Numbers 17:13
New International Version
Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to die?”

New Living Translation
Everyone who even comes close to the Tabernacle of the LORD dies. Are we all doomed to die?”

English Standard Version
Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, shall die. Are we all to perish?”

Berean Standard Bible
Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”

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

New King James Version
Whoever even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD must die. Shall we all utterly die?”

New American Standard Bible
Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, must die. Are we to perish completely?”

NASB 1995
“Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, must die. Are we to perish completely?”

NASB 1977
“Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, must die. Are we to perish completely?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of Yahweh, must die. Are we to breathe our utter last?”

Amplified Bible
Everyone who approaches, who approaches the tabernacle of the LORD, must die. Are we to perish completely?”

Christian Standard Bible
Anyone who comes near the LORD’s tabernacle will die. Will we all perish? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Anyone who comes near the LORD’s tabernacle will die. Will we all perish?”

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

Contemporary English Version
and doomed if we even go near the sacred tent!"

English Revised Version
Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of the LORD, dieth: shall we perish all of us?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Anyone who comes near the LORD's tent will die! Are we all going to die?"

Good News Translation
If anyone who even comes near the Tent must die, then we are all as good as dead!"

International Standard Version
Anyone who comes near or approaches the LORD's tent is to die. Are all of us going to die?"

Majority Standard Bible
Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”

NET Bible
Anyone who even comes close to the tabernacle of the LORD will die! Are we all to die?"

New Heart English Bible
Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, dies. Will we all perish?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Whoever approacheth the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

World English Bible
Everyone who keeps approaching Yahweh’s tabernacle, dies! Will we all perish?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Any who is at all drawing near to the Dwelling Place of YHWH dies; have we not been consumed—to expire?”

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

Smith's Literal Translation
All coming near, coming near the dwelling of Jehovah, and dying, shall die: shall we die to breathe out life?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whosoever approacheth to the tabernacle of the Lord, he dieth. Are we all to a man to be utterly destroyed?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whoever approaches to the tabernacle of the Lord dies. Will we all be wiped away, even to total annihilation?”

New American Bible
Anyone who approaches the tabernacle of the LORD will die! Will there be no end to our perishing?”

New Revised Standard Version
Everyone who approaches the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all to perish?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Whosoever comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD shall die; and, behold, we also are near to perish.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And everyone who comes near to the Tabernacle of LORD JEHOVAH dies, and behold, we also have come out to die.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of the LORD, is to die; shall we wholly perish?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Every one that touches the tabernacle of the Lord, dies: shall we die utterly?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Aaron's Staff Buds
12Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost! 13Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”

Cross References
Hebrews 12:29
“For our God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Deuteronomy 4:24
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Leviticus 10:1-3
Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD. / Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.

1 Corinthians 10:22
Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Isaiah 33:14
The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the ungodly: “Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”

2 Samuel 6:7
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

Acts 5:1-11
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. / With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. / Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? ...

1 Chronicles 13:10
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

Exodus 19:21-22
and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish. / Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”

Romans 1:18
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

2 Kings 1:10-12
Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men. / So the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. And the captain said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down at once!’” / Again Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.

Revelation 6:17
For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Numbers 16:35
And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

Psalm 90:11
Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due.


Treasury of Scripture

Whoever comes any thing near to the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

Whosoever

Numbers 1:51-53
And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death…

Numbers 18:4-7
And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you…

any thing

Genesis 3:3
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

1 Samuel 6:19-21
And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter…

2 Samuel 6:6-12
And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it

consumed

Numbers 16:26
And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

Numbers 32:13
And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.

Deuteronomy 2:16
So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,

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Numbers 17
1. Aaron's rod, among all the rods of the tribes, only flourishes
10. It is left for a monument against the rebels














Everyone who comes near
This phrase underscores the holiness and sanctity of the tabernacle, the dwelling place of God among His people. In Hebrew, the word for "comes near" is "קָרַב" (qarab), which implies approaching or drawing near with the intent of worship or offering. The context here is a reminder of the reverence required when approaching God. Historically, the Israelites had witnessed the consequences of irreverence, such as the deaths of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2), which reinforced the need for proper respect and ritual purity.

who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD
The "tabernacle" (מִשְׁכָּן, mishkan) was the portable earthly dwelling place of Yahweh used by the Israelites from the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan. It was a sacred space, meticulously designed according to divine specifications (Exodus 25-31). The phrase "of the LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh) emphasizes the personal name of God, highlighting His covenant relationship with Israel. The tabernacle was not just a physical structure but a symbol of God's presence and His desire to dwell among His people.

will die
This stark warning reflects the seriousness of approaching God without the proper respect or ritual purity. The Hebrew word for "die" is "מוּת" (muth), which conveys the finality and severity of the consequence. In the context of Numbers, this warning follows the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, where the earth swallowed them for their challenge against God's appointed leadership (Numbers 16). The death penalty for unauthorized access to the tabernacle served as a deterrent against casual or irreverent approaches to the divine presence.

Are we all going to perish?
This rhetorical question reveals the fear and anxiety of the Israelites after witnessing the divine judgment on those who approached God improperly. The Hebrew word for "perish" is "אָבַד" (abad), which means to be lost or destroyed. This reflects the people's realization of their own sinfulness and the holiness of God. It is a moment of introspection and recognition of the need for a mediator, which in the Old Testament context, was fulfilled by the priesthood. This foreshadows the ultimate mediation of Christ, who provides access to God through His sacrifice, as emphasized in the New Testament (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Verse 13. - Shall we be consumed with dying? It was a natural question, considering all that had happened; and indeed it could only be answered in the affirmative, for their sentence was, "In this wilderness they shall be consumed" (chapter 14:35). But it was not in human nature that they should calmly accept their fate.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Anyone
כֹּ֣ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who comes near
הַקָּרֵ֧ב ׀ (haq·qā·rêḇ)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7131: Approaching

the tabernacle
מִשְׁכַּ֥ן (miš·kan)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4908: A residence, the Tabernacle

of the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

will die.
יָמ֑וּת (yā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

Are we all
תַּ֖מְנוּ (tam·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 8552: To be complete or finished

going to perish?”
לִגְוֺֽעַ׃ (liḡ·wō·a‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1478: To breathe out, expire


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OT Law: Numbers 17:13 Everyone who comes near who comes near (Nu Num.)
Numbers 17:12
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