The Meaning of Numbers 16:1 Explained

Numbers 16:1

KJV: Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

YLT: And Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, taketh both Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, sons of Reuben,

Darby: And Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, made bold, and with him Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, the sons of Reuben;

ASV: Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men :

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now Korah,  the son  of Izhar,  the son  of Kohath,  the son  of Levi,  and Dathan  and Abiram,  the sons  of Eliab,  and On,  the son  of Peleth,  sons  of Reuben,  took  [men]: 

What does Numbers 16:1 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 16:1 mean?

And took [men] Korah son of Izhar the son of Kohath the son of Levi and with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab and On of Peleth sons of Reuben
וַיִּקַּ֣ח קֹ֔רַח בֶּן־ יִצְהָ֥ר בֶּן־ קְהָ֖ת בֶּן־ לֵוִ֑י וְדָתָ֨ן וַאֲבִירָ֜ם בְּנֵ֧י אֱלִיאָ֛ב וְא֥וֹן פֶּ֖לֶת בְּנֵ֥י רְאוּבֵֽן

וַיִּקַּ֣ח  And  took  [men] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
קֹ֔רַח  Korah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹרַח  
Sense: son of Izhar, grandson of Kohath, great grandson of Levi and leader of the rebellion of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron while in the wilderness; punished and died by an earthquake and flames of fire.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִצְהָ֥ר  of  Izhar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְהָר  
Sense: son of Kohath, grandson of Levi, uncle of Moses and Aaron, and father of Korah; progenitor of the Izharites.
בֶּן־  the  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
קְהָ֖ת  of  Kohath 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: קְהָת  
Sense: the 2nd of the 3 sons of Levi and progenitor of a family in the tribe of Levi.
בֶּן־  the  son  of 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
לֵוִ֑י  Levi 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵוִי 
Sense: the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites.
וְדָתָ֨ן  and  with  Dathan 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּתָן  
Sense: a Reubenite chief, son of Eliab, who, with his brother, Abiram, joined Korah’s conspiracy against Moses’ authority.
וַאֲבִירָ֜ם  and  Abiram 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִירָם  
Sense: a Reubenite, son of Eliab in exodus.
בְּנֵ֧י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֱלִיאָ֛ב  of  Eliab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלִיאָב  
Sense: son of Helon, leader of Zebulun in the wilderness.
וְא֥וֹן  and  On 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹון  
Sense: a chief of the tribe of Reuben.
פֶּ֖לֶת  of  Peleth 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּלֶת  
Sense: a Reubenite, father of On who rebelled with Dathan and Abiram in the days of the wilderness wanderings.
בְּנֵ֥י  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
רְאוּבֵֽן  of  Reuben 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְאוּבֵן  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Leah.