The Meaning of Numbers 16:9 Explained

Numbers 16:9

KJV: Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

YLT: is it little to you that the God of Israel hath separated you from the company of Israel to bring you near unto Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the company to serve them? --

Darby: Is it too little for you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the assembly of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the work of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the assembly to minister to them?

ASV: seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Seemeth it but] a small thing  unto you, that the God  of Israel  hath separated  you from the congregation  of Israel,  to bring you near  to himself to do  the service  of the tabernacle  of the LORD,  and to stand  before  the congregation  to minister  unto them? 

What does Numbers 16:9 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 16:9 mean?

[is it] a small thing to you that has separated the God of Israel you from the congregation of Israel to bring near you to Himself to do - the work of the tabernacle of Yahweh and to stand before the congregation to serve them
הַמְעַ֣ט מִכֶּ֗ם כִּֽי־ הִבְדִּיל֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵעֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְהַקְרִ֥יב אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָ֑יו לַעֲבֹ֗ד אֶת־ עֲבֹדַת֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהוָ֔ה וְלַעֲמֹ֛ד לִפְנֵ֥י הָעֵדָ֖ה לְשָׁרְתָֽם

הַמְעַ֣ט  [is  it]  a  small  thing 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
מִכֶּ֗ם  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הִבְדִּיל֩  has  separated 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּדַל  
Sense: to divide, separate.
אֱלֹהֵ֨י  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
מֵעֲדַ֣ת  from  the  congregation 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
לְהַקְרִ֥יב  to  bring  near 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
אֵלָ֑יו  to  Himself 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
לַעֲבֹ֗ד  to  do 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
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.
עֲבֹדַת֙  the  work 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
מִשְׁכַּ֣ן  of  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְלַעֲמֹ֛ד  and  to  stand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לִפְנֵ֥י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הָעֵדָ֖ה  the  congregation 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
לְשָׁרְתָֽם  to  serve  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁרַת  
Sense: (Piel) to minister, serve, minister to.