The Meaning of Numbers 16:38 Explained

Numbers 16:38

KJV: The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

YLT: even the censers of these sinners against their own souls; and they have made them spread-out plates, a covering for the altar, for they have brought them near before Jehovah, and they are hallowed; and they are become a sign to the sons of Israel.'

Darby: the censers of these sinners who have forfeited their life; and they shall make them into broad plates for the covering of the altar; for they presented them before Jehovah, therefore they are hallowed; and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

ASV: even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Jehovah; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The censers  of these sinners  against their own souls,  let them make  them broad  plates  [for] a covering  of the altar:  for they offered  them before  the LORD,  therefore they are hallowed:  and they shall be a sign  unto the children  of Israel. 

What does Numbers 16:38 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 16:36-50 - "between The Dead And The Living"
The censers served as plates for the altar. Even evil men and evil things will be made to subserve the divine purposes. See Acts 2:23. What a wonderful anticipation of our Lord's eternal priesthood and intercession is furnished by this picture of Aaron waving his censer between the living and the dead, and arresting the plague! On which side do you stand? Are you among the living, or among the dead? Is Christ to you a savor of life unto life or of death unto death? Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall enlighten thee.
The priesthood and the incense-offering had been usurped by Korah to his destruction; but as exercised by God's appointed priest, they brought life. It is an awful thing for mortal man to intrude into the sacred prerogatives of Christ. See 1 Timothy 2:5. [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 16:38 mean?

- The censers of the sinful men these against their own souls and let be made them hammered into plates as a covering for the altar because they presented them before Yahweh therefore they are holy and they shall be a sign to the sons of Israel
אֵ֡ת מַחְתּוֹת֩ הַֽחַטָּאִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה בְּנַפְשֹׁתָ֗ם וְעָשׂ֨וּ אֹתָ֜ם רִקֻּעֵ֤י פַחִים֙ צִפּ֣וּי לַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כִּֽי־ הִקְרִיבֻ֥ם לִפְנֵֽי־ יְהוָ֖ה וַיִּקְדָּ֑שׁוּ וְיִֽהְי֥וּ לְא֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

אֵ֡ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מַחְתּוֹת֩  The  censers 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַחְתָּה  
Sense: fire-holder, censer, firepan, snuff dish, tray.
הַֽחַטָּאִ֨ים  of  the  sinful  men 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַטָּא  
Sense: sinners adj.
הָאֵ֜לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
בְּנַפְשֹׁתָ֗ם  against  their  own  souls 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
וְעָשׂ֨וּ  and  let  be  made 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
רִקֻּעֵ֤י  hammered 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: רִקֻּעַ  
Sense: expansion (of plates).
פַחִים֙  into  plates 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: פַּח 
Sense: bird trap, trap, snare.
צִפּ֣וּי  as  a  covering 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צִפּוּי  
Sense: plating (of metal), metal plating.
לַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ  for  the  altar 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הִקְרִיבֻ֥ם  they  presented  them 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural, third person masculine plural
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
לִפְנֵֽי־  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַיִּקְדָּ֑שׁוּ  therefore  they  are  holy 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.
וְיִֽהְי֥וּ  and  they  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְא֖וֹת  a  sign 
Parse: Preposition, Noun, common singular
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
לִבְנֵ֥י  to  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  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.