The Meaning of Numbers 16:7 Explained

Numbers 16:7

KJV: And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

YLT: and put in them fire, and put on them perfume, before Jehovah to-morrow, and it hath been, the man whom Jehovah chooseth, he is the holy one; -- enough of you, sons of Levi.'

Darby: and put fire therein, and lay incense thereon before Jehovah to-morrow; and it shall be that the man whom Jehovah doth choose, he shall be holy. It is enough, ye sons of Levi!

ASV: and put fire in them, and put incense upon them before Jehovah to-morrow: and it shall be that the man whom Jehovah doth choose, he'shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And put  fire  therein,  and put  incense  in them before  the LORD  to morrow:  and it shall be [that] the man  whom the LORD  doth choose,  he [shall be] holy:  [ye take] too much  upon you, ye sons  of Levi. 

What does Numbers 16:7 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 16:7 mean?

and put in them fire and put in them incense before Yahweh tomorrow and it shall be [that] the man whom chooses Yahweh is the holy one [You take] too much upon yourselves you sons of Levi
וּתְנ֣וּ בָהֵ֣ן ׀ אֵ֡שׁ וְשִׂימוּ֩ עֲלֵיהֶ֨ן קְטֹ֜רֶת לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ מָחָ֔ר וְהָיָ֗ה הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ יִבְחַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה ה֣וּא הַקָּד֑וֹשׁ רַב־ לָכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי

וּתְנ֣וּ  and  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
בָהֵ֣ן ׀  in  them 
Parse: Preposition-b, Pronoun, third person feminine plural
Root: ־הֶן 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
אֵ֡שׁ  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
וְשִׂימוּ֩  and  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
עֲלֵיהֶ֨ן  in  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
קְטֹ֜רֶת  incense 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: קְטֹרֶת  
Sense: incense, smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice.
לִפְנֵ֤י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מָחָ֔ר  tomorrow 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מָחָר  
Sense: tomorrow, in time to come, in the future.
וְהָיָ֗ה  and  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הָאִ֛ישׁ  [that]  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אֲשֶׁר־  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יִבְחַ֥ר  chooses 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַקָּד֑וֹשׁ  the  holy  one 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָדֹושׁ  
Sense: sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart.
רַב־  [You  take]  too  much 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
לָכֶ֖ם  upon  yourselves 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
בְּנֵ֥י  you  sons  of 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
לֵוִֽי  Levi 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵוִי 
Sense: the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites.