What Does Numbers 16:25 Mean in the King James?

And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

Numbers 16:25 · 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.

THE KEY

In Hebrew, Moses and the elders both “go”: the elders’ following is the same movement, turned toward the one ahead.

THE MEANING

Moses gets up and goes toward Dathan and Abiram; the elders go after him. The line gathers leader and elders into one direction, so the elders are present in the movement rather than watching from afar. The one who steps forward does not move alone.

THE ROOT

וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרָיו

vayyelkhu acharav

GROWS FROM

הלך

To walk or go; here, “they went after him.”

“followed” in this verse is vayyelkhu acharav. The Hebrew uses the same movement verb when Moses goes to Dathan and Abiram and when the elders follow him; “after him” gives their movement its direction. What English separates into going and following is one shared motion.

ALSO GROWS

vayyelekh: And he went.

וַיֵּלֶךְ

This form describes Moses going toward Dathan and Abiram, with the same root used for the elders’ following.

vayyithallekh: And he walked about; he walked with.

וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ

This form appears in the description of Enoch walking with God, showing the same root in movement shaped by relationship.

מֹשֶׁה

Mosheh

GROWS FROM

משה

To draw out.

The name carries the image of one drawn out of water. Here Moses rises and goes toward Dathan and Abiram, while the elders move after him; the name’s image of emergence sits beside a movement others join.

ALSO GROWS

māšâ: To draw out.

מָשָׁה

This verb supplies the image associated with Moses’ name.

meshitihu: I drew him out.

מְשִׁיתִהוּ

In Exodus 2:10, this is the wording used to explain the name Moses.

THE PATTERN

Following is shared movement: one moves ahead, and another enters the same direction.

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Ruth 1:16 · KJVRuth describes following as going where the other person goes and sharing her path.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

John 10:27 · KJVFollowing appears as movement in response to a voice and a known guide.

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 Peter 2:21 · KJVThe path already taken becomes a direction others can follow.

THE THREAD

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Genesis 5:24 · KJV

In Numbers, the elders go after Moses; in Genesis, Enoch walks with God. Both use the Hebrew root ⁨הלך⁩, linking following with walking in relation to someone already on the way.

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