Numbers 16:30 Meaning and Explanation
“But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →But if God creates something new—the earth opening to swallow them alive—then the people will know they provoked the Lord.
The Context of Numbers 16:30
Moses specifies the sign: the earth will swallow the rebels alive, proving they provoked God.
What Does Numbers 16:30 Mean?
The sign is unprecedented: the earth itself will open and swallow the rebels alive. This is not death by disease, battle, or age but a unique intervention by God in the natural world.
Going down 'quick' (alive) into the pit emphasizes the supernatural nature of the event. It is not death alone but an act of creation by God that violates natural law, making it unmistakable as divine judgment.
Numbers 16:30 in the Original Language
בְרָאָ (bara, 'make') — a special word for creation or bringing something entirely new into being; God will create a new opening in the earth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 16:30
What does Numbers 16:30 mean?
But if God creates something new—the earth opening to swallow them alive—then the people will know they provoked the Lord.
What is the context of Numbers 16:30?
Moses specifies the sign: the earth will swallow the rebels alive, proving they provoked God.