The Meaning of Numbers 16:15 Explained

Numbers 16:15

KJV: And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

YLT: And it is very displeasing to Moses, and he saith unto Jehovah, 'Turn not Thou unto their present; not one ass from them have I taken, nor have I afflicted one of them.'

Darby: Then Moses was very wroth, and said to Jehovah, Have no regard to their oblation: not one ass have I taken from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

ASV: And Moses was very wroth, and said unto Jehovah, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  was very  wroth,  and said  unto the LORD,  Respect  not thou their offering:  I have not taken  one  ass  from them, neither have I hurt  one  of them. 

What does Numbers 16:15 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 16:15 mean?

And was angry Moses very and said to Yahweh not do respect their offering not donkey one from them I have taken nor have I hurt - one of them
וַיִּ֤חַר לְמֹשֶׁה֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ יְהוָ֔ה אַל־ תֵּ֖פֶן ! מִנְחָתָ֑ם לֹ֠א חֲמ֨וֹר אֶחָ֤ד מֵהֶם֙ נָשָׂ֔אתִי וְלֹ֥א הֲרֵעֹ֖תִי אֶת־ אַחַ֥ד מֵהֶֽם

וַיִּ֤חַר  And  was  angry 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרָה  
Sense: to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled.
לְמֹשֶׁה֙  Moses 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
מְאֹ֔ד  very 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
תֵּ֖פֶן  do  respect 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, second person masculine singular
Root: פֹּונֶה 
Sense: to turn.
! מִנְחָתָ֑ם  their  offering 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
חֲמ֨וֹר  donkey 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֲמֹור 
Sense: (he)ass.
אֶחָ֤ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
מֵהֶם֙  from  them 
Parse: Preposition-m, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
נָשָׂ֔אתִי  I  have  taken 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
וְלֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הֲרֵעֹ֖תִי  have  I  hurt 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אַחַ֥ד  one  of 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).