Numbers 16:46 Meaning and Explanation
“And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Moses commands Aaron to take a censer and make atonement for the congregation, as God's plague has begun.
The Context of Numbers 16:46
Moses directs Aaron to perform the high priest's intercessory role, using the censer for its proper purpose.
What Does Numbers 16:46 Mean?
Moses recognizes that the plague is already beginning and acts immediately to intercede through Aaron, the high priest. The command to Aaron to take a censer—the very object of the rebellion—shows the legitimate use of this priestly function.
The urgency ('go quickly') and the purpose ('make an atonement') show Moses' heart to save the people even from the consequences of their own murmuring. Atonement here means to make reconciliation between God and the people.
Numbers 16:46 in the Original Language
כַּפֵּר (kapar, 'make atonement') — to cover, reconcile, or make amends between parties; Aaron's action seeks to bridge the gap God's judgment opened.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 16:46
What does Numbers 16:46 mean?
Moses commands Aaron to take a censer and make atonement for the congregation, as God's plague has begun.
What is the context of Numbers 16:46?
Moses directs Aaron to perform the high priest's intercessory role, using the censer for its proper purpose.