What Does Numbers 16:1 Mean in the King James?

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

Numbers 16:1 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Before the challenge is voiced, it already has a shape: people have been gathered into a coalition.

THE MEANING

A movement takes shape when separate people are drawn together. Here, taking men is the first visible act; their claim is still unspoken, so collective force appears before its argument.

THE ROOT

וַיִּקַּח

wayyiqqaḥ

GROWS FROM

לקח

to take, receive, or acquire

“took” in this verse is wayyiqqaḥ. The root holds both taking hold and receiving. Here it gathers people into one cause; in Proverbs, a noun from the same root means instruction, something taken in. English separates these meanings, but Hebrew links gathering people with receiving understanding.

ALSO GROWS

lāqaḥ: to take or receive

לָקַח

This verb supplies the verse’s action: the named men are gathered into one cause.

leqaḥ: instruction or teaching

לֶקַח

The same root reaches inward: instruction is something received, widening “take” beyond possession.

THE PATTERN

A collective movement takes shape when people gather under a shared leader or responsibility.

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

1 Samuel 22:2 · KJVPeople in different troubles gather around David, and their group takes shape under a captain.

And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Exodus 18:25 · KJVMoses selects people and gives them defined responsibilities within the community.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Acts 6:3 · KJVThe community selects seven people and gathers them around a shared responsibility.

THE THREAD

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Proverbs 1:5 · KJV

The Hebrew word for “learning” here, ⁨לֶקַח⁩ (leqaḥ, instruction), comes from the same root ⁨לקח⁩ (lāqaḥ, take or receive) as “took” in Numbers. One root describes taking people into a group; another branch describes taking wisdom in.

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