The Meaning of Numbers 16:39 Explained

Numbers 16:39

KJV: And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

YLT: And Eleazar the priest taketh the brazen censers which they who are burnt had brought near, and they spread them out, a covering for the altar --

Darby: And Eleazar the priest took the copper censers, which they that were burnt had presented; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

ASV: And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Eleazar  the priest  took  the brasen  censers,  wherewith they that were burnt  had offered;  and they were made broad  [plates for] a covering  of the altar: 

What does Numbers 16:39 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 16:39 mean?

So took Eleazar the priest - censers the bronze which had presented those who were burned up and they were hammered out as a covering on the altar
וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֗ן אֵ֚ת מַחְתּ֣וֹת הַנְּחֹ֔שֶׁת אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִקְרִ֖יבוּ הַשְּׂרֻפִ֑ים וַֽיְרַקְּע֖וּם צִפּ֥וּי לַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ

וַיִּקַּ֞ח  So  took 
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.
אֶלְעָזָ֣ר  Eleazar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶלְעָזָר  
Sense: Additional Information: Eleazar = “God has helped”.
הַכֹּהֵ֗ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
אֵ֚ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מַחְתּ֣וֹת  censers 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַחְתָּה  
Sense: fire-holder, censer, firepan, snuff dish, tray.
הַנְּחֹ֔שֶׁת  the  bronze 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְחֹשֶׁת 
Sense: copper, bronze.
הִקְרִ֖יבוּ  had  presented 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
הַשְּׂרֻפִ֑ים  those  who  were  burned  up 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural
Root: שָׂרַף  
Sense: to burn.
וַֽיְרַקְּע֖וּם  and  they  were  hammered  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine plural
Root: רָקַע  
Sense: to beat, stamp, beat out, spread out, stretch.
צִפּ֥וּי  as  a  covering 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צִפּוּי  
Sense: plating (of metal), metal plating.
לַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ  on  the  altar 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 16:39?

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