The Meaning of Numbers 16:13 Explained

Numbers 16:13

KJV: Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

YLT: is it little that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to put us to death in a wilderness that thou also certainly makest thyself prince over us?

Darby: Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that thou must make thyself altogether a ruler over us?

ASV: is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but thou must needs make thyself also a prince over us?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Is it] a small thing  that  thou hast brought us up  out of a land  that floweth  with milk  and honey,  to kill  us in the wilderness,  except thou make  thyself altogether  a prince  over us? 

What does Numbers 16:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 16:1-19 - The Rebellion Of Koran
This was a very serious revolt, because so many princes associated themselves with the Levites. Jealousy was at the root of the entire movement. "All the congregation are holy," they said. "Wherefore lift ye up yourselves?" There is no root of bitterness that needs such careful watching as jealousy! If it is in your heart you must, like Samuel of old and General Gordon in our own times, "hew Agag in pieces before the Lord."
The record of Moses' meekness precedes this story of his testing. Whatever is strongest and best in us will be searched as by fire. Even Moses was ruffled by these gross charges. See Numbers 16:15. The best of men are but men at the best. Only Jesus was without a flaw.
What a beautiful thought is expressed in Numbers 16:5; Numbers 16:7; Numbers 16:9. There are holy and blessed souls who have an especial right of access into God's presence-chamber. See Zechariah 3:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Numbers 16:13 mean?

[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 should keep acting over us like a prince
הַמְעַ֗ט כִּ֤י הֶֽעֱלִיתָ֙נוּ֙ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ לַהֲמִיתֵ֖נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּֽי־ תִשְׂתָּרֵ֥ר עָלֵ֖ינוּ גַּם־ הִשְׂתָּרֵֽר

הַמְעַ֗ט  [is  it]  a  small  thing 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
כִּ֤י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הֶֽעֱלִיתָ֙נוּ֙  you  have  brought  us  up 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
מֵאֶ֨רֶץ  out  of  a  land 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
זָבַ֤ת  flowing  with 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: זוּב  
Sense: to flow, gush, issue, discharge.
חָלָב֙  milk 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָלָב  
Sense: milk, sour milk, cheese.
וּדְבַ֔שׁ  and  honey 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דְּבַשׁ  
Sense: honey.
לַהֲמִיתֵ֖נוּ  to  kill  us 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, first person common plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר  in  the  wilderness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
תִשְׂתָּרֵ֥ר  you  should  keep  acting 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׂרַר  
Sense: to be or act as prince, rule, contend, have power, prevail over, reign, govern.
עָלֵ֖ינוּ  over  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
גַּם־  like 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
הִשְׂתָּרֵֽר  a  prince 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive absolute
Root: שָׂרַר  
Sense: to be or act as prince, rule, contend, have power, prevail over, reign, govern.