himself')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to himself').
ἑαυτόνhimselfAccusativereflexive pronoun (object of πρός: 'to himself')→ participant referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun 'himself'; πρὸς ἑαυτόν ('to himself') stresses that the nearness granted is nearness to God's own person — the goal of election is communion with God.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the parallel relative clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐξελέξατο; antecedent the elect)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. pl. οὕς): relative pronoun 'whom'; the fronted relative clause οὓς ἐξελέξατο ('those whom he chose') is resumed by προσηγάγετο, a Hebraizing left-dislocation emphasizing the object of divine choice.
ἐξελέξατοhe choseAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιverb of relative clause (divine election)→ constative aorist (completed act of choosing)ἐκλέγομαι: 'choose / select for oneself'; renders בָּחַר; the middle ἐξελέξατο ἑαυτῷ ('chose for himself') is the key election-verb, recurring at v. 7 (ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος); the test will publicly display the choice God has already made — τίνας ἐξελέξατο, whom he has chosen.
ἑαυτῷfor himselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive: 'for himself')→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ (dat. ἑαυτῷ): reflexive 'for himself'; reinforces the middle ἐξελέξατο — God's choosing is wholly his own act for his own purpose.
προσηγάγετοhe brought nearAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσάγωmain verb (resuming the dislocated relative clause)→ constative aorist (completed act of bringing near)προσάγω (mid.): the repetition of προσηγάγετο πρὸς ἑαυτόν forms an emphatic refrain — election (ἐξελέξατο) and access (προσηγάγετο) are bound together as twin gifts of God, decisively answering the rebels' claim of unmediated, self-evident holiness.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to himself')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to himself').
ἑαυτόνhimselfAccusativereflexive pronoun (object of πρός)→ participant referenceἑαυτόν: meaning 'himself'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as reflexive pronoun (object of πρός).
6

τοῦτο ποιήσατε λάβετε ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς πυρεῖα Κορε καὶ πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ αὐτοῦ

Do this: take for yourselves censers, Korah and all his company,

Institution of the censer-test (imperatives)τοῦτο ποιήσατε
The cataphoric τοῦτο ('this') points forward to the instructions; the asyndetic chain of aorist imperatives (ποιήσατε … λάβετε) gives the test the form of a solemn ordeal. By demanding that Korah's whole company take censers — the priestly instrument of incense — Moses calls the rebels' bluff: if all are equally holy, let all approach as priests, and let the LORD decide.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (cataphoric object of ποιήσατε)→ participant referenceοὗτος (neut. τοῦτο): 'this'; the forward-pointing demonstrative announces the test about to be specified; renders זֹאת.
ποιήσατεdoAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (command opening the ordeal)→ aorist imperative (decisive command)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the aorist imperative frames the test as a single decisive action to be performed.
λάβετεtakeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (specifying the action: take censers)→ aorist imperative (decisive command)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; the imperative λάβετε ('take') initiates the ordeal — the same verb the Masoretic text uses of Korah's 'taking' in v. 1, now turned into a command.
ὑμῖνfor yourselvesDativedative of advantage (2nd person plural pronoun)→ participant reference or interestσύ (pl. dat. ὑμῖν): 'for yourselves'; the redundant pairing ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς ('for your own selves') is emphatic and Hebraizing (cf. לָכֶם).
αὐτοῖςyourselvesDativeintensive pronoun (reinforcing ὑμῖν)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): intensive 'your own selves'; the doubled dative stresses that the rebels must personally take up the priestly instrument and so put their claim to the test.
πυρεῖαcensers / fire-pansAccusativedirect object of λάβετε→ object specificationπυρεῖον: 'fire-pan / censer'; renders מַחְתָּה; the vessel for carrying coals and burning incense — a priestly implement (Lev 16:12). To wield it is to claim the priesthood; the 250 censers will become the very evidence and instrument of judgment (cf. 17:1–5 in Rahlfs).
ΚορεKorahvocative/nominative of address (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΚορε: Hebrew קֹרַח; named in direct address as the leader who must head the ordeal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶσαallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγή)→ participant prominenceπᾶς (fem. πᾶσα): 'all / whole'; the whole faction is summoned to the test, not Korah alone — the ordeal must be as comprehensive as their claim.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴcompanyNominativenominative of address (in apposition to Κορε)→ participant prominenceσυναγωγή: again 'his company / faction'; the nominative for vocative is common in the LXX (Hebraism).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his company')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; 'all his company' — Korah's partisans.
7

καὶ ἐπίθετε ἐπ᾿ αὐτὰ πῦρ καὶ ἐπίθετε ἐπ᾿ αὐτὰ θυμίαμα ἔναντι κυρίου αὔριον καὶ ἔσται ὁ ἀνήρ ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος οὗτος ἅγιος ἱκανούσθω ὑμῖν υἱοὶ Λευι

and put fire on them and put incense on them before the LORD tomorrow; and the man whom the LORD chooses, that one is holy. Let it be enough for you, sons of Levi!

Continuation and resolution of the censer-testκαὶ ἐπίθετε
The ordeal-clause ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος οὗτος ἅγιος ('the man whom the LORD chooses — that one is holy') states the criterion of legitimacy: holiness is constituted by divine election, displayed publicly tomorrow. Moses then flings the rebels' own taunt back at them: ἱκανούσθω ὑμῖν ('let it be enough for you'), the mirror of their ἐχέτω ὑμῖν in v. 3 — it is the Levites, not Moses and Aaron, who have overreached.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπίθετεput onAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (continuing the instructions)→ aorist imperative (decisive command)ἐπιτίθημι: 'put / place upon'; renders נָתַן (עַל) / שִׂים; ἐπίθετε ἐπ᾽ αὐτά ('put upon them [the censers]') directs the placing of fire and then incense — the precise priestly act whose acceptability the LORD will adjudicate.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided before vowel).
αὐτὰthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the censers)→ participant referenceαὐτός (neut. pl. αὐτά): 'them'; refers to the πυρεῖα (censers) of v. 6.
πῦρfireAccusativedirect object of ἐπίθετε→ object specificationπῦρ: 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the coals placed in the censer; the motif of fire frames the chapter — offered fire here (vv. 7, 18), consuming fire from the LORD at the end (v. 35, πῦρ ἐξῆλθεν παρὰ κυρίου).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπίθετεput onAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (parallel command)→ aorist imperative (decisive command)ἐπιτίθημι: the repeated imperative separates the two acts — first fire, then incense — mirroring the proper liturgical sequence.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided before vowel).
αὐτὰthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the censers)→ participant referenceαὐτὰ: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (the censers).
θυμίαμαincenseAccusativedirect object of ἐπίθετε→ object specificationθυμίαμα: 'incense / fragrant offering'; renders קְטֹרֶת; the burning of incense is the prerogative of the Aaronic priesthood (Exod 30:7–8); for the 250 to offer it is to usurp the priestly office — the act that brings the fire upon them (v. 35).
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive ('in the presence of')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the offering is made 'before the LORD' — at the sanctuary, where God himself will render the verdict.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton; the LORD before whom the test is conducted is also its judge.
αὔριονtomorrowadverb of time→ clausal contributionαὔριον: 'tomorrow'; renders מָחָר; the appointed delay gives the ordeal solemnity and allows the whole congregation to assemble as witnesses (cf. v. 19).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the verdict-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (future of the verdict)→ predictive future (the outcome God will reveal)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'shall be'; renders וְהָיָה; introduces the apodosis of the test — 'it shall be [that] the man whom the LORD chooses, that one is holy.'
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνήρmanNominativesubject (resumed by οὗτος: 'the man ... that one')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the singular ὁ ἀνήρ ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος narrows the test to a single divinely-chosen figure — implicitly Aaron, whose election the ordeal will confirm.
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκλέξηται)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. ὅν): relative pronoun 'whom'; introduces the indefinite relative clause with ἄν + subjunctive.
ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive in indefinite relative clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking contingency; with the aorist subjunctive ἐκλέξηται it forms an indefinite relative ('whomever the LORD may choose').
ἐκλέξηταιmay chooseAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιverb of indefinite relative clause (the divine choice)→ aorist subjunctive (contingent future choice, certain in fact)ἐκλέγομαι: 'choose for oneself'; the same election-verb as v. 5 (ἐξελέξατο); the test does not create the choice but discloses it — God will show τίνας ἐξελέξατο, whom he has chosen.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐκλέξηται→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the LORD alone is the agent of the choosing the test will reveal.
οὗτοςthis oneNominativeresumptive demonstrative (subject of the predicate ἅγιος)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this one'; resumes the dislocated ὁ ἀνήρ after the relative clause (Hebraizing pendant construction) — 'that very one is holy.'
ἅγιοςholyNominativepredicate adjective ('that one is holy')→ participant prominenceἅγιος: 'holy'; the verse defines holiness functionally — the holy man is the chosen man; this is Moses' decisive answer to the rebels' πάντες ἅγιοι (v. 3): holiness is not a universal possession but God's particular gift to the chosen.
ἱκανούσθωlet it be enoughPres Mid/Pass Impv 3 Sg · ἱκανόωmain verb (impersonal imperative of rebuke)→ imperative of sufficiency ('you have gone far enough')ἱκανόω: 'make sufficient / suffice'; the passive ἱκανούσθω ὑμῖν ('let it be sufficient for you') mirrors and answers the rebels' ἐχέτω ὑμῖν of v. 3 — Moses returns their own rebuke, charging that it is the Levites who have overstepped (רַב־לָכֶם).
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of reference (2nd person plural pronoun)→ participant reference or interestσύ (pl. dat. ὑμῖν): 'for you'; the pointed echo of v. 3 turns the accusation back on the accusers.
υἱοὶsonsNominativenominative of address (vocative: 'sons of Levi')→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'sons'; the address υἱοὶ Λευι ('sons of Levi') reminds Korah's faction that they are already Levites — consecrated, but not priests; their grievance is ingratitude for a granted dignity.
Λευιof Levigenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Levi')→ participant identificationΛευι: Hebrew לֵוִי; indeclinable; the tribal name pinpoints the irony — those already set apart as Levites grasp after the priesthood reserved to Aaron's line.
8

καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κορε εἰσακούσατέ μου υἱοὶ Λευι

And Moses said to Korah, 'Hear me now, sons of Levi:'

Renewed direct address: the appeal to the Levites beginsκαὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κορε
A fresh speech-introduction opens the focused appeal to Korah's Levitical faction (vv. 8–11). The summons εἰσακούσατέ μου ('hear me / give heed to me') asks for genuine attention before Moses lays out the dignity they already possess and the ingratitude of their demand.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Moses' renewed and more pointed address to the Levites.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΚορεKorahaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΚορε: Hebrew קֹרַח; the address is to Korah as representative of the Levitical faction.
εἰσακούσατέhear / give heedAor Act Impv 2 Pl · εἰσακούωmain verb (imperative of appeal)→ aorist imperative (urgent summons to attend)εἰσακούω: 'hear / hearken / heed'; the compound εἰσ- intensifies ἀκούω toward 'listen and obey'; renders שָׁמַע; the call asks not merely for hearing but for receptive attention before the argument that follows.
μουmeGenitivegenitive object of εἰσακούσατε (object of hearing)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'of me / me'; the genitive is the regular object of verbs of hearing — 'hear me.'
υἱοὶsonsNominativenominative of address (vocative: 'sons of Levi')→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'sons'; the renewed address υἱοὶ Λευι frames the appeal — they are addressed precisely as Levites, the dignity they undervalue.
Λευιof Levigenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Levi')→ participant identificationΛευι: Hebrew לֵוִי; indeclinable; the tribal name underlines that the addressees are already members of the consecrated tribe.
9

μὴ μικρόν ἐστιν τοῦτο ὑμῖν ὅτι διέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ὑμᾶς ἐκ συναγωγῆς Ισραηλ καὶ προσηγάγετο ὑμᾶς πρὸς ἑαυτὸν λειτουργεῖν τὰς λειτουργίας τῆς σκηνῆς κυρίου καὶ παρίστασθαι ἔναντι τῆς συναγωγῆς λατρεύειν αὐτοῖς

Is it a small thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to himself to perform the services of the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?

Rhetorical question exposing the Levites' ingratitudeμὴ μικρόν ἐστιν τοῦτο ὑμῖν
The rhetorical question with μή (expecting the answer 'no, it is not a small thing') confronts the Levites with the dignity they already hold. The verbs of privilege — διέστειλεν ('set apart'), προσηγάγετο ('brought near') — recall v. 5: the very nearness the rebels resent is itself a granted gift. The three infinitives (λειτουργεῖν, παρίστασθαι, λατρεύειν) catalogue the high Levitical service, making the demand for the priesthood appear as discontent with an already-exalted calling.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
μὴnot (interrogative)interrogative particle (expecting negative answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: here the interrogative particle introducing a question that expects the answer 'no' — 'it is surely not a small thing, is it?' i.e. it is a great privilege.
μικρόνsmall / a small thingNominativepredicate adjective (substantival: 'a small thing')→ participant prominenceμικρός: 'small / little / trivial'; renders מְעַט; the phrase μὴ μικρόν ἐστιν ('is it a small thing?') is a Hebraizing idiom of rebuke (cf. הַמְעַט מִכֶּם); it recurs in Dathan and Abiram's defiant mouths at v. 13, where they apply it cynically to the Exodus itself.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (in the rhetorical question)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the rhetorical question.
τοῦτοthisNominativesubject (cataphoric, defined by the ὅτι-clause)→ participant referenceοὗτος (neut. τοῦτο): 'this'; the subject anticipates the ὅτι-clause that specifies the great privilege in view.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of reference (2nd person plural pronoun)→ participant reference or interestσύ (pl. dat. ὑμῖν): 'for you'; the dative of those for whom the privilege is reckoned.
ὅτιthatconjunction (epexegetical: specifying τοῦτο)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of 'this' — the act of separation and bringing-near.
διέστειλενseparated / set apartAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαστέλλωmain verb of the ὅτι-clause (divine separation)→ constative aorist (completed act of setting apart)διαστέλλω: 'separate / set apart / distinguish'; renders הִבְדִּיל; the verb of consecratory distinction (cf. Lev 20:24–26) — God himself drew the line setting the Levites apart, so their distinctive status is divine gift, not human achievement.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject ('the God of Israel')→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; with the genitive Ισραηλ, 'the God of Israel' — the covenant title stresses that the separation flows from Israel's own God, who orders his people's life.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'God of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the title ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ underscores covenant authority over the community's order.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of διέστειλεν (2nd person plural pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ (pl. acc. ὑμᾶς): 'you'; the Levites are the recipients of the divine separation.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (separation: 'out of')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'out of').
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἐκ: 'out of the congregation')→ relational specificationσυναγωγή (gen. συναγωγῆς): 'congregation'; the Levites were drawn 'out of' the general congregation — the very distinction the rebels resent is the basis of their dignity; cf. Num 8:14, 'I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel.'
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: the congregation 'of Israel' from which the Levites were set apart.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσηγάγετοbrought nearAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσάγωmain verb (parallel to διέστειλεν)→ constative aorist (completed bringing-near)προσάγω (mid. προσηγάγετο): 'bring near to oneself'; the same verb as v. 5 — God's drawing the Levites near for service is the granted privilege the rebels now scorn by reaching for more.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of προσηγάγετο→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of προσηγάγετο.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to himself')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to himself').
ἑαυτὸνhimselfAccusativereflexive pronoun (object of πρός)→ participant referenceἑαυτοῦ (acc. ἑαυτόν): reflexive 'himself'; the nearness is nearness to God himself — the supreme Levitical honor.
λειτουργεῖνto minister / perform servicePres Act Inf · λειτουργέωinfinitive of purpose (the goal of the bringing-near)→ imperfective (ongoing service)λειτουργέω: 'render (public/cultic) service / minister'; renders שֵׁרֵת / עָבַד; the term of sacred liturgical service (whence 'liturgy'); the Levites' calling is to perform the holy services — a dignity, not a deprivation.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with λειτουργίας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λειτουργίαςservicesAccusativecognate accusative (object of λειτουργεῖν)→ object specificationλειτουργία: 'service / ministry'; the cognate accusative λειτουργεῖν τὰς λειτουργίας ('to serve the services') is a figura etymologica intensifying the sense of dedicated cultic labor entrusted to the Levites.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with σκηνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtabernacle / tentGenitivegenitive (defining the sphere of service)→ relational specificationσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; renders מִשְׁכָּן / אֹהֶל; the dwelling of the LORD's presence, the focus of Levitical service; the Levites serve at the very center of Israel's holiness.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession ('tabernacle of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton; 'the tabernacle of the LORD' marks the service as service rendered to God himself.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the infinitives)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρίστασθαιto stand before / attendPres Mid Inf · παρίστημιinfinitive of purpose (second service)→ verbal action or stateπαρίστημι (mid. παρίστασθαι): 'stand beside / attend / present oneself'; renders עָמַד לִפְנֵי; the verb of standing in attendance before a superior (cf. standing 'before the congregation' to minister); a posture of honored service, not subjection.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive ('in the presence of')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the Levites stand 'before the congregation' as its appointed ministers.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with συναγωγῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationσυναγωγή (gen. συναγωγῆς): 'congregation'; the Levites serve as mediating ministers between the congregation and the sanctuary.
λατρεύεινto serve / ministerPres Act Inf · λατρεύωinfinitive of purpose (third service)→ present infinitive (continuous worshipful service)λατρεύω: 'serve / render religious service'; renders עָבַד / שֵׁרֵת; properly the service rendered to God, here directed 'to them' (the congregation) on the congregation's behalf — the Levites mediate the people's worship.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative complement of λατρεύειν (the congregation served)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'to them'; the congregation on whose behalf the Levites minister; the threefold service (λειτουργεῖν / παρίστασθαι / λατρεύειν) sums up the exalted Levitical vocation the rebels disdain.
10

καὶ προσηγάγετό σε καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου υἱοὺς Λευι μετὰ σοῦ καὶ ζητεῖτε ἱερατεύειν

And he brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you — and do you seek the priesthood as well?

The charge sharpened: from granted nearness to grasped priesthoodκαὶ προσηγάγετό σε
The third repetition of προσηγάγετο ('he brought near', vv. 5, 9, 10) drives home the point: the nearness is wholly God's gift to the whole Levitical family. The adversative force lies in the bare juxtaposition — having been brought near, καὶ ζητεῖτε ἱερατεύειν ('and yet you seek the priesthood'). The shift from singular σε (Korah) to the plural ζητεῖτε implicates the whole faction in the overreach.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσηγάγετόhe brought nearAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσάγωmain verb (third occurrence of the bringing-near)→ constative aorist (completed bringing-near)προσάγω (mid.): 'bring near to oneself'; the threefold προσηγάγετο (vv. 5, 9, 10) is a deliberate refrain — God's repeated act of drawing the Levites near makes their ambition for the priesthood appear as grasping ingratitude.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (singular: Korah)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you' (sg.); singles out Korah as the chief recipient of the divine nearness.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀδελφούς)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. pl. πάντας): 'all'; the nearness extends to the whole Levitical family, not Korah alone — universalizing the gift to expose the universality of the ingratitude.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἀδελφούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφούςbrothersAccusativedirect object (coordinate with σε)→ object specificationἀδελφός: 'brother / kinsman'; renders אָח; here the fellow-Levites as kin; the family-language heightens the tragedy of the impending fratricidal judgment within the tribe.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your brothers')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; Korah's kinsmen — the Levitical clan.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ἀδελφούς ('the sons of Levi')→ object specificationυἱός (acc. pl. υἱούς): 'sons'; the appositional υἱοὺς Λευι identifies the brothers as the Levitical clan — already a consecrated order.
Λευιof Levigenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Levi')→ participant identificationΛευι: Hebrew לֵוִי; indeclinable; their Levitical identity is precisely the dignity they undervalue.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά (accompaniment: 'with you')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): 'you'; the whole clan was brought near 'with you [Korah]' — collective privilege underlining collective culpability.
καὶand (yet)coordinate conjunction (with adversative force in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here carrying an adversative nuance by juxtaposition — 'and yet (after all this) you seek...'; the granted nearness stands in pointed contrast to the grasped priesthood.
ζητεῖτεyou seekPres Act Indic 2 Pl · ζητέωmain verb (the rebels' grasping ambition)→ progressive present (an ongoing, willful seeking)ζητέω: 'seek / strive after'; renders בִּקֵּשׁ; the present tense marks the persistent, willful character of the demand; the shift to 2nd plural ζητεῖτε spreads the charge across the whole faction — they covet what God has not given.
ἱερατεύεινto be priest / exercise priesthoodPres Act Inf · ἱερατεύωcomplementary infinitive (object of ζητεῖτε)→ purpose/telic present infinitive (ongoing priestly service)ἱερατεύω: 'serve as priest / hold the priestly office'; renders כִּהֵן; the priesthood proper, reserved to Aaron's line (Exod 28:1); to 'seek to be priests' is to overstep the divinely fixed boundary between Levite and priest — the heart of Korah's transgression.
11

οὕτως σὺ καὶ πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγή σου ἡ συνηθροισμένη πρὸς τὸν θεόν καὶ Ααρων τίς ἐστιν ὅτι διαγογγύζετε κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ

So it is that you and all your company are banded together against God; and Aaron — who is he, that you murmur against him?

The theological unmasking: revolt against Aaron is revolt against Godοὕτως σὺ καὶ πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγή σου
The inferential οὕτως ('so / thus it is') draws the conclusion of vv. 8–10: the faction's gathering is in truth a gathering πρὸς τὸν θεόν — against God. The rhetorical question Ααρων τίς ἐστιν ('Aaron, who is he?') strips the personal grievance of its weight: Aaron is only the appointed instrument, so to murmur against him is to murmur against the God who appointed him — the same logic by which Moses tells the people their murmuring is 'not against us but against the LORD' (Exod 16:8).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
οὕτωςso / thusinferential adverb (drawing the conclusion)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so / in this way'; renders כֵּן / לָכֵן; here it draws the damning inference from the preceding argument — 'so this is what your gathering really amounts to.'
σὺyouNominativesubject (Korah; emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: 'you' (sg.); the emphatic nominative pinpoints Korah at the head of the banded faction.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶσαallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγή)→ participant prominenceπᾶς (fem. πᾶσα): 'all / whole'; 'all your company' — the whole faction, not Korah alone, stands implicated.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγήcompanyNominativesubject (coordinate with σύ)→ participant prominenceσυναγωγή: 'company / faction'; again Korah's partisan group, here exposed in its true orientation.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your company')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the faction belongs to Korah, not to the LORD whose assembly they claimed to defend (v. 3).
the (one)Nominativearticle (with the attributive participle συνηθροισμένη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συνηθροισμένηgathered togetherPerf Mid/Pass Part Nom Sg Fem · συναθροίζωattributive participle (modifying συναγωγή)→ resultative perfect participle (in a settled state of having banded together)συναθροίζω: 'gather together / assemble'; the perfect passive participle ἡ συνηθροισμένη describes the faction as already and abidingly massed; the συν- compound stresses collective combination — and the prepositional phrase reveals against whom: God.
πρὸςagainst / towardpreposition + accusative (here adversarial: 'against')→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: usually 'toward'; here the gathering 'toward God' is in fact 'against' him — the construction lays bare that the revolt's true object is God, not merely Moses and Aaron.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόνGodAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationθεός (acc. θεόν): 'God'; the climactic unmasking — the faction massed 'against God himself'; this is the theological heart of the chapter: rebellion against ordained authority is rebellion against the God who ordained it.
καὶand (as for)coordinate conjunction (introducing the second clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and (as for)'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑαρωνAaronnominative (topicalized: 'and Aaron — who is he?'; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑαρων: Hebrew אַהֲרֹן; indeclinable; fronted as the topic of the rhetorical question — Aaron is merely the appointed servant, not the true object of the grievance.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of the rhetorical question)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative 'who?'; Ααρων τίς ἐστιν ('who is Aaron?') is a self-deprecating idiom (cf. Exod 16:7–8): Aaron is nothing in himself — merely God's chosen instrument — so the murmuring lands not on him but on God.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (in the rhetorical question)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of 'who is Aaron?'
ὅτιthatconjunction (consecutive/causal: 'that you should murmur')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that / seeing that'; here introducing the grounds of incongruity — 'who is Aaron, that you murmur against him?' i.e. he is too slight a figure to be the real target.
διαγογγύζετεyou murmurPres Act Indic 2 Pl · διαγογγύζωmain verb (the act of grumbling)→ progressive present (ongoing, spreading complaint)διαγογγύζω: 'murmur / grumble (throughout)'; an onomatopoeic verb (γογγ-) intensified by δια- ('grumble all around'); renders הִלּוֹן; the standard wilderness-rebellion verb (cf. Exod 16:7–8; Num 14:2); murmuring against God's appointee is the recurrent sin of the desert generation.
κατ᾿againstpreposition + genitive (hostile: 'against'; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: 'against'; the hostile preposition marks Aaron as the ostensible object of the grumbling — though God is the real one.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of κατά (Aaron)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'him'; the grammatical object is Aaron, but the theological object — as v. 11a has shown — is God.
12

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Μωυσῆς καλέσαι Δαθαν καὶ Αβιρων υἱοὺς Ελιαβ καὶ εἶπαν οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν

And Moses sent to summon Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab; but they said, 'We will not come up.'

Scene-shift to the Reubenite leaders and their refusalκαὶ ἀπέστειλεν Μωυσῆς
The narrative turns from the Levitical faction to the lay leaders Dathan and Abiram. Moses' conciliatory summons is met with blank refusal: οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν ('we will not come up'). The verb ἀναβαίνω ('go up') becomes the refrain of their defiance (vv. 12, 14) — a refusal of the very approach to authority that the chapter is about; their 'not coming up' will be answered by their 'going down' (κατέβησαν) into Hades (v. 33).
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (Moses' summons)→ constative aorist (single act of sending)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; Moses takes the initiative to summon the Reubenites — a conciliatory gesture toward dialogue that they spurn.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
καλέσαιto summon / callAor Act Inf · καλέωinfinitive of purpose (purpose of the sending)→ verbal action or stateκαλέω: 'call / summon / invite'; renders קָרָא; the infinitive of purpose — Moses sends 'in order to call' Dathan and Abiram to come and speak with him.
ΔαθανDathanaccusative object of καλέσαι (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαθαν: Hebrew דָּתָן; indeclinable; the Reubenite co-leader of the revolt.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβιρωνAbiramaccusative object of καλέσαι (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβιρων: Hebrew אֲבִירָם; indeclinable; with Dathan, the Reubenite leadership of the lay revolt.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Δαθαν and Αβιρων→ object specificationυἱός (acc. pl. υἱούς): 'sons'; identifies the pair as sons of Eliab.
ΕλιαβEliabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Eliab')→ participant identificationΕλιαβ: Hebrew אֱלִיאָב; indeclinable; the Reubenite father of Dathan and Abiram.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (with adversative force in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here adversative by context — the summons is met not with compliance but refusal.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the refusal)→ constative aorist (the spoken refusal)λέγω (aor. εἶπαν): the alpha-aorist; introduces the curt, defiant refusal.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἀναβαίνομεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ before vowel): the objective negative; the flat οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν is a categorical refusal of Moses' authority.
ἀναβαίνομενwe are coming upPres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb of the refusal (futuristic/refusing present)→ refusing present ('we will not come up')ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / come up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the present 'we are not coming up' is a settled refusal; the verb recurs in v. 14 as the rebels' defiant refrain, and is ironically reversed by κατέβησαν ('they went down', v. 33) — those who would not 'go up' to Moses 'go down' alive into Hades.
13

μὴ μικρὸν τοῦτο ὅτι ἀνήγαγες ἡμᾶς ἐκ γῆς ῥεούσης γάλα καὶ μέλι ἀποκτεῖναι ἡμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὅτι κατάρχεις ἡμῶν ἄρχων

Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, that you also lord it over us as a ruler?

The Reubenites' counter-accusation: a blasphemous inversion of the Exodusμὴ μικρὸν τοῦτο
Dathan and Abiram throw Moses' own idiom (μὴ μικρόν, v. 9) back at him, but with a shocking inversion: they call Egypt — the house of bondage — 'a land flowing with milk and honey,' the very phrase reserved for the Promised Land (Exod 3:8). The Exodus is recast as a death-march (ἀποκτεῖναι ἡμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ), and Moses' leadership as tyranny (κατάρχεις … ἄρχων). The blasphemy lies in attributing to slavery the blessings of the promise.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
μὴnot (interrogative)interrogative particle (expecting negative answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: interrogative; the rebels mockingly echo Moses' μὴ μικρόν of v. 9, turning his rebuke into sarcasm.
μικρὸνsmall / a small thingNominativepredicate adjective (substantival: 'a small thing')→ participant prominenceμικρός: 'small / trivial'; the deliberate verbal echo of v. 9 (μὴ μικρόν ἐστιν) is sarcastic — they apply Moses' word for the Levitical privilege to their own alleged grievance.
τοῦτοthisNominativesubject (cataphoric, defined by the ὅτι-clause)→ participant referenceοὗτος (neut. τοῦτο): 'this'; points forward to the charge of vv. 13b–14.
ὅτιthatconjunction (epexegetical: specifying τοῦτο)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the complaint.
ἀνήγαγεςyou brought upAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀνάγωmain verb of the ὅτι-clause (the charge against Moses)→ constative aorist (the completed 'bringing up')ἀνάγω: 'lead up / bring up'; renders הֶעֱלָה; the standard Exodus-verb ('brought up out of Egypt'), here twisted: the deliverance is portrayed as a fatal abduction; the rebels make Moses the agent, suppressing the LORD.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object (1st person plural pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ (pl. acc. ἡμᾶς): 'us'; the rebels speak as injured victims of Moses' leadership.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
γῆςa landGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; astonishingly applied here to Egypt — the rebels call the land of slavery a land 'flowing with milk and honey.'
ῥεούσηςflowingPres Act Part Gen Sg Fem · ῥέωattributive participle (modifying γῆς)→ progressive present participle (a land continually flowing)ῥέω: 'flow / run'; the participle γῆ ῥέουσα γάλα καὶ μέλι ('a land flowing with milk and honey') renders אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ — the set formula for the Promised Land (Exod 3:8, 17). Its blasphemous application to Egypt is the rhetorical scandal of the verse: the rebels invert promise and bondage.
γάλαmilkAccusativeaccusative of respect (content of the flowing)→ object specificationγάλα: 'milk'; renders חָלָב; the accusative of the thing flowed; part of the stock Promised-Land formula here misapplied to Egypt.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μέλιhoneyAccusativeaccusative of respect (content of the flowing)→ object specificationμέλι: 'honey'; renders דְּבַשׁ; completes the milk-and-honey formula; the rebels' nostalgia for Egypt recalls the wider wilderness pattern of idealizing slavery (cf. Num 11:5).
ἀποκτεῖναιto killAor Act Inf · ἀποκτείνωinfinitive of purpose (the alleged purpose of the Exodus)→ constative aorist infinitiveἀποκτείνω: 'kill / put to death'; renders הֵמִית; the infinitive of (alleged) purpose imputes murderous intent to Moses — the deliverance recast as designed slaughter in the desert.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ἀποκτεῖναι→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀποκτεῖναι.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἐρήμῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place (locative: 'in the wilderness')→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert'; renders מִדְבָּר; the place of the rebels' supposed doom; ironically it is in this very wilderness that the LORD will vindicate Moses and judge the rebels.
ὅτιthat / becauseconjunction (adding a second charge)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that / because'; introduces the second, climactic accusation — that Moses domineers.
κατάρχειςyou rule over / domineerPres Act Indic 2 Sg · κατάρχωmain verb (the charge of tyranny)→ progressive present (an ongoing domination)κατάρχω: 'rule over / hold sway / domineer'; the κατα- compound + genitive gives a hostile sense, 'lord it over'; the rebels accuse Moses of arrogated tyranny — precisely the κατανίστασθε ('exalt yourselves') charge of v. 3 in another key.
ἡμῶνus / over usGenitivegenitive object of κατάρχεις ('rule over us')→ relational specificationἐγώ (pl. gen. ἡμῶν): 'of us / over us'; the genitive object of the verb of ruling.
ἄρχωνas a ruler / princeNominativepredicate nominative (in apposition to the subject: 'you, a ruler')→ participant prominenceἄρχων: 'ruler / prince / commander'; renders שַׂר; the redundant κατάρχεις … ἄρχων ('you rule as a ruler') is emphatic and contemptuous — Moses is charged with self-appointed princely domination, the very accusation the chapter exists to refute by the LORD's vindication.
14

εἰ καὶ εἰς γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι εἰσήγαγες ἡμᾶς καὶ ἔδωκας ἡμῖν κλῆρον ἀγροῦ καὶ ἀμπελῶνας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐκείνων ἂν ἐξέκοψας οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν

Even if you had brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey and given us an inheritance of field and vineyards — would you have put out the eyes of those men? We will not come up.

Contrary-to-fact reproach, sealed by the refrain of refusalεἰ καὶ … εἰσήγαγες ἡμᾶς
A contrary-to-fact construction (εἰ … ἂν ἐξέκοψας): even granting the impossible — that Moses had actually delivered the promised inheritance — they would still suspect him of 'putting out the eyes' of the men (a metaphor for blinding/deceiving, or gouging in tyranny). The verse closes with the verbatim repetition of v. 12's refusal, οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν, framing their defiance as fixed and final.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
εἰifconditional conjunction (introducing contrary-to-fact protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; with ἄν + aorist indicative (ἐξέκοψας) forms a contrary-to-fact condition — 'even if you had... would you have...?'
καὶevenadverbial (concessive: 'even if')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here adverbial-concessive with εἰ, 'even if' — conceding for argument's sake what they deny has happened.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
γῆνa landAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationγῆ (acc. γῆν): 'land'; now the genuine Promised Land is in view — but the rebels deny Moses has delivered it; the same formula they perversely applied to Egypt (v. 13) is here used of the land they say they have not received.
ῥέουσανflowingPres Act Part Acc Sg Fem · ῥέωattributive participle (modifying γῆν)→ progressive present participleῥέω: 'flow'; the repeated milk-and-honey formula, here of the actual Promised Land; its juxtaposition with v. 13's application to Egypt sharpens the rebels' rhetorical perversity.
γάλαmilkAccusativeaccusative of respect (content of flowing)→ object specificationγάλα: 'milk'; the Promised-Land formula.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μέλιhoneyAccusativeaccusative of respect (content of flowing)→ object specificationμέλι: 'honey'; completes the formula.
εἰσήγαγεςyou brought inAor Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰσάγωverb of the protasis (the conceded act)→ constative aorist (in contrary-to-fact protasis)εἰσάγω: 'bring/lead into'; renders הֵבִיא; the counterpart of ἀνάγω (v. 13) — even granting Moses had brought them into the land, their distrust would remain; the verb of entry into the inheritance they claim to lack.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of εἰσήγαγες→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of εἰσήγαγες.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκαςyou gaveAor Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιverb of the protasis (second conceded act)→ constative aoristδίδωμι (aor. ἔδωκας): 'give'; renders נָתַן; the giving of an inheritance — the substance of the covenant promise the rebels claim has not materialized.
ἡμῖνto usDativeindirect object (1st person plural pronoun)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (pl. dat. ἡμῖν): 'to us'; the recipients of the supposed inheritance.
κλῆρονinheritance / allotmentAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκας→ object specificationκλῆρος: 'lot / portion / inheritance'; renders נַחֲלָה / חֵלֶק; the allotted land-portion; its mention exposes the lay-Reubenite grievance — they feel cheated of the promised landed inheritance.
ἀγροῦof fieldGenitivegenitive (defining κλῆρον: 'inheritance of field')→ relational specificationἀγρός: 'field / farmland'; renders שָׂדֶה; 'an inheritance of field and vineyard' — the concrete agrarian wealth of settled life the wanderers still lack.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμπελῶναςvineyardsAccusativedirect object (coordinate with κλῆρον)→ object specificationἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; renders כֶּרֶם; the vineyard as a symbol of secure, prosperous settlement; its absence underscores the rebels' sense of unfulfilled promise.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ὀφθαλμούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοὺςeyesAccusativedirect object of ἐξέκοψας→ object specificationὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; the idiom 'put out the eyes' (ἐκκόπτειν τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς) connotes either literal gouging (the mark of a tyrant subduing his subjects) or metaphorically 'blinding/deceiving' the men — the rebels accuse Moses of either brutality or deception.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἀνθρώπων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπωνmenGenitivegenitive of possession ('the eyes of those men')→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος (gen. pl. ἀνθρώπων): 'men / people'; 'those men' = the rebels themselves, referring to their own number; the third-person reference adds a tone of grievance on behalf of the whole faction.
ἐκείνωνthoseGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἀνθρώπων)→ relational specificationἐκεῖνος (gen. pl. ἐκείνων): 'those'; the demonstrative points to the men of the faction; the slightly distancing 'those men' may reflect the rebels speaking of their own party rhetorically.
ἂνwould (modal)modal particle (with aorist indicative in apodosis of contrary-to-fact condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle; with the aorist indicative ἐξέκοψας it forms the apodosis of the contrary-to-fact condition — 'would you have put out...?'
ἐξέκοψαςyou would have put outAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐκκόπτωmain verb of the apodosis (contrary-to-fact)→ contrary-to-fact aorist (with ἄν: 'would you have gouged out')ἐκκόπτω: 'cut out / cut off / gouge'; renders נִקֵּר (of putting out eyes); the contrary-to-fact rhetorical question caps the indictment: even total fulfillment of the promise would not allay their suspicion that Moses means to dominate and deceive them.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἀναβαίνομεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ): the objective negative, sealing the final refusal.
ἀναβαίνομενwe are coming upPres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the closing refrain of refusal)→ refusing present ('we will not come up')ἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; the verbatim repetition of v. 12 (οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν) brackets the Reubenite speech with fixed defiance; their refusal to 'go up' is sealed — and will be answered by their going down alive into Hades (v. 33).
15

καὶ ἐβαρυθύμησεν Μωυσῆς σφόδρα καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς κύριον μὴ προσχῇς εἰς τὴν θυσίαν αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐπιθύμημα οὐδενὸς αὐτῶν εἴληφα οὐδὲ ἐκάκωσα οὐδένα αὐτῶν

And Moses was greatly grieved and said to the LORD, 'Do not regard their offering. I have not taken the coveted thing of any one of them, nor have I harmed any one of them.'

Moses' grieved appeal to the LORD and protestation of innocenceκαὶ ἐβαρυθύμησεν Μωυσῆς σφόδρα
Moses' deep grief (ἐβαρυθύμησεν σφόδρα) issues not in retaliation but in prayer. His petition μὴ προσχῇς ('do not regard their offering') asks God to reject the rebels' incense, anticipating the test's verdict. The protestation οὐκ ἐπιθύμημα … εἴληφα ('I have taken no coveted thing') is the classic disclaimer of the upright leader (cf. 1 Sam 12:3), establishing Moses' integrity against the charge of self-serving tyranny (v. 13).
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβαρυθύμησενwas greatly grieved / angeredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βαρυθυμέωmain verb (Moses' emotional response)→ ingressive aorist (onset of heavy grief/indignation)βαρυθυμέω: 'be heavy of spirit / be deeply grieved or indignant'; the compound βαρυ- (heavy) + θυμός (spirit/anger) renders חָרָה ('burn with anger') here as a weight of grief; the ingressive aorist marks the welling-up of Moses' distress at the rebels' obstinacy.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying ἐβαρυθύμησεν)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'exceedingly / very'; renders מְאֹד; intensifies the grief — Moses is profoundly affected, yet turns it Godward.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the prayer)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Moses' prayer — he addresses God, not the rebels, transferring the judgment to the LORD.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (addressee of the prayer)→ object specificationκύριος (acc. κύριον): the Tetragrammaton; Moses prays directly to the LORD, the only competent judge of the dispute.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative used with the subjunctive in prohibitions and negative petitions; here 'do not regard.'
προσχῇςregard / pay heedAor Act Subj 2 Sg · προσέχωprohibitive subjunctive (negative petition to God)→ aorist prohibitive subjunctive (petition that God not turn toward)προσέχω: 'turn toward / give heed to / regard favorably'; renders פָּנָה (אֶל); μὴ προσχῇς εἰς τὴν θυσίαν αὐτῶν ('do not turn to their offering') asks God to refuse the rebels' sacrifice — a prayer the LORD answers by the fire of judgment (v. 35); cf. the rejection of Cain's offering (Gen 4:5).
εἰςto / towardpreposition + accusative (object of regard)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object of regard).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυσίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίανoffering / sacrificeAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the thing not to be regarded)→ object specificationθυσία: 'sacrifice / offering'; renders מִנְחָה / זֶבַח; the rebels' incense-offering, which Moses asks God to reject; its rejection is the negative side of the test's verdict against Korah's party.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their offering')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the rebels' offering, which Moses prays the LORD will not regard.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating εἴληφα)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ): the objective negative; Moses' emphatic denial of wrongdoing.
ἐπιθύμημαobject of desire / coveted thingAccusativedirect object of εἴληφα→ object specificationἐπιθύμημα: 'object of desire / something coveted'; from ἐπιθυμέω ('desire'); renders חֲמוֹר (here 'a single donkey' in MT, but the LXX generalizes to 'anything desirable'); Moses denies having taken even one coveted possession — the disclaimer of the incorrupt ruler (cf. Samuel, 1 Sam 12:3).
οὐδενὸςof no oneGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἐπιθύμημα: 'of none of them')→ relational specificationοὐδείς (gen. οὐδενός): 'no one / not one'; the emphatic 'not one of them' underlines the completeness of Moses' integrity — not a single person has been wronged.
αὐτῶνof themGenitivepartitive genitive (the rebels)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'of them'; refers to the rebels — from none of whom Moses has taken anything.
εἴληφαI have takenPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (Moses' protestation of innocence)→ resultative perfect (no standing record of any wrong taken)λαμβάνω (perf. εἴληφα): 'take / receive'; the perfect denotes the abiding state — 'I have taken (and so stand guilty of taking) nothing'; the perfect tense stresses that there is no lingering record of exploitation to set against Moses.
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative (adding a second denial)→ clausal contributionοὐδέ: 'nor / and not'; links the second denial — Moses has neither taken property nor harmed any person.
ἐκάκωσαI have harmed / mistreatedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · κακόωmain verb (second denial)→ constative aorist (denying any act of harm)κακόω: 'harm / mistreat / do evil to'; renders הֵרַע; Moses denies having injured anyone — refuting the charge of tyranny (κατάρχεις, v. 13) directly; his rule has been blameless, the opposite of oppression.
οὐδέναno oneAccusativedirect object of ἐκάκωσα ('harmed no one')→ object specificationοὐδείς (acc. οὐδένα): 'no one / not one'; the emphatic 'not one' matches οὐδενός above — Moses' innocence is total and individual, sparing not even the appearance of partial wrong.
αὐτῶνof themGenitivepartitive genitive (the rebels)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'of them'; closes the protestation — Moses has wronged none of the very men who accuse him of tyranny.
16

καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κορε ἁγίασον τὴν συναγωγήν σου καὶ γίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι ἔναντι κυρίου σὺ καὶ αὐτοὶ καὶ Ααρων αὔριον

And Moses said to Korah, 'Sanctify your company, and be ready before the LORD, you and they and Aaron, tomorrow.'

Formal convening of the ordeal (return to Korah and the censer-test)καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κορε
The narrative returns from the Dathan-Abiram episode to the censer-test with Korah. The imperatives ἁγίασον ('sanctify / consecrate') and γίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι ('be ready') set the time and terms: tomorrow, before the LORD, all parties — Korah's company, Korah himself, and Aaron — must present themselves for the divine adjudication. The pairing of Korah's faction with Aaron sets the contest in its starkest form: claimant against appointee, before the LORD.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Moses' formal convening of the test.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΚορεKorahaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΚορε: Hebrew קֹרַח; the address returns to the chief instigator to fix the terms of the ordeal.
ἁγίασονsanctify / consecrateAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἁγιάζωmain verb (command to consecrate for the ordeal)→ aorist imperative (decisive ritual command)ἁγιάζω: 'make holy / consecrate / set apart for cultic encounter'; renders קָדַשׁ; the command ἁγίασον τὴν συναγωγήν σου ('consecrate your company') is pointed — the rebels claimed all were already holy (ἅγιοι, v. 3); now they are told to undergo consecration to approach the LORD, exposing that holiness is a conferred preparation, not a self-evident possession.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with συναγωγήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγήνcompanyAccusativedirect object of ἁγίασον→ object specificationσυναγωγή (acc. συναγωγήν): 'company / faction'; Korah's partisan group, to be consecrated for the test.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your company')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; again 'your [Korah's] company,' distinguished from the LORD's assembly.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γίνεσθεbe / becomePres Mid Impv 2 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (command to be ready)→ present imperative (durative: 'be in a state of readiness')γίνομαι (pres. impv. γίνεσθε): 'become / be'; γίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι ('be ready / prepared') summons the faction to stand prepared for the divine encounter; the present imperative implies sustained readiness through to the appointed time.
ἕτοιμοιready / preparedNominativepredicate adjective (with γίνεσθε: 'be ready')→ participant prominenceἕτοιμος: 'ready / prepared'; renders נָכוֹן / הִכּוֹן; the readiness is for presentation before the LORD — the same cultic preparedness demanded at Sinai (Exod 19:11, 15).
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive ('in the presence of')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the presentation is 'before the LORD,' who will render the verdict.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton; the LORD is both the venue and the judge of the ordeal.
σὺyouNominativenominative in apposition (specifying the parties: 'you')→ participant referenceσύ: 'you' (sg.); Korah himself, named first among the parties to appear.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativenominative in apposition ('they' — the company)→ participant prominenceαὐτός (nom. pl. αὐτοί): 'they'; the members of Korah's faction, the second party to the ordeal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑαρωνAaronnominative in apposition (indeclinable: the third party)→ participant identificationΑαρων: Hebrew אַהֲרֹן; indeclinable; the LORD's appointed high priest, set opposite the 250 claimants — the contrast that the divine verdict will resolve.
αὔριονtomorrowadverb of time→ clausal contributionαὔριον: 'tomorrow'; renders מָחָר; the appointed day of the ordeal, repeated from v. 7 to frame the test with solemn delay.
17

καὶ λάβετε ἕκαστος τὸ πυρεῖον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπιθήσετε ἐπ᾿ αὐτὰ θυμίαμα καὶ προσάξετε ἔναντι κυρίου ἕκαστος τὸ πυρεῖον αὐτοῦ πεντήκοντα καὶ διακόσια πυρεῖα καὶ σὺ καὶ Ααρων ἕκαστος τὸ πυρεῖον αὐτοῦ

And take each man his censer, and put incense on them, and bring near before the LORD each his censer — two hundred and fifty censers — both you and Aaron, each his censer.

Detailed instructions for the censer-ordeal (distributive command)καὶ λάβετε ἕκαστος τὸ πυρεῖον αὐτοῦ
The distributive ἕκαστος ('each man') threefold-repeated drives home that every one of the 250 must personally present his censer — the test is individual and total. The explicit count πεντήκοντα καὶ διακόσια πυρεῖα ('250 censers') ties the ordeal back to the number of v. 2 and forward to the consuming fire of v. 35. Aaron is set among them: the one true priest beside the 250 claimants, awaiting the LORD's verdict.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λάβετεtakeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (command to take censers)→ aorist imperative (decisive command)λαμβάνω: 'take'; the imperative resumes the test-instructions of vv. 6–7; each man is to take up his own censer for the ordeal.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive subject (in apposition to the plural imperative)→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each one'; the distributive pronoun individualizes the command — the test admits no proxies; each of the 250 must personally take and present his censer.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πυρεῖον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πυρεῖονcenserAccusativedirect object of λάβετε→ object specificationπυρεῖον: 'fire-pan / censer'; renders מַחְתָּה; the priestly instrument whose use will decide the issue; the 250 censers later become a memorial covering for the altar (Rahlfs 17:1–5).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his censer')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; each man's own censer.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιθήσετεyou shall put onFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (future with imperatival force)→ imperatival future (command expressed as future)ἐπιτίθημι (fut. ἐπιθήσετε): 'put upon'; the future has imperatival force ('you shall put') — common in legal/instructional contexts (cf. the Decalogue futures); directs the placing of incense on the censers.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided before vowel).
αὐτὰthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the censers)→ participant referenceαὐτός (neut. pl. αὐτά): 'them'; the censers.
θυμίαμαincenseAccusativedirect object of ἐπιθήσετε→ object specificationθυμίαμα: 'incense'; renders קְטֹרֶת; the priestly offering whose unlawful presentation by the 250 brings the fire (v. 35).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσάξετεyou shall bring nearFut Act Indic 2 Pl · προσάγωmain verb (future with imperatival force)→ imperatival futureπροσάγω (fut. προσάξετε): 'bring near / present'; renders הִקְרִיב; the cultic verb of presenting an offering before the LORD — here the act that constitutes the rebels' claim to priestly access; the same root as προσηγάγετο (God's bringing-near of the elect, vv. 5, 9, 10), now in the rebels' presumptuous self-presentation.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive ('in the presence of')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before'; the presentation is made directly before the LORD, the judge of the ordeal.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive subject (second occurrence)→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each one'; the repeated distributive reinforces the individuality of the test.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πυρεῖον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πυρεῖονcenserAccusativedirect object (object of προσάξετε)→ object specificationπυρεῖον: 'censer'; the repeated noun keeps the instrument of the ordeal in focus.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his censer')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his censer').
πεντήκονταfiftyAccusativenumeral (with διακόσια: '250 censers')→ measure or countπεντήκοντα: 'fifty'; indeclinable numeral; with διακόσια gives the total of 250 censers, tying the ordeal to the number of rebels (v. 2) and to their fate (v. 35).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the numerals)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διακόσιαtwo hundredAccusativenumeral (neuter, agreeing with πυρεῖα)→ object specificationδιακόσια: 'two hundred'; declinable numeral, neuter accusative agreeing with πυρεῖα; with πεντήκοντα = 250.
πυρεῖαcensersAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the total: '250 censers')→ object specificationπυρεῖον (pl. πυρεῖα): 'censers'; the explicit tally of all the censers to be presented; the heaping of the number underscores the magnitude of the presumption about to be judged.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σὺyouNominativenominative (Korah, included among the presenters)→ participant referenceσύ: 'you' (sg.); Korah, named alongside Aaron — claimant and appointee presenting censers side by side before the LORD.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑαρωνAaronnominative (the appointed priest; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑαρων: Hebrew אַהֲרֹן; indeclinable; the legitimate high priest set among the claimants — his preservation amid the consuming fire will vindicate the LORD's choice.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive subject (third occurrence)→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each one'; the third repetition closes the instruction with maximal emphasis on individual, personal presentation.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πυρεῖον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πυρεῖονcenserAccusativedirect object (implied with προσάξετε)→ object specificationπυρεῖον: 'censer'; the final repetition of the instrument's name.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his censer')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his censer').
18

καὶ ἔλαβεν ἕκαστος τὸ πυρεῖον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὰ πῦρ καὶ ἐπέβαλον ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸ θυμίαμα καὶ ἔστησαν παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου Μωυσῆς καὶ Ααρων

And each man took his censer, and they put fire on them and laid incense on it, and they stood at the doors of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron.

Execution of the command: the rebels and the priests assemble for the ordealκαὶ ἔλαβεν ἕκαστος
The narrative of compliance mirrors the command of v. 17 verb-for-verb (ἔλαβεν / ἐπέθηκαν / ἐπέβαλον / ἔστησαν), the standard LXX pattern of command-and-fulfillment. The whole company now stands παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('at the doors of the tent of meeting') — the threshold of the divine presence, the place where the verdict will fall. Moses and Aaron stand with them, the legitimate authority awaiting vindication.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (compliance: distributive singular with ἕκαστος)→ constative aorist (completed act of taking)λαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): 'take'; the singular agrees with the distributive ἕκαστος ('each man took'); the fulfillment narrative answers the command λάβετε of v. 17.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive subject→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each one'; the distributive carries over from the command — each rebel personally complied.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πυρεῖον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πυρεῖονcenserAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationπυρεῖον: 'censer'; the instrument taken up in compliance.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his censer')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his censer').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέθηκανthey put onAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (compliance: plural)→ constative aorist (completed act)ἐπιτίθημι (aor. ἐπέθηκαν): 'put upon'; the shift to plural views the company collectively placing fire on the censers; answers the command ἐπιθήσετε of v. 17.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided before vowel).
αὐτὰthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the censers)→ participant referenceαὐτός (neut. pl. αὐτά): 'them'; the censers.
πῦρfireAccusativedirect object of ἐπέθηκαν→ object specificationπῦρ: 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the coals placed in the censers — the offered fire that will be answered by fire from the LORD (v. 35).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέβαλονthey laid onAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιβάλλωmain verb (compliance: plural)→ constative aorist (completed act)ἐπιβάλλω: 'throw/lay upon'; a near-synonym of ἐπιτίθημι, here for the placing of the incense; the variation of verbs is stylistic, narrating the layered preparation of the offering.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided before vowel).
αὐτὸitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the censer, sg.)→ participant referenceαὐτός (neut. sg. αὐτό): 'it'; the singular (after the plural αὐτά) distributively views each individual censer receiving its incense.
θυμίαμαincenseAccusativedirect object of ἐπέβαλον→ object specificationθυμίαμα: 'incense'; the unlawful priestly offering now laid on each censer.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστησανthey stoodAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (taking position for the ordeal)→ constative aorist (took their stand)ἵστημι (aor. intrans. ἔστησαν): 'stand / take one's stand'; the company takes position at the tent entrance — the liminal place of divine encounter where priests alone may rightly stand; their standing there is the visible enactment of their claim.
παρὰbeside / atpreposition + accusative (position: 'at')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + acc.: 'beside / at'; locates the company at the very doors of the tent.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with θύρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύραςdoors / entranceAccusativeaccusative object of παρά→ object specificationθύρα: 'door / entrance'; renders פֶּתַח; the entrance of the tent of meeting, the threshold of the holy where the LORD manifests his glory (v. 19).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with σκηνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtentGenitivegenitive (defining θύρας: 'doors of the tent')→ relational specificationσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; renders אֹהֶל; with μαρτυρίου = the 'tent of meeting / of witness.'
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with μαρτυρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαρτυρίουof witness / meetingGenitivegenitive (defining σκηνῆς: 'tent of witness')→ relational specificationμαρτύριον: 'testimony / witness'; renders מוֹעֵד (read by the LXX often as related to עֵדוּת, 'testimony'); ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('the tent of witness/meeting') is the standard LXX designation of the tabernacle as the place of God's appointed meeting with Israel.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject in apposition (those who stood: 'Moses ...')→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: nominative, naming (with Aaron) those who also took their stand — legitimate authority present at the ordeal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑαρωνAaronsubject in apposition (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑαρων: Hebrew אַהֲרֹן; indeclinable; the high priest stands at the tent with Moses, his vindication imminent.
19

καὶ ἐπισυνέστησεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς Κορε τὴν πᾶσαν αὐτοῦ συναγωγὴν παρὰ τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου καὶ ὤφθη ἡ δόξα κυρίου πάσῃ τῇ συναγωγῇ

And Korah massed against them all his company at the door of the tent of meeting; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation.

Korah's final mustering, met by the theophany of the divine gloryκαὶ ἐπισυνέστησεν … Κορε
Korah's double-compounded verb ἐπισυνέστησεν ('massed together against', ἐπι-συν-) caps the chain ἀνέστησαν (v. 2) → συνέστησαν (v. 3) → ἐπισυνέστησεν — the rebellion reaches its full assembly. At its climax the response is sudden and decisive: ὤφθη ἡ δόξα κυρίου ('the glory of the LORD appeared'), the theophanic verb that signals divine intervention (cf. Exod 16:10; Lev 9:23) and immediately precedes the verdict (vv. 20–21).
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπισυνέστησενmassed together / assembled againstAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπισυνίστημιmain verb (Korah's mustering of the congregation)→ constative aorist (completed gathering)ἐπισυνίστημι: 'gather together against / mass up'; the double compound ἐπι-συν- intensifies συνίστημι (v. 3) — Korah brings the whole congregation to bear against Moses and Aaron; the same verb (mid./pass.) describes a mob 'rising up' in Acts 16:22, capturing the sense of incited assembly.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile: 'against'; elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: hostile 'against'; the congregation is massed against Moses and Aaron.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (Moses and Aaron)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them'; Moses and Aaron, the targets of the mustered crowd.
ΚορεKorahsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΚορε: Hebrew קֹרַח; the instigator now rallies the whole congregation — overreaching to the moment of judgment.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with συναγωγήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πᾶσανall / wholeAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγήν)→ object specificationπᾶς (fem. acc. πᾶσαν): 'all / whole'; Korah masses his entire following — the maximal assembly that makes the impending judgment a public vindication.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (fronted: 'his whole company')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; 'all his company' — Korah's partisans, distinguished from the LORD's true assembly.
συναγωγὴνcompanyAccusativedirect object of ἐπισυνέστησεν→ object specificationσυναγωγή (acc. συναγωγήν): 'company / congregation'; here Korah's faction, gathered to its full extent at the tent.
παρὰat / besidepreposition + accusative (position: 'at')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + acc.: 'at / beside'; the gathering is at the very door of the tent — the threshold of the holy presence.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θύραν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύρανdoor / entranceAccusativeaccusative object of παρά→ object specificationθύρα (acc. θύραν): 'door / entrance'; the entrance of the tent of meeting, the place of theophany about to occur.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with σκηνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtentGenitivegenitive (defining θύραν)→ relational specificationσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; the dwelling of the divine presence.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with μαρτυρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαρτυρίουof witness / meetingGenitivegenitive (defining σκηνῆς: 'tent of witness')→ relational specificationμαρτύριον: 'witness / testimony'; the standard LXX designation σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου for the tent of meeting.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the theophany)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὤφθηappeared / was seenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (theophany: the glory was made visible)→ constative aorist passive (the manifestation occurred)ὁράω (aor. pass. ὤφθη): 'be seen / appear'; the theophanic verb par excellence in the LXX (ὤφθη κύριος / ἡ δόξα κυρίου, cf. Gen 12:7; Exod 16:10; Lev 9:23); the divine glory makes itself visible at the climax of the rebellion, signaling that the LORD is about to render judgment.
theNominativearticle (with δόξα)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δόξαgloryNominativesubject of ὤφθη→ participant prominenceδόξα: 'glory / splendor'; renders כָּבוֹד; the visible manifestation of the divine presence (the כְּבוֹד יהוה), whose appearing both authenticates Moses' and Aaron's standing and presages judgment on the rebels.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession ('the glory of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton; 'the glory of the LORD' — the LORD's own self-manifestation.
πάσῃall / to allDativeattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγῇ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς (fem. dat. πάσῃ): 'all'; the glory appears 'to all the congregation' — the manifestation is public, so the verdict will be witnessed by the whole assembly.
τῇtheDativearticle (with συναγωγῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῇcongregationDativedative of reference (those to whom the glory appeared)→ sphere or referenceσυναγωγή (dat. συναγωγῇ): 'congregation'; the whole assembly witnesses the theophany — the LORD's appearing to 'all the congregation' rebuts the rebels' claim to speak for that very congregation (v. 3).
20

καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν καὶ Ααρων λέγων

And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

Divine speech-formula (introducing the verdict of separation)καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος
The standard LXX divine speech-formula introduces the LORD's response to the theophany. That the word comes πρὸς Μωυσῆν καὶ Ααρων ('to Moses and Aaron') is itself an implicit vindication — the LORD addresses precisely the two whose authority was challenged, confirming them as his mediators on the brink of judgment.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λαλέω (aor. ἐλάλησεν): 'speak'; the formula ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρός ('the LORD spoke to') is the standard LXX introduction to divine commands; here it issues from the manifested glory.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (the divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the LORD himself now speaks, the supreme authority adjudicating the dispute.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationΜωυσῆς (acc. Μωυσῆν): the LORD addresses Moses — the very mediator the rebels challenged.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑαρωνAaronaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑαρων: Hebrew אַהֲרֹן; indeclinable; the LORD addresses the high priest alongside Moses, confirming both in their challenged offices.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. part. λέγων): the redundant participle of saying after ἐλάλησεν, a Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר, marking the onset of the direct command.
21

ἀποσχίσθητε ἐκ μέσου τῆς συναγωγῆς ταύτης καὶ ἐξαναλώσω αὐτοὺς εἰς ἅπαξ

Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, and I will utterly consume them in a single instant.

The divine verdict of annihilation (occasioning Moses' intercession)ἀποσχίσθητε ἐκ μέσου τῆς συναγωγῆς ταύτης
The LORD's command to 'separate' (ἀποσχίσθητε) anticipates the threatened total destruction (ἐξαναλώσω … εἰς ἅπαξ, 'consume them at one stroke') — the same impulse to wipe out the whole congregation that recurs in the wilderness narratives (Exod 32:10; Num 14:12). The verdict is so sweeping that it provokes Moses and Aaron's intercession in v. 22, distinguishing the one sinner from the many.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
ἀποσχίσθητεseparate yourselves / be partedAor Pass Impv 2 Pl · ἀποσχίζωmain verb (divine command of separation)→ aorist imperative (decisive command to withdraw)ἀποσχίζω: 'split off / sever / separate'; the passive ἀποσχίσθητε ('be separated / withdraw') renders הִבָּדְלוּ; the verb of cleaving asunder anticipates the literal splitting of the earth (ἐρράγη, v. 31); Moses and Aaron must stand clear of the doomed company.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
μέσουmidstGenitivegenitive (with ἐκ: 'from the midst')→ relational specificationμέσος (neut. μέσον): 'middle / midst'; ἐκ μέσου ('from the midst of') renders מִתּוֹךְ; the same phrase recurs at v. 33 (ἀπώλοντο ἐκ μέσου τῆς συναγωγῆς) — the rebels removed from the midst they sought to dominate.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with συναγωγῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive (object of ἐκ μέσου)→ relational specificationσυναγωγή (gen. συναγωγῆς): 'congregation'; here the assembled, rebellious company under threat of destruction.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying συναγωγῆς)→ relational specificationοὗτος (fem. gen. ταύτης): 'this'; the demonstrative marks the present rebellious assembly as the object of judgment, distinct from the faithful body.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the threatened act)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαναλώσωI will utterly consumeFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξαναλίσκωmain verb (divine threat of annihilation)→ predictive future (imminent divine act of destruction)ἐξαναλίσκω: 'consume utterly / use up completely'; the double-intensive compound ἐξ-ανα- pushes ἀναλίσκω ('consume') to total annihilation; renders כָּלָה (Piel); the LORD threatens to wipe out the whole congregation at once — the verdict Moses' intercession will narrow to the guilty (v. 22).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξαναλώσω→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them'; the rebellious congregation, the object of the threatened consumption.
εἰςin / atpreposition + accusative (in the idiom εἰς ἅπαξ: 'at once')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + ἅπαξ: the idiom εἰς ἅπαξ ('at one stroke / in a single instant') stresses the suddenness and finality of the threatened destruction.
ἅπαξonce / at one strokeadverb (with εἰς: 'in a single instant')→ clausal contributionἅπαξ: 'once'; the adverb in εἰς ἅπαξ underscores instantaneous, all-at-once annihilation — the severity that prompts the intercessors to fall on their faces.
22

καὶ ἔπεσαν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπαν θεὸς θεὸς τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ πάσης σαρκός εἰ ἄνθρωπος εἷς ἥμαρτεν ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν συναγωγὴν ὀργὴ κυρίου

And they fell upon their faces and said, 'O God, the God of the spirits and of all flesh — if one man has sinned, shall the wrath be upon the whole congregation?'

The intercession of Moses and Aaron: discriminating justiceκαὶ ἔπεσαν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν
Moses and Aaron prostrate themselves (as Moses alone did in v. 4) and intercede. The invocation θεὸς τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ πάσης σαρκός ('God of the spirits and of all flesh') appeals to God as the maker and knower of every individual life — precisely the discrimination needed: he who knows each spirit can distinguish the guilty from the innocent. The protest εἰ ἄνθρωπος εἷς ἥμαρτεν ('if one man has sinned, [shall wrath fall] on all?') is the classic Abrahamic plea against collective destruction (Gen 18:23–25).
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπεσανthey fellAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πίπτωmain verb (intercessory prostration)→ constative aorist (the act of falling down)πίπτω (aor. ἔπεσαν): 'fall'; ἔπεσαν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ('fell on their faces') is the posture of urgent intercession before God (cf. v. 4; Num 14:5; 20:6); Moses and Aaron plead rather than defend themselves.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (direction of the fall)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of the fall).
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('on their face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; the singular (with plural αὐτῶν) is idiomatic for the collective gesture of prostration.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their face')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; Moses and Aaron together.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the prayer)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπαν): introduces the intercessory prayer.
θεὸςO GodNominativenominative for vocative (address: 'O God')→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the nominative θεός used as a vocative (Hebraism, for the articular אֱלֹהִים of address); the repetition θεός θεός is emphatic and solemn, opening the appeal.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative for vocative (in apposition: 'the God of the spirits')→ participant prominenceθεός: the doubled θεός (some witnesses read the divine name first) intensifies the invocation; the second governs the genitives τῶν πνευμάτων καὶ πάσης σαρκός.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with πνευμάτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πνευμάτωνspiritsGenitivegenitive (defining θεός: 'God of the spirits')→ relational specificationπνεῦμα (gen. pl. πνευμάτων): 'spirit / breath'; renders רוּחַ; the title θεὸς τῶν πνευμάτων ('God of the spirits of all flesh', cf. Num 27:16) names God as the maker and giver of the life-breath of every person — the ground of the appeal: he who gives each spirit knows each individual's guilt or innocence.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάσηςallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying σαρκός)→ relational specificationπᾶς (fem. gen. πάσης): 'all'; 'of all flesh' — the totality of living humanity, all of whom owe their life to God.
σαρκόςfleshGenitivegenitive (parallel to πνευμάτων: 'of all flesh')→ relational specificationσάρξ (gen. σαρκός): 'flesh'; renders בָּשָׂר; 'all flesh' = all living creatures/humanity; the pairing 'spirits and flesh' embraces the whole person — God is sovereign over inner life and bodily existence alike, and so can judge with perfect discrimination.
εἰif / shall?conditional/interrogative particle (introducing the protasis of the plea)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; here introducing a remonstrating conditional question (Hebraistic) — 'if one man sins, [is wrath then to fall] on all?'; the construction implies an indignant 'surely not.'
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject of ἥμαρτεν→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; renders אִישׁ / אָדָם; 'one man' — the intercessors plead the principle of individual responsibility against collective annihilation.
εἷςoneNominativenumeral adjective (modifying ἄνθρωπος: 'one man')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the numeral stresses the singularity of the offender (Korah, or any single sinner) against πᾶσαν τὴν συναγωγήν ('the whole congregation') — the heart of the plea for discriminating justice.
ἥμαρτενhas sinnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἁμαρτάνωverb of the protasis (the hypothetical single sin)→ constative aorist (a completed act of sin)ἁμαρτάνω (aor. ἥμαρτεν): 'sin / miss the mark'; renders חָטָא; the singular subject's sin is set against the threatened punishment of all — the appeal asks God to act as the just judge of individuals, not a wholesale destroyer.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (direction of the wrath)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of the wrath).
πᾶσανall / wholeAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγήν)→ object specificationπᾶς (fem. acc. πᾶσαν): 'all / whole'; 'the whole congregation' — the disproportion the intercessors protest: should all suffer for one?
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with συναγωγήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴνcongregationAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the whole assembly)→ object specificationσυναγωγή (acc. συναγωγήν): 'congregation'; the whole body, which the intercessors plead to spare from the guilt of the few.
ὀργὴwrathNominativesubject (of an implied verb: '[shall] the wrath [be]?')→ participant prominenceὀργή: 'wrath / anger'; renders אַף / חֵמָה; the divine ὀργὴ κυρίου ('wrath of the LORD'), here pleaded against as too sweeping — the prayer's elliptical force is 'shall the wrath of the LORD fall on the whole congregation?'
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source ('wrath of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton; the wrath that is the LORD's own; the intercessors appeal from the LORD's wrath to the LORD's justice.
23

καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Divine speech-formula (the answer to the intercession)καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν
The renewed speech-formula signals that the LORD has heeded the intercession of v. 22: instead of consuming the whole congregation, he now provides for the innocent to withdraw (v. 24), so that judgment may fall only on the guilty. The address to Moses alone resumes the ordinary channel of revelation.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λαλέω (aor. ἐλάλησεν): 'speak'; the standard formula; that the LORD speaks again — to instruct withdrawal rather than execute mass destruction — shows the intercession has been heard.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationΜωυσῆς (acc. Μωυσῆν): the LORD addresses Moses as the mediator of the coming instruction.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. part. λέγων): the redundant Hebraizing participle of saying (לֵאמֹר), marking direct speech.
24

λάλησον τῇ συναγωγῇ λέγων ἀναχωρήσατε κύκλῳ ἀπὸ τῆς συναγωγῆς Κορε

Speak to the congregation, saying, 'Withdraw all around from the company of Korah.'

Command to separate the innocent before the judgmentλάλησον τῇ συναγωγῇ
The LORD's answer to the plea (v. 22) is mercy embedded in judgment: the congregation is to withdraw (ἀναχωρήσατε κύκλῳ, 'pull back all around') from the dwelling of Korah's faction, so that only the guilty are caught in the imminent destruction. The command secures the very discrimination the intercessors sought — the many are spared, the few are judged.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine imperative to Moses)→ aorist imperative (commissioned speech-act)λαλέω (aor. impv. λάλησον): 'speak'; the LORD commissions Moses to relay the warning to the congregation — the mediatorial role the rebels denied is here exercised to save them.
τῇto theDativearticle (with συναγωγῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῇcongregationDativedative (indirect object: addressee of the speech)→ sphere or referenceσυναγωγή (dat. συναγωγῇ): 'congregation'; here the wider body of Israel, to be warned and spared, distinguished from Korah's faction.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the message)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. part. λέγων): the Hebraizing participle of saying (לֵאמֹר), introducing the content of the warning.
ἀναχωρήσατεwithdraw / pull backAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀναχωρέωmain verb (the warning to the congregation)→ aorist imperative (urgent command to retreat)ἀναχωρέω: 'withdraw / retreat / depart'; renders הֵעָלוּ / סוּרוּ; the command to pull back from the rebels' dwelling secures the people's safety before the ground opens — the physical separation that distinguishes the spared from the doomed.
κύκλῳround about / all aroundadverb (manner/place: 'on every side')→ clausal contributionκύκλῳ: adverbial dative of κύκλος ('circle'), 'round about / on all sides'; renders מִסָּבִיב; the people are to clear away from around the rebels' tents in every direction, leaving the guilty isolated for judgment.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with συναγωγῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcompanyGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἀπό)→ relational specificationσυναγωγή (gen. συναγωγῆς): here 'the company of Korah' — his faction's encampment, from which the people must separate.
Κορεof Korahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'company of Korah')→ participant identificationΚορε: Hebrew קֹרַח; indeclinable; the faction is named for its ringleader — 'the company of Korah,' soon to be swallowed up.
25

καὶ ἀνέστη Μωυσῆς καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς Δαθαν καὶ Αβιρων καὶ συνεπορεύθησαν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ πάντες οἱ πρεσβύτεροι Ισραηλ

And Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and all the elders of Israel went with him.

Moses goes to the Reubenites; the elders accompany himκαὶ ἀνέστη Μωυσῆς
Moses' ἀνέστη ('rose up') pointedly answers the rebels' ἀνέστησαν (v. 2): where they rose in revolt, Moses rises in obedient action. That all the elders of Israel follow him publicly aligns the recognized leadership of the nation with Moses against the faction — a visible counter-assembly to Korah's mob (v. 19).
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηrose upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (Moses' decisive action)→ ingressive aorist (Moses arises to act)ἀνίστημι (aor. intrans. ἀνέστη): 'rise up / stand up'; the same verb as the rebels' ἀνέστησαν (v. 2), now redeemed — Moses rises not in insurrection but to carry out the LORD's word, going himself to the defiant Reubenites.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (Moses' movement toward the rebels)→ constative aorist (completed journey)πορεύομαι (aor. ἐπορεύθη): 'go / proceed'; the deponent aorist; Moses goes in person to Dathan and Abiram who would not 'come up' to him (v. 12) — the mediator seeks even the obstinate, leaving them without excuse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΔαθανDathanaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαθαν: Hebrew דָּתָן; indeclinable; the Reubenite leader.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβιρωνAbiramaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβιρων: Hebrew אֲבִירָם; indeclinable; with Dathan, the lay leaders Moses now confronts directly.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνεπορεύθησανwent with / accompaniedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · συμπορεύομαιmain verb (the elders' accompaniment)→ constative aorist (completed accompaniment)συμπορεύομαι (aor. συνεπορεύθησαν): 'go together with / accompany'; the συν- compound marks solidarity — the elders publicly side with Moses, lending the weight of Israel's recognized leadership to his confrontation of the rebels.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά ('with him')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'him'; Moses, whom the elders accompany.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying πρεσβύτεροι)→ participant prominenceπᾶς (nom. pl. πάντες): 'all'; 'all the elders' — the unanimity of the leadership underscores the isolation of the rebels.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πρεσβύτεροι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβύτεροιeldersNominativesubject of συνεπορεύθησαν→ participant prominenceπρεσβύτερος: 'elder / older man'; renders זָקֵן; the official elders of Israel (cf. Exod 24:1; Num 11:16); their alignment with Moses publicly legitimizes his authority over against Korah's claim to represent the people.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'elders of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; 'the elders of Israel' — the representative leadership of the whole nation.
26

καὶ ἐλάλησεν πρὸς τὴν συναγωγὴν λέγων ἀποσχίσθητε ἀπὸ τῶν σκηνῶν τῶν ἀνθρώπων τῶν σκληρῶν τούτων καὶ μὴ ἅπτεσθε ἀπὸ πάντων ὧν ἐστιν αὐτοῖς μὴ συναπόλησθε ἐν πάσῃ τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ αὐτῶν

And he spoke to the congregation, saying, 'Separate yourselves from the tents of these hard-hearted men, and touch nothing of all that is theirs, lest you be destroyed together with them in all their sin.'

Moses relays the warning of separation to the peopleκαὶ ἐλάλησεν πρὸς τὴν συναγωγὴν
Moses executes the LORD's command (v. 24), warning the people in the strongest terms: separate (ἀποσχίσθητε, the LORD's own verb from v. 21), touch nothing, lest you be destroyed together (μὴ συναπόλησθε) in the rebels' sin. The designation ἄνθρωποι σκληροί ('hard / stubborn men') names the moral root of the revolt — hardness of heart — and the warning underscores the contagion of corporate guilt unless one physically and morally dissociates.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (Moses relays the warning)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λαλέω (aor. ἐλάλησεν): 'speak'; Moses faithfully conveys the LORD's instruction to the congregation.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with συναγωγήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴνcongregationAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationσυναγωγή (acc. συναγωγήν): 'congregation'; the wider body of Israel, warned to dissociate from the rebels.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the warning)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. part. λέγων): the Hebraizing participle of saying.
ἀποσχίσθητεseparate yourselvesAor Pass Impv 2 Pl · ἀποσχίζωmain verb (the urgent command)→ aorist imperative (decisive command to withdraw)ἀποσχίζω (pass. ἀποσχίσθητε): 'separate / sever oneself'; the very verb the LORD used to Moses and Aaron (v. 21), now passed to the people — the physical separation that distinguishes the spared from the doomed.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with σκηνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῶνtentsGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἀπό)→ relational specificationσκηνή (gen. pl. σκηνῶν): 'tent / dwelling'; the rebels' tents, from which the people must keep away to avoid sharing their fate.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἀνθρώπων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπωνmenGenitivegenitive (defining σκηνῶν: 'tents of the men')→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος (gen. pl. ἀνθρώπων): 'men'; the rebels, characterized by the adjective that follows.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with σκληρῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκληρῶνhard / stubbornGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ἀνθρώπων)→ relational specificationσκληρός: 'hard / harsh / stubborn'; renders קָשֶׁה; 'these hard men' diagnoses the rebellion as hardness of heart — the same root family used of Pharaoh's hardening (σκληρύνω, Exod 7:3) and of Israel's stiff-neckedness; obstinacy against God's appointed order is the essence of their sin.
τούτωνtheseGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἀνθρώπων)→ relational specificationοὗτος (gen. pl. τούτων): 'these'; the demonstrative points to the present rebels — 'these hard men' immediately before the people.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative of prohibition with the present imperative ἅπτεσθε.
ἅπτεσθεtouchPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · ἅπτομαιmain verb (prohibition: 'do not touch')→ present prohibitive imperative (cease/refrain from touching)ἅπτομαι: 'touch / take hold of'; renders נָגַע; μὴ ἅπτεσθε ('touch not') with the present imperative forbids any contact with the rebels' possessions — contact would implicate one in their devoted-to-destruction guilt (cf. the ḥerem principle, Josh 7:1, 11).
ἀπὸof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive with ἅπτεσθε)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here partitive with ἅπτομαι ('touch any of'), a Hebraizing construction (מִן).
πάντωνall thingsGenitivegenitive (object of ἅπτεσθε ἀπό: 'any of all that is theirs')→ relational specificationπᾶς (gen. pl. πάντων): 'all'; 'anything at all of theirs' — the prohibition is total, embracing every possession of the condemned.
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (attracted to the case of πάντων)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. pl. ὧν): relative pronoun, here genitive by attraction to its antecedent πάντων; 'of all that belongs to them.'
ἐστινis / belongsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (possession: 'what is theirs')→ stative presentεἰμί (ἐστιν): 'be'; with the dative αὐτοῖς (dative of possession), 'all that is theirs / belongs to them.'
αὐτοῖςtheirs / to themDativedative of possession (with ἐστιν)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'to them'; the dative of possession — 'all that is theirs,' contaminated by their sin.
μὴlestnegative particle (with subjunctive: negative purpose 'lest')→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: here introducing a negative-purpose/fear clause with the subjunctive — 'lest you be destroyed.'
συναπόλησθεyou be destroyed togetherAor Mid Subj 2 Pl · συναπόλλυμιsubjunctive of negative purpose ('lest you perish with them')→ aorist subjunctive (feared outcome to be avoided)συναπόλλυμι (mid. συναπόλησθε): 'perish together with / be destroyed along with'; the συν- compound captures the danger of corporate ruin — to remain near the rebels is to share their destruction; the same root ἀπόλλυμι describes the rebels' actual fate at v. 33 (ἀπώλοντο).
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (cause/sphere: 'in their sin')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (cause/sphere: 'in their sin').
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἁμαρτίᾳ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς (fem. dat. πάσῃ): 'all / whole'; 'all their sin' — the entirety of the rebels' guilt, in which the bystander risks being swept up.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἁμαρτίᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁμαρτίᾳsinDativedative of cause/sphere (with ἐν: 'in their sin')→ sphere or referenceἁμαρτία: 'sin / guilt'; renders חַטָּאת / עָוֹן; the rebels' sin is portrayed as a contagion of judgment — proximity to it endangers the innocent, hence the urgency of separation.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their sin')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the sin belongs to the rebels, not to those who separate from them.
27

καὶ ἀπέστησαν ἀπὸ τῆς σκηνῆς Κορε κύκλῳ καὶ Δαθαν καὶ Αβιρων ἐξῆλθον καὶ εἱστήκεισαν παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῶν σκηνῶν αὐτῶν καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν καὶ ἡ ἀποσκευὴ αὐτῶν

And they withdrew from around the dwelling of Korah; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doors of their tents, with their wives and their children and their households.

The people obey; the Reubenites stand defiant with their familiesκαὶ ἀπέστησαν ἀπὸ τῆς σκηνῆς Κορε κύκλῳ
The congregation obeys (ἀπέστησαν … κύκλῳ, 'withdrew all around'), securing the separation. By contrast, Dathan and Abiram come out and take their stand (εἱστήκεισαν, pluperfect of fixed posture) at their tent-doors — a deliberate gesture of defiance, exposing themselves and, tragically, their wives, children, and households (ἀποσκευή) to the imminent judgment. Their families' presence makes the swallowing of 'all that is theirs' (v. 30, 32) doubly grievous.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστησανthey withdrewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀφίστημιmain verb (the people's obedient withdrawal)→ constative aorist (completed withdrawal)ἀφίστημι (aor. intrans. ἀπέστησαν): 'stand away / withdraw / depart from'; the congregation obeys Moses' warning (v. 26), pulling back from the rebels' encampment — the obedient counterpart to the rebels' defiant standing-firm.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with σκηνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςdwelling / tentGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἀπό)→ relational specificationσκηνή (gen. σκηνῆς): 'tent / dwelling'; here the encampment of Korah from which the people withdraw.
Κορεof Korahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'dwelling of Korah')→ participant identificationΚορε: Hebrew קֹרַח; indeclinable; the encampment named for its leader.
κύκλῳround aboutadverb (place: 'on every side')→ clausal contributionκύκλῳ: adverbial 'round about / on all sides'; the withdrawal answers the command of v. 24 — the people clear away from around the rebels in every direction.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the contrasting action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΔαθανDathansubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαθαν: Hebrew דָּתָן; indeclinable; the Reubenite who, unlike the obedient people, comes out to stand in defiance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑβιρωνAbiramsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβιρων: Hebrew אֲבִירָם; indeclinable; with Dathan, defiant at the tent-door.
ἐξῆλθονcame outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the Reubenites' provocative emergence)→ constative aorist (completed action)ἐξέρχομαι (aor. ἐξῆλθον): 'go/come out'; Dathan and Abiram emerge from their tents not to submit but to take a defiant stand — the gesture of men who 'will not come up' (vv. 12, 14) now planting themselves before judgment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἱστήκεισανthey had taken their stand / stoodPluperf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (settled posture of defiance)→ pluperfect of fixed state (they stood firm)ἵστημι (pluperf. εἱστήκεισαν): 'stand / have taken a stand'; the pluperfect (with imperfect/perfect force) depicts a settled, planted posture — they 'stood firm' at their tent-doors, brazenly exposed; the verb of standing here is defiance, soon to be undone by the ground giving way beneath them (v. 31).
παρὰat / besidepreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + acc.: 'at / beside'; locates them at the entrances of their own tents.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with θύρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύραςdoors / entrancesAccusativeaccusative object of παρά→ object specificationθύρα (acc. pl. θύρας): 'door / entrance'; the tent-entrances where the rebels make their stand — and where the earth will open.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with σκηνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῶνtentsGenitivegenitive (defining θύρας: 'doors of their tents')→ relational specificationσκηνή (gen. pl. σκηνῶν): 'tents'; their own dwellings.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their tents')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the Reubenites' tents.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the families)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with γυναῖκες)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκεςwivesNominativesubject (those standing with the rebels)→ participant prominenceγυνή (nom. pl. γυναῖκες): 'women / wives'; the rebels' wives stand with them — the families' presence makes the impending swallowing of 'all that is theirs' a tragedy of corporate solidarity in guilt.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their wives')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the rebels' wives.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with τέκνα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τέκναchildrenNominativesubject (coordinate with γυναῖκες)→ participant prominenceτέκνον (nom. pl. τέκνα): 'child / offspring'; renders טַף / בָּנִים; the children's presence at the tent-doors heightens the pathos — they too will go down into Hades (v. 33; cf. the later note that Korah's own sons did not die, Num 26:11).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their children')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the rebels' children.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with ἀποσκευή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποσκευὴhousehold goods / baggageNominativesubject (coordinate: 'their household')→ participant prominenceἀποσκευή: 'baggage / household goods / dependents'; renders טַף (and possessions); the term embraces the movable property and dependents of the household — the totality of the rebels' domestic world, all gathered at the doomed spot.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their household')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; closes the inventory of all that stands with the rebels — soon to be swallowed whole.
28

καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς ἐν τούτῳ γνώσεσθε ὅτι κύριος ἀπέστειλέν με ποιῆσαι πάντα τὰ ἔργα ταῦτα ὅτι οὐκ ἀπ᾿ ἐμαυτοῦ

And Moses said, 'By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, that it is not of my own self:'

Moses stakes his commission on a verifiable signκαὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς ἐν τούτῳ γνώσεσθε
Moses now stakes the truth of his entire commission on an empirical test. The formula ἐν τούτῳ γνώσεσθε ('by this you shall know') makes the coming sign a public proof of divine sending. The double ὅτι distinguishes the claim ('the LORD sent me') from its corollary ('it is not from myself, ἀπ᾽ ἐμαυτοῦ') — the precise refutation of the rebels' charge that Moses acts on self-appointed authority (vv. 3, 13).
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Moses' climactic declaration before the sign.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
ἐνby / inpreposition + dative (means: 'by this')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental 'by means of'; ἐν τούτῳ ('by this') points forward to the sign of vv. 29–30 as the proof.
τούτῳthisDativedemonstrative pronoun (object of ἐν: cataphoric)→ participant reference or interestοὗτος (neut. dat. τούτῳ): 'this'; the cataphoric demonstrative announces that the manner of the rebels' death will be the evidential test of Moses' divine commission.
γνώσεσθεyou shall knowFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (the promised recognition)→ predictive future (certain future knowledge)γινώσκω (fut. γνώσεσθε): 'know / recognize'; the recognition-formula ἐν τούτῳ γνώσεσθε ὅτι ('by this you shall know that') frames the sign as revelatory proof; the same 'knowing' echoes the theme of v. 5 (ἔγνω ὁ θεός) — God knows his own, and now the people will know whom God has sent.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of γνώσεσθε)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the knowledge — that the LORD sent Moses.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἀπέστειλεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the true sender of Moses, whose authority the sign will vindicate.
ἀπέστειλένsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωverb of the ὅτι-clause (the divine commissioning)→ constative aorist (the completed act of sending)ἀποστέλλω (aor. ἀπέστειλεν): 'send (with commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; the claim that the LORD 'sent' Moses (ἀπέσταλκεν at v. 29) is the very ground of his authority — the sign will prove it divine, not self-arrogated.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν (1st person pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; Moses, the one sent.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωinfinitive of purpose (the commission's content)→ constative aorist infinitiveποιέω (aor. inf. ποιῆσαι): 'do / make'; the infinitive of purpose — Moses was sent 'to do all these works,' i.e. to carry out the whole leadership of the Exodus and wilderness journey under divine mandate.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔργα)→ object specificationπᾶς (neut. pl. πάντα): 'all'; 'all these works' — the totality of Moses' commissioned deeds, not any self-chosen ambition.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔργα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔργαworks / deedsAccusativedirect object of ποιῆσαι→ object specificationἔργον (pl. ἔργα): 'work / deed'; renders מַעֲשֶׂה; the leadership acts Moses has performed — all done at divine commission, the point the sign will confirm.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔργα)→ object specificationοὗτος (neut. pl. ταῦτα): 'these'; the demonstrative anchors the claim to the concrete works the people have witnessed.
ὅτιthat / namely thatconjunction (second ὅτi: the negative corollary)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; the second ὅτι introduces the corollary — 'and that it is not of myself'; together the two clauses state positively (God sent me) and negatively (not from myself) the same vindication.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with the elliptical 'it is not')→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ): the objective negative; 'not of my own initiative.'
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (source; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; ἀπ᾽ ἐμαυτοῦ ('of/from myself') denotes self-origination — the very thing Moses denies; cf. the same idiom in John 5:30; 7:17 for action 'not of oneself' but from God.
ἐμαυτοῦmyselfGenitivereflexive pronoun (object of ἀπό: 'from myself')→ relational specificationἐμαυτοῦ: reflexive 'of myself'; 'not from myself' directly refutes the rebels' accusation of self-exaltation (κατανίστασθε, v. 3; κατάρχεις, v. 13) — Moses' authority is derived, not seized; the sign will prove it.
29

εἰ κατὰ θάνατον πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἀποθανοῦνται οὗτοι εἰ καὶ κατ᾿ ἐπίσκεψιν πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἐπισκοπὴ ἔσται αὐτῶν οὐχὶ κύριος ἀπέσταλκέν με

If these men die the death of all men, and if their visitation is the visitation of all men, then the LORD has not sent me.

The negative half of the test: ordinary death would disprove the commissionεἰ κατὰ θάνατον πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἀποθανοῦνται οὗτοι
Moses frames the test as a sharp disjunction. The protasis (v. 29): if the rebels die a natural death (κατὰ θάνατον πάντων ἀνθρώπων, 'after the death of all men') and meet only the common fate of mankind (ἐπισκοπή, 'visitation'), then — οὐχὶ κύριος ἀπέσταλκέν με — 'the LORD has not sent me.' Moses risks his entire prophetic standing on an unprecedented outcome, making the falsifiability of the claim itself a mark of confidence.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; introduces the first horn of the test — the hypothesis of an ordinary death.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/manner)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to / after the manner of'; κατὰ θάνατον πάντων ἀνθρώπων = 'after the death of all men,' i.e. a natural death.
θάνατονdeathAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (manner of death)→ object specificationθάνατος: 'death'; renders מָוֶת; 'the death of all men' = the common mortality; if the rebels merely die thus, no divine vindication has occurred.
πάντωνof allGenitiveattributive genitive (modifying ἀνθρώπων)→ relational specificationπᾶς (gen. pl. πάντων): 'all'; 'of all men' — the universal human lot, against which the extraordinary judgment is set.
ἀνθρώπωνmenGenitivegenitive (defining θάνατον: 'death of all men')→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος (gen. pl. ἀνθρώπων): 'men'; humanity in general, whose ordinary death would falsify the sign.
ἀποθανοῦνταιthey will dieFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of the protasis→ predictive future (the hypothetical ordinary death)ἀποθνῄσκω (fut. ἀποθανοῦνται): 'die'; renders מוּת; the blunter death-verb (contrast τελευτάω); 'if these die [merely] as all men die' — the falsifying condition.
οὗτοιtheseNominativesubject of ἀποθανοῦνται (the rebels)→ participant prominenceοὗτος (nom. pl. οὗτοι): 'these'; the rebels, the subject of the test.
εἰifconditional conjunction (second protasis, parallel)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; the second, parallel condition restating the same hypothesis in terms of 'visitation.'
καὶalsoadverbial (intensive: 'if also / even if')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here adverbial, 'also / even,' linking the second condition closely to the first.
κατ᾿according topreposition + accusative (norm; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; κατ᾽ ἐπίσκεψιν = 'after the visitation/manner of reckoning of all men.'
ἐπίσκεψινvisitation / musteringAccusativeaccusative object of κατά→ object specificationἐπίσκεψις: 'visitation / inspection / numbering'; from ἐπισκέπτομαι (cf. v. 5); here 'the visitation/reckoning common to all men' — the ordinary providential dealing with mortals; if the rebels meet only this, Moses stands unvindicated.
πάντωνof allGenitiveattributive genitive (modifying ἀνθρώπων)→ relational specificationπᾶς (gen. pl. πάντων): 'all'; 'of all men.'
ἀνθρώπωνmenGenitivegenitive (defining ἐπίσκεψιν)→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος (gen. pl. ἀνθρώπων): 'men'; humanity's common visitation.
ἐπισκοπὴvisitation / oversightNominativesubject (of ἔσται: 'their visitation will be')→ participant prominenceἐπισκοπή: 'visitation / oversight / reckoning'; cognate with ἐπίσκεψις; here the divine 'visiting' that comes upon every person; the phrase ἐπισκοπὴ ἔσται αὐτῶν means 'if what befalls them is the ordinary visitation of all'; the term carries both neutral ('mustering') and judicial ('visiting in judgment') overtones.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula of the second protasis→ predictive futureεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'will be'; the copula linking ἐπισκοπή to αὐτῶν — 'if their visitation will be [merely the common one].'
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their visitation')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the rebels' visitation.
οὐχὶnotemphatic negative (apodosis: 'then ... not')→ clausal contributionοὐχί: the strengthened form of οὐ, emphatic 'not [at all]'; introduces the apodosis — 'then the LORD has not sent me'; the stark conditional stakes Moses' whole authority on the outcome.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἀπέσταλκεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the alleged sender, whose commission is on trial.
ἀπέσταλκένhas sentPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb of the apodosis (the commission denied if test fails)→ resultative perfect (a standing commission)ἀποστέλλω (perf. ἀπέσταλκεν): 'have sent'; the perfect (contrast the aorist ἀπέστειλεν, v. 28) stresses the abiding, present-valid status of the commission — 'the LORD has sent me and I stand sent'; Moses wagers this standing reality on the sign.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἀπέσταλκεν (1st person pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; Moses, the one whose sending is in question.
30

ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἐν φάσματι δείξει κύριος καὶ ἀνοίξασα ἡ γῆ τὸ στόμα αὐτῆς καταπίεται αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς σκηνὰς αὐτῶν καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς καὶ καταβήσονται ζῶντες εἰς ᾅδου καὶ γνώσεσθε ὅτι παρώξυναν οἱ ἄνθρωποι οὗτοι τὸν κύριον

But if the LORD shows by a marvel, and the earth opening her mouth swallows them up and their houses and their tents and all that is theirs, and they go down alive into Hades, then you shall know that these men have provoked the LORD.

The positive half of the test: an unprecedented marvel proving divine judgmentἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἐν φάσματι δείξει κύριος
The counter-condition: if instead the LORD acts ἐν φάσματι ('by a marvel / portent') — the earth opening her mouth to swallow the rebels and all that is theirs, so that they descend alive into Hades (καταβήσονται ζῶντες εἰς ᾅδου) — then the people will know the men have provoked the LORD. The image of the earth's 'mouth' (στόμα) devouring the living is a creation-reversal motif; the descent ζῶντες ('alive') into Sheol is the chapter's most vivid horror, cited in Jewish and Christian memory as the archetype of judgment on rebellion.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
ἀλλ᾿butstrong adversative (introducing the counter-condition; elided)→ clausal contributionἀλλά: 'but'; the strong adversative pivots from the falsifying hypothesis (v. 29) to the vindicating one.
rather / if (in idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ)particle (in the idiom ἀλλ᾽ ἤ: 'but rather / except')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: in the fixed combination ἀλλ᾽ ἤ ('but rather / but if instead'), strengthening the contrast — 'but if, on the contrary, the LORD shows...'
ἐνby / withpreposition + dative (means: 'by a marvel')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental 'by means of.'
φάσματιa marvel / portentDativedative of means (with ἐν: 'by a portent')→ sphere or referenceφάσμα: 'apparition / portent / marvel'; from φαίνω ('show'); renders here בְּרִיאָה ('a [new] creation/thing') of the Hebrew — the LXX construes the 'new thing' YHWH will create as a visible portent; ἐν φάσματι δείξει = 'will show by an extraordinary sign,' an unprecedented manifestation.
δείξειwill showFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δείκνυμιverb of the protasis (the divine demonstration)→ predictive future (the marvel God will display)δείκνυμι (fut. δείξει): 'show / demonstrate / make known'; renders הִרְאָה; the LORD 'will show' the truth by the portent — the sign is a divine self-demonstration, settling the dispute by act rather than argument.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of δείξει→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the agent of the marvel and judge of the cause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (specifying the marvel)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνοίξασαhaving openedAor Act Part Nom Sg Fem · ἀνοίγωcircumstantial participle (modifying ἡ γῆ: 'the earth, opening')→ antecedent/coincident aorist participle (the opening that effects the swallowing)ἀνοίγω (aor. part. ἀνοίξασα): 'open'; the participle personifies the earth — 'the earth, having opened her mouth'; the image of the ground as a devouring maw evokes a reversal of creation, the land turning against its inhabitants.
theNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆearth / groundNominativesubject of καταπίεται→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'earth / ground / land'; renders אֲדָמָה / אֶרֶץ; the earth becomes the instrument of divine judgment, opening to devour the rebels — a unique punishment marking a unique offense.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with στόμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόμαmouthAccusativedirect object of ἀνοίξασα ('opening her mouth')→ object specificationστόμα: 'mouth'; renders פֶּה; the personifying idiom 'the earth opened her mouth' (cf. Gen 4:11, the ground opening its mouth to receive Abel's blood) presents the swallowing as an act of devouring judgment.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession ('her mouth')→ relational specificationαὐτός (fem. gen. αὐτῆς): 'her'; the earth's own mouth — the personification sustained.
καταπίεταιwill swallow upFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταπίνωmain verb (the act of swallowing)→ predictive future (the certain marvel of judgment)καταπίνω (fut. καταπίεται): 'swallow down / gulp up / devour'; the κατα- compound intensifies — 'swallow utterly'; renders בָּלַע; the same verb the people fear for themselves (v. 34, μήποτε καταπίῃ); the earth 'drinks down' the rebels as a gaping throat.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of καταπίεται (the rebels)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them'; the rebels, first object of the swallowing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with οἴκους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουςhouses / householdsAccusativedirect object (coordinate with αὐτούς)→ object specificationοἶκος (acc. pl. οἴκους): 'house / household'; renders בַּיִת; both dwellings and households (families) are swallowed — the judgment engulfs the rebels' entire domestic world.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their houses')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the rebels' houses.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with σκηνὰς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνὰςtentsAccusativedirect object (coordinate)→ object specificationσκηνή (acc. pl. σκηνάς): 'tents'; the rebels' dwellings, swallowed along with their occupants.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their tents')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the rebels' tents.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταall thingsAccusativedirect object (comprehensive: 'all that is theirs')→ object specificationπᾶς (neut. pl. πάντα): 'all'; the totality of the rebels' possessions, swept into the chasm.
ὅσαwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (defining πάντα: 'all that')→ participant referenceὅσος (neut. pl. ὅσα): 'as much as / whatever'; the relative πάντα ὅσα ('all, as much as is theirs') stresses comprehensiveness — nothing of theirs is left behind.
ἐστὶνis / belongsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (possession)→ stative presentεἰμί (ἐστιν): 'be'; with the dative αὐτοῖς (dative of possession), 'all that belongs to them.'
αὐτοῖςto them / theirsDativedative of possession (with ἐστίν)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'to them'; dative of possession — all the rebels own.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the descent)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταβήσονταιthey will go downFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · καταβαίνωmain verb (descent into Hades)→ predictive future (the descent that will occur)καταβαίνω (fut. καταβήσονται): 'go down / descend'; renders יָרַד; the pointed antithesis of the rebels' οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν ('we will not go up', vv. 12, 14) — those who refused to 'go up' will 'go down' into Sheol; the verb is fulfilled at v. 33 (κατέβησαν).
ζῶντεςalive / livingPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · ζάωcircumstantial participle (manner: 'while living')→ progressive present participle (in a state of being alive)ζάω (pres. part. ζῶντες): 'live / be alive'; the horror of the judgment — they descend ζῶντες ('alive') into Hades, conscious into the realm of the dead; the participle of attendant circumstance intensifies the dread of an undeath-like consignment to Sheol.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative/genitive idiom (direction: 'into Hades')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + ᾅδου: the idiom εἰς ᾅδου ('into [the house/realm of] Hades') with the genitive ᾅδου is a fixed classical-Koine expression (an ellipsis of οἶκον/δόμον).
ᾅδουof Hades / the graveGenitivegenitive (in the idiom εἰς ᾅδου: 'into Hades')→ relational specificationᾅδης (gen. ᾅδου): 'Hades / the underworld / the grave'; the standard LXX rendering of שְׁאוֹל (Sheol), the realm of the dead; the genitive in εἰς ᾅδου preserves the old idiom 'to [the place] of Hades'; descending alive into Sheol is the unique mark of this judgment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the resulting knowledge)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γνώσεσθεyou shall knowFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (the recognition the sign produces)→ predictive future (certain future knowledge)γινώσκω (fut. γνώσεσθε): 'know'; the recognition-formula resumed from v. 28 — the marvel will yield knowledge that the rebels provoked the LORD, vindicating Moses' commission before all Israel.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of γνώσεσθε)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the knowledge.
παρώξυνανprovoked / angeredAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παροξύνωverb of the ὅτι-clause (the rebels' offense)→ constative aorist (the completed act of provocation)παροξύνω: 'provoke / irritate / exasperate'; renders נִאֵץ / הִכְעִיס; the standard LXX verb for provoking the LORD to anger (cf. Deut 9:7–8); the rebels' offense is not against Moses merely but a παροξυσμός of the LORD himself — the theological verdict of the whole episode.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνθρωποι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποιmenNominativesubject of παρώξυναν→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος (nom. pl. ἄνθρωποι): 'men'; the rebels, identified as the provokers of the LORD.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἄνθρωποι: 'these men')→ participant prominenceοὗτος (nom. pl. οὗτοι): 'these'; 'these men' — the specific company under judgment.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of παρώξυναν→ object specificationκύριος (acc. κύριον): the Tetragrammaton; the LORD himself is the one provoked — confirming v. 11, that the revolt against Aaron and Moses was in truth against God.
31

ὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν πάντας τοὺς λόγους τούτους ἐρράγη ἡ γῆ ὑποκάτω αὐτῶν

And as he ceased speaking all these words, the ground split apart beneath them;

The judgment begins: immediate fulfillment of the signὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν
The temporal clause ὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο ('and as soon as he ceased') stresses the instantaneous fulfillment: the words barely finished, the ground splits. The verb ἐρράγη ('was torn/burst apart', from ῥήγνυμι) conveys violent rupture — the earth tears open exactly beneath (ὑποκάτω) the defiant rebels, vindicating Moses' word the moment it is spoken.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ὡςas / whentemporal conjunction (introducing temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / when / as soon as'; with the aorist ἐπαύσατο marks the precise moment — the judgment falls the instant Moses finishes speaking.
δὲand / nownarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive particle; here marking the decisive narrative turn from speech to fulfillment.
ἐπαύσατοhe ceasedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · παύωverb of the temporal clause→ constative aorist (completion of speaking)παύω (mid. ἐπαύσατο): 'cease / stop'; the middle 'he ceased (for himself)'; renders כִּלָּה לְדַבֵּר; the cessation of Moses' words is the trigger-point of the judgment — the timing proves the words divine.
λαλῶνspeakingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λαλέωsupplementary participle (with ἐπαύσατο: 'ceased speaking')→ progressive present participle (the ongoing speech now ended)λαλέω (pres. part. λαλῶν): 'speak'; the complementary participle with παύομαι ('cease from speaking'); the present aspect views the speech as in progress up to its sudden completion.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λόγους)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. pl. πάντας): 'all'; 'all these words' — the complete declaration of vv. 28–30, after which judgment immediately follows.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λόγους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object of λαλῶν→ object specificationλόγος (acc. pl. λόγους): 'word / saying'; renders דָּבָר; Moses' prophetic words, whose truth is sealed by their instantaneous fulfillment.
τούτουςtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying λόγους)→ object specificationοὗτος (acc. pl. τούτους): 'these'; the specific words just spoken.
ἐρράγηwas split apart / burst openAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ῥήγνυμιmain verb (the earth's rupture)→ constative aorist passive (the sudden splitting)ῥήγνυμι (aor. pass. ἐρράγη): 'tear / rend / burst'; renders בָּקַע; the violent rupture of the ground — the earth is 'torn open' as if by a great force; the passive leaves the agent implicit (the LORD), the marvel ἐν φάσματι of v. 30 now enacted.
theNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆearth / groundNominativesubject of ἐρράγη→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'earth / ground'; the ground itself, which splits to execute the judgment foretold in v. 30.
ὑποκάτωbeneath / underpreposition + genitive (place: 'underneath')→ spatial or relational framingὑποκάτω: 'underneath / below'; renders תַּחַת; the ground tears 'right beneath them' — the precision of the rupture under the very feet of the rebels marks the judgment as exactly targeted.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ὑποκάτω (the rebels)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; the rebels, beneath whom the earth opens.
32

καὶ ἠνοίχθη ἡ γῆ καὶ κατέπιεν αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς ὄντας μετὰ Κορε καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτῶν

and the earth opened and swallowed them and their households and all the men who were with Korah and their cattle.

The swallowing executed: word-for-word fulfillment of the signκαὶ ἠνοίχθη ἡ γῆ καὶ κατέπιεν αὐτοὺς
The fulfillment matches Moses' prediction term for term: the earth ἠνοίχθη ('opened', cf. ἀνοίξασα v. 30) and κατέπιεν ('swallowed', cf. καταπίεται v. 30). The inventory of the swallowed — households, all the men with Korah, and their cattle — realizes the comprehensive 'all that is theirs' of v. 30. The phrase τοὺς ὄντας μετὰ Κορε ('those who were with Korah') ironically inverts v. 5's τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ ('those who are [God's] own'): Korah's people are swallowed; God's own are spared.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠνοίχθηwas opened / openedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωmain verb (the earth opens)→ constative aorist passive (the opening occurred)ἀνοίγω (aor. pass. ἠνοίχθη): 'open / be opened'; renders פָּתְחָה / וַתִּפְתַּח; the fulfillment of ἀνοίξασα (v. 30) — the earth's mouth gapes to receive the rebels; the passive again leaves the LORD as the implicit agent.
theNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆearth / groundNominativesubject of ἠνοίχθη and κατέπιεν→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'earth / ground'; the instrument of judgment, now executing the foretold swallowing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέπιενswallowed upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταπίνωmain verb (the act of swallowing)→ constative aorist (the completed swallowing)καταπίνω (aor. κατέπιεν): 'swallow down / devour'; the fulfillment of καταπίεται (v. 30); renders בָּלַע; the earth 'drinks down' the rebels — the predicted marvel now an accomplished fact.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of κατέπιεν (the rebels)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them'; the rebels themselves, first swallowed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with οἴκους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουςhouseholds / housesAccusativedirect object (coordinate with αὐτούς)→ object specificationοἶκος (acc. pl. οἴκους): 'house / household'; the rebels' families and dwellings, swallowed with them — the corporate solidarity in guilt running its full tragic course.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their households')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the rebels' households.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀνθρώπους)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. pl. πάντας): 'all'; 'all the men with Korah' — the entire faction caught in the judgment.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἀνθρώπους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπουςmenAccusativedirect object (coordinate)→ object specificationἄνθρωπος (acc. pl. ἀνθρώπους): 'men'; the human members of Korah's company.
τοὺςthe (ones)Accusativearticle (substantizing the participle ὄντας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνταςbeing / who werePres Act Part Acc Pl Masc · εἰμίattributive participle (modifying ἀνθρώπους: 'who were with Korah')→ progressive present participle (those belonging to Korah's party)εἰμί (pres. part. ὄντας): 'being'; the phrase τοὺς ὄντας μετὰ Κορε ('those who were with Korah') pointedly echoes and inverts v. 5's τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ ('those who are God's own') — to be 'with Korah' is to perish, to be 'God's own' is to be spared.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (association)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (association).
ΚορεKorahgenitive object of μετά (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΚορε: Hebrew קֹרַח; indeclinable; association 'with Korah' now seals the fate of his whole party.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κτήνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτήνηcattle / livestockAccusativedirect object (coordinate: the rebels' animals)→ object specificationκτῆνος (pl. κτήνη): 'cattle / beast / livestock'; renders בְּהֵמָה / רְכוּשׁ; the rebels' animals swallowed too — the judgment engulfs their entire economic existence, fulfilling 'all that is theirs' (v. 30).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their cattle')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the rebels' livestock — the last item of the swallowed inventory.
33

καὶ κατέβησαν αὐτοὶ καὶ ὅσα ἐστὶν αὐτῶν ζῶντα εἰς ᾅδου καὶ ἐκάλυψεν αὐτοὺς ἡ γῆ καὶ ἀπώλοντο ἐκ μέσου τῆς συναγωγῆς

And they went down, they and all that was theirs, alive into Hades; and the earth covered them, and they perished from the midst of the congregation.

The descent into Hades: the climactic fulfillment and the rebels' annihilationκαὶ κατέβησαν αὐτοὶ … ζῶντα εἰς ᾅδου
The pivotal fulfillment: κατέβησαν … ζῶντα εἰς ᾅδου ('they went down alive into Hades') exactly realizes v. 30, and stands as the antithesis of the rebels' οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν (vv. 12, 14) — refusing to 'go up,' they 'go down' into Sheol. The earth 'covers' them (ἐκάλυψεν, a burial-image) and they 'perish from the midst of the congregation' (ἀπώλοντο ἐκ μέσου, fulfilling ἐκ μέσου of v. 21) — removed from the very assembly they sought to seize.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέβησανthey went downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταβαίνωmain verb (the descent into Hades)→ constative aorist (the completed descent)καταβαίνω (aor. κατέβησαν): 'go down / descend'; the fulfillment of καταβήσονται (v. 30); the climactic antithesis of the rebels' οὐκ ἀναβαίνομεν ('we will not go up', vv. 12, 14) — those who would not ascend to authority descend into Sheol; the verse is the textual basis for 'the gainsaying of Korah' as the archetype of judged rebellion (Jude 11).
αὐτοὶthey themselvesNominativesubject (intensive: 'they themselves')→ participant prominenceαὐτός (nom. pl. αὐτοί): 'they (themselves)'; the rebels in person, emphasized as the ones who descend.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅσαall that / whateverNominativerelative pronoun (subject: 'all that is theirs')→ participant referenceὅσος (neut. pl. ὅσα): 'as much as / all that'; 'all that was theirs' descends with them — the comprehensive ruin foretold in v. 30.
ἐστὶνis / belongsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (possession)→ stative present (vivid present in past narrative)εἰμί (ἐστιν): 'be'; with αὐτῶν, 'all that belongs to them'; the present tense within past narrative gives vividness to the totality of their possessions.
αὐτῶνtheirsGenitivegenitive of possession ('all that is theirs')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'theirs'; the rebels' possessions, descending with them.
ζῶνταalive / livingPres Act Part Nom Pl Neut · ζάωcircumstantial participle (manner: 'while alive')→ progressive present participle (in a living state)ζάω (pres. part. neut. pl. ζῶντα): 'live / be alive'; the neuter plural (agreeing with the comprehensive ὅσα / mixed subject) reiterates v. 30's ζῶντες — they descend conscious and alive into the grave, the horror that marks the uniqueness of the judgment.
εἰςintopreposition (in the idiom εἰς ᾅδου: 'into Hades')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + ᾅδου: the idiom 'into [the realm of] Hades.'
ᾅδουof Hades / the graveGenitivegenitive (in the idiom εἰς ᾅδου)→ relational specificationᾅδης (gen. ᾅδου): 'Hades / Sheol / the grave'; renders שְׁאוֹל; the realm of the dead, into which the rebels descend alive; the descent-alive-into-Sheol motif recurs in Ps 54[55]:16 (καταβήτωσαν εἰς ᾅδου ζῶντες), echoing this judgment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλυψενcoveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλύπτωmain verb (the earth closes over them)→ constative aorist (the covering completed)καλύπτω (aor. ἐκάλυψεν): 'cover / conceal / bury'; renders כִּסָּה; the earth closes over the rebels — a burial-image sealing their removal from the world of the living; the same verb describes the sea covering Pharaoh's army (Exod 15:5, 10).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλυψεν→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them'; the rebels, covered over by the closing ground.
theNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆearth / groundNominativesubject of ἐκάλυψεν→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'earth / ground'; the ground that opened now closes, completing the judgment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπώλοντοthey perishedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb (the rebels' destruction)→ constative aorist (the completed perishing)ἀπόλλυμι (mid. ἀπώλοντο): 'perish / be destroyed / be lost'; renders אָבַד; the rebels 'perished from the midst of the congregation' — the same root συναπόλλυμι Moses used to warn the people (v. 26); the warned-of destruction fell only on the guilty.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
μέσουmidstGenitivegenitive (with ἐκ: 'from the midst')→ relational specificationμέσος (neut. μέσον): 'midst'; ἐκ μέσου τῆς συναγωγῆς ('from the midst of the congregation') answers the LORD's command of v. 21 (ἐκ μέσου … ἐξαναλώσω) — the rebels are removed from the very assembly they claimed to champion (v. 3).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with συναγωγῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive (object of ἐκ μέσου)→ relational specificationσυναγωγή (gen. συναγωγῆς): 'congregation'; the assembly from whose midst the rebels are now removed — the irony complete: those who said 'all the congregation is holy' (v. 3) are cut off from it.
34

καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ οἱ κύκλῳ αὐτῶν ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῶν ὅτι λέγοντες μήποτε καταπίῃ ἡμᾶς ἡ γῆ

And all Israel who were round about them fled at their cry, for they said, 'Lest the earth swallow us too!'

The terror of the witnesses: the judgment instills holy fearκαὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ … ἔφυγον
The whole nation flees at the cry of the perishing (ἀπὸ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῶν), seized with the fear that the earth might swallow them too (μήποτε καταπίῃ ἡμᾶς). The witnesses' dread is the intended fruit of the public judgment (cf. Deut 13:11; the recognition-formula of vv. 28, 30) — the sign produces the holy fear that re-establishes reverence for the LORD's ordained order.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'all Israel' — the entire witnessing nation, seized with terror; the construction πᾶς Ισραηλ with a plural verb (ἔφυγον) is a constructio ad sensum (collective noun, plural agreement).
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable proper noun, collective)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the whole people, here distinct from and reacting to the judged rebels.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizing the adverbial phrase κύκλῳ αὐτῶν)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article substantizes the following phrase — 'those round about them.'
κύκλῳround aboutadverb (place: 'around')→ clausal contributionκύκλῳ: adverbial 'round about'; οἱ κύκλῳ αὐτῶν = 'those around them,' the bystanders nearest the chasm, who flee first and fastest.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive (with κύκλῳ: 'around them')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; the rebels, around whom the people had stood.
ἔφυγονfledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φεύγωmain verb (the people's flight)→ ingressive aorist (took flight)φεύγω (aor. ἔφυγον): 'flee / run away'; renders נָסוּ; the nation flees in terror — the visible, immediate effect of the judgment, the holy fear it was meant to instill.
ἀπὸat / frompreposition + genitive (cause/source of flight)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here causal/source, 'away from / at [the sound of]'; the cry drives them to flight.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoice / cryGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the cry that caused flight)→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice / sound / cry'; renders קוֹל; the cry of the perishing rebels (or the roar of the swallowing earth) terrifies the onlookers into flight.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their cry')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; the cry of the rebels as they are swallowed.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (giving the reason for flight)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the motive of the flight — the people's own words of dread.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (attendant: 'saying')→ progressive present participle (the cry accompanying the flight)λέγω (pres. part. λέγοντες): 'saying'; the participle conveys what the fleeing people cried out as they ran — their fear given voice.
μήποτεlest / lest perhapsconjunction (with subjunctive: clause of apprehension)→ discourse linkage or contrastμήποτε: 'lest (ever) / lest perhaps'; introduces a clause of fear/apprehension with the subjunctive — 'lest the earth swallow us too'; expresses the dread that the judgment might spread to them.
καταπίῃswallow upAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καταπίνωsubjunctive of apprehension (the feared outcome)→ aorist subjunctive (the dreaded swallowing)καταπίνω (aor. subj. καταπίῃ): 'swallow up'; the same verb as vv. 30, 32 (καταπίεται, κατέπιεν), now on the lips of the terrified people — they fear the earth's devouring mouth will open for them as well; the recurrence binds prediction, fulfillment, and fearful response.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of καταπίῃ (1st person plural pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ (pl. acc. ἡμᾶς): 'us'; the people fear for themselves — the judgment has made the threat of the earth's mouth vividly personal.
theNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆearth / groundNominativesubject of καταπίῃ→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'earth / ground'; the same devouring earth, now feared as a threat to the living onlookers — the dread that re-establishes reverence.
35

καὶ πῦρ ἐξῆλθεν παρὰ κυρίου καὶ κατέφαγεν τοὺς πεντήκοντα καὶ διακοσίους ἄνδρας τοὺς προσφέροντας τὸ θυμίαμα

And fire went out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.

The second judgment: fire consumes the 250 incense-bearers (chapter climax)καὶ πῦρ ἐξῆλθεν παρὰ κυρίου
The chapter closes with the second stroke of judgment, distinct from the earth-swallowing: fire goes out from the LORD (πῦρ ἐξῆλθεν παρὰ κυρίου, cf. Lev 10:2, the fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu) and devours the 250 who presumed to offer incense — the priestly act reserved to Aaron's line. The fire answers the offered fire of vv. 7, 18 and Moses' prayer that the LORD not regard their offering (v. 15). In Rahlfs' versification the chapter ends here; the censer-memorial and the plague stayed by Aaron's incense follow in ch. 17:1–15 (English 16:36–50).
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πῦρfireNominativesubject of ἐξῆλθεν→ participant prominenceπῦρ: 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the divine fire of judgment — distinct from the earth-swallowing that took Korah's company; this fire consumes the 250 censer-bearers, the offered fire (vv. 7, 18) answered by consuming fire; cf. the fire that slew Nadab and Abihu for unauthorized incense (Lev 10:2).
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the fire's procession from the LORD)→ constative aorist (the fire's going-forth)ἐξέρχομαι (aor. ἐξῆλθεν): 'go/come out'; renders יָצְאָה; the fire 'went out from the LORD' — proceeding from the divine presence at the tent (cf. v. 19, the glory's appearing); the same idiom πῦρ ἐξῆλθεν παρὰ κυρίου marks theophanic judgment-fire (Lev 9:24; 10:2).
παρὰfrom / from besidepreposition + genitive (source: 'from the presence of')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from (the side of) / from the presence of'; locates the fire's origin in the LORD himself — it is no natural conflagration but a direct emanation of divine judgment.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of παρά (source of the fire)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton; the source of the consuming fire — the LORD himself answers the rebels' usurped incense, vindicating Aaron's sole priesthood.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέφαγενconsumed / devouredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατεσθίωmain verb (the fire's consuming)→ constative aorist (the completed consuming)κατεσθίω (aor. κατέφαγεν): 'eat up / devour / consume utterly'; the κατα- compound intensifies — 'devour completely'; renders אָכְלָה; the fire 'ate up' the 250, a total consumption answering Moses' prayer that the LORD reject their offering (v. 15); the verb of fire 'devouring' is standard for divine judgment-fire (cf. Num 11:1).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεντήκονταfiftyAccusativenumeral (with διακοσίους: '250')→ measure or countπεντήκοντα: 'fifty'; indeclinable numeral; with διακοσίους completes the count of 250 — the same number introduced at v. 2 and equipped with censers at v. 17, now consumed, closing the arc of the censer-test.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the numerals)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διακοσίουςtwo hundredAccusativenumeral (accusative, agreeing with ἄνδρας)→ object specificationδιακόσιοι (acc. διακοσίους): 'two hundred'; declinable numeral agreeing with ἄνδρας; with πεντήκοντα = the 250 who offered incense.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of κατέφαγεν→ object specificationἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'men'; the 250 chiefs (ἄνδρες ὀνομαστοί, v. 2) — the leadership-class of the revolt — now consumed; their renown could not shield them from the LORD's fire.
τοὺςthe (ones)Accusativearticle (substantizing the participle προσφέροντας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσφέρονταςoffering / who offeredPres Act Part Acc Pl Masc · προσφέρωattributive participle (modifying ἄνδρας: 'who were offering')→ progressive present participle (in the very act of offering)προσφέρω (pres. part. προσφέροντας): 'bring near / offer'; renders הִקְרִיב; the participle marks them as caught in the act — 'those offering the incense'; the cultic verb (cf. προσάγω, vv. 9, 17) underscores that their sin was the usurpation of priestly offering; they die in the very act of their presumption, the fire of judgment meeting the fire of their censers.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with θυμίαμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυμίαμαincenseAccusativedirect object of προσφέροντας→ object specificationθυμίαμα: 'incense'; renders קְטֹרֶת; the priestly offering whose unauthorized presentation defined the rebels' transgression; the chapter ends as it tested — over the incense reserved to the LORD's chosen priest, the fire of God settling forever the question 'whom has the LORD chosen?' (vv. 5, 7).