Numbers 16:32
New International Version
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions.

New Living Translation
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned.

English Standard Version
And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.

Berean Standard Bible
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions.

King James Bible
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

New King James Version
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.

New American Standard Bible
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, and all the people who belonged to Korah with all their possessions.

NASB 1995
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions.

NASB 1977
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah, with their possessions.

Legacy Standard Bible
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions.

Amplified Bible
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all the men who supported Korah, with all their possessions.

Christian Standard Bible
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s people, and all their possessions.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s people, and all their possessions.

American Standard Version
and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

English Revised Version
and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and the earth opened up to swallow them, their families, the followers of Korah, and all their property.

Good News Translation
and swallowed them and their families, together with all of Korah's followers and their possessions.

International Standard Version
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, all their households, everyone who was affiliated with Korah, and all of their property.

Majority Standard Bible
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions.

NET Bible
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, along with their households, and all Korah's men, and all their goods.

New Heart English Bible
and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who appertained to Korah, and all their goods.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained to Korah, and all their goods.

World English Bible
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Korah’s men, and all their goods.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the earth opens her mouth and swallows them, and their houses, and all the men who [are] for Korah, and all the goods,

Young's Literal Translation
and the earth openeth her mouth, and swalloweth them, and their houses, and all the men who are for Korah, and all the goods,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the earth shall open her mouth and shall swallow them and their houses, and all the men which to Korah, and all the possessions.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And opening her mouth, devoured them with their tents and all their substance.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And opening its mouth, it devoured them with their tabernacles and their entire substance.

New American Bible
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their families and all of Korah’s people with all their possessions.

New Revised Standard Version
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with their households—everyone who belonged to Korah and all their goods.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households and all the men who were with Korah and all their goods.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, them and their households and all the children of men who were with Qorakh, and all their possessions.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the ground opened, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that were with Core, and their cattle.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Earth Swallows Korah
31As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open, 32and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households— all Korah’s men and all their possessions. 33They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 11:6
and what He did in the midst of all the Israelites to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that belonged to them.

Psalm 106:17
The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the assembly of Abiram.

Jude 1:11
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

1 Corinthians 10:10
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

Hebrews 12:25
See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?

Revelation 12:16
But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

Isaiah 5:14
Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers!

Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Acts 5:5
On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.

2 Peter 2:4
For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;

Job 31:12
For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.

Proverbs 1:12
let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

Luke 16:23
In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.

Matthew 23:33
You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?

Ezekiel 26:20
then I will bring you down with those who descend to the Pit, to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell in the earth below like the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or set in splendor in the land of the living.


Treasury of Scripture

And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained to Korah, and all their goods.

the earth

Numbers 16:30
But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

Genesis 4:11
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

Isaiah 5:14
Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

all the

Numbers 16:17
And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.

Numbers 26:11
Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.

Numbers 27:3
Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.

Jump to Previous
Appertained Belonged Households Houses Joined Korah Korah's Mouth Opened Openeth Opening Possessions Property Swallowed Swalloweth
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Appertained Belonged Households Houses Joined Korah Korah's Mouth Opened Openeth Opening Possessions Property Swallowed Swalloweth
Numbers 16
1. The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
23. Moses separates the people from the rebels' tents
31. The earth swallows up Korah, and a fire consumes others
36. The censers are reserved to holy use
41. 14,700 are slain by a plague, for murmuring against Moses and Aaron
46. Aaron by incense stays the plague














and the earth opened its mouth
The phrase "the earth opened its mouth" is a vivid depiction of divine intervention. In Hebrew, the word for "earth" is "אֶרֶץ" (erets), which often signifies the physical land but can also symbolize the realm of human existence. The imagery of the earth having a "mouth" suggests a supernatural event orchestrated by God, emphasizing His sovereignty over creation. This act of the earth opening is a direct response to the rebellion against God's appointed leadership, illustrating that the natural world is under God's command and can be used to execute His judgment.

and swallowed them
The Hebrew verb "swallowed" is "בָּלַע" (bala), which conveys the idea of engulfing or consuming completely. This term is used elsewhere in Scripture to describe the totality of God's judgment (e.g., Jonah 1:17, where the fish "swallowed" Jonah). The swallowing of the rebels signifies the finality and completeness of God's judgment against sin and rebellion. It serves as a stark warning that defiance against God's order leads to destruction.

and their households
The inclusion of "their households" underscores the communal nature of sin and its consequences. In ancient Israelite society, the family unit was integral, and the actions of the head of the household often affected the entire family. This reflects the biblical principle that sin can have far-reaching effects beyond the individual, impacting those within one's sphere of influence. It also highlights the seriousness of Korah's rebellion, as it brought judgment not only upon himself but also upon his family.

all Korah’s men
"Korah’s men" refers to those who aligned themselves with Korah in his rebellion against Moses and Aaron. This group included leaders and influential figures within the community who challenged the God-ordained leadership. The mention of "all" indicates the totality of those involved in the insurrection, emphasizing that no one who participated in the rebellion was spared from judgment. This serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning oneself with God's will and the dangers of following leaders who oppose divine authority.

and all their possessions
The phrase "and all their possessions" highlights the complete eradication of the rebels' legacy. In the ancient Near East, possessions were not only a sign of wealth but also of one's status and influence. The destruction of their possessions signifies the totality of God's judgment, leaving no trace of the rebels' existence or influence. This serves as a sobering reminder of the futility of earthly wealth and status when set against the eternal purposes of God.

(32) And the earth opened her mouth . . . --Had this verse stood alone it might have been inferred that Korah and his family shared the fate of Dathan and Abiram and their families and households. in regard to the sons of Korah, however, there is direct evidence that they did not share in the punishment of Dathan and Abiram (see Note on Numbers 16:27): and in regard to Korah there is ground for the belief that he perished by fire with the 250 men who offered incense with him. It is true, indeed, that in Numbers 26:10 Korah is mentioned in conjunction with Dathan and Abiram (see Note in loc.); but in the other places in which reference is made to the conspiracy, the fate of the chief conspirators is separated. Thus, in Deuteronomy 11:6 we read only of what God did unto Dathan and Abiram and their households and tents; and in Psalm 106:17 we read that "The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram," whilst in the following verse it is added that "The flame burned up the wicked." If Korah's tent remained in its appointed place amongst the Kohathites, it may reasonably be supposed that the chasm did not extend beyond the tents of Dathan and Abiram; or if Korah had pitched a tent for himself adjoining the tents of Dathan and Abiram, it may be inferred that those only of his household remained in it who shared in the conspiracy, and that his sons remained amongst the other Kohathites, or withdrew with the rest of the congregation at the command of Moses. It is most natural to suppose that Korah was at this time before the door of the Tabernacle, with the 250 men of his company who had presumed to offer incense, and that he shared their doom. Ibn Ezra observes that in the song of the Red Sea there is no mention made of the drowning of Pharaoh, but only of his chariots and hosts; whilst in Psalm 136:15 we read that Pharaoh and his host were overthrown in the Red Sea.

Verse 32. - And their houses, i.e., their families, as in Numbers 18:13. And all the men that appertained unto Korah. Literally, "all the men who to Korah." Whether it means his dependants, or his special partisans, is uncertain: Perhaps some had clung to his fortunes in blind confidence when the rest gat up from his mishcan.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and the earth
הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

opened
וַתִּפְתַּ֤ח (wat·tip̄·taḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

its mouth
פִּ֔יהָ (pî·hā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

and swallowed
וַתִּבְלַ֥ע (wat·tiḇ·la‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1104: To swallow down, swallow up, engulf

them
אֹתָ֖ם (’ō·ṯām)
Direct object marker | third person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

their households,
בָּתֵּיהֶ֑ם (bāt·tê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1004: A house

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

Korah’s
לְקֹ֔רַח (lə·qō·raḥ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7141: Korah -- an Edomite name, also an Israelite name

men
הָאָדָם֙ (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

and all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

their possessions.
הָרֲכֽוּשׁ׃ (hā·ră·ḵūš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7399: Property, goods


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OT Law: Numbers 16:32 And the earth opened its mouth (Nu Num.)
Numbers 16:31
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