Numbers 26:11 — Word Study
WLCוּבְנֵי־ קֹ֖רַח לֹא־ מֵֽתוּ׃ ס
BSAHowever, the linebên [descendants, sons] of KorahQôrach [a leader who rebelled against Moses] did notlôʼ [never, to no degree] die outmûwth■ [perish, come to an end, as a result of God's judgment]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּבְנֵי־ | and [the] sons of | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct |
| קֹ֖רַח | Korah | Noun proper masculine |
| לֹא־ | not | Particle |
| מֵֽתוּ׃ ס | they died | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | However, the line of Korah did not die out. |
| KJV | Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. |
| ASV | Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah died not. |
| YLT | and the sons of Korah died not. |
| WEB | Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah didn’t die. |
| BBE | But death did not overtake the sons of Korah. |
The translations here agree that the line of Korah did not die out, with no significant differences noted.
The sentence has a straightforward structure, with a clear subject and verb, emphasizing the survival of Korah's descendants.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמוּת
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Numbers 26:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Lineage of Korahgenerated
Numbers 26:11 states that while Korah and his followers faced dire consequences for their rebellion against Moses, his descendants did not perish. This highlights a theme of survival and continuity within families, even in the face of judgment, as seen in the surrounding verses that detail the fate of those who rebelled and the genealogies of the tribes of Israel.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 16:5 | Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses, He will bring near to Himself. |
| 2 | Exodus 6:24 | The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the clans of the Korahites. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 6:22–28 | The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, |
| 4 | Psalm 42:1 | As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. |
| 5 | Psalm 44:1 | We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us the work You did in their days, in the days of old. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בֵּן, u.ve.nei-generated
The word בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'descendant' and can refer to a range of familial relationships, including grandsons and members of a tribe. It emphasizes lineage and inheritance, showing the connection between generations.
In this verse, it indicates that the descendants of Korah, despite their ancestor's rebellion, continued to exist and maintain their identity within the Israelite community.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The primary translation used here is the Berean Standard Bible, which states that the line of Korah did not die out.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause of the sentence is governed by the verb מֵֽתוּ, they died, indicating the action taken regarding Korah's followers. The subject is the noun phrase וּבְנֵי־ קֹ֖רַח, the sons of Korah, which is placed at the beginning for emphasis.
The structure highlights the contrast between the fate of Korah's followers and that of his descendants, emphasizing the survival of the latter.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וּבְנֵי־ as υἱοὶ (huioi), meaning 'sons'. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing lineage.
The use of οὐκ for לֹא reinforces the negation of death, maintaining the original Hebrew's intent that Korah's line did not perish.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 26:11 tells us that although Korah and his followers faced judgment and died, his descendants survived. This shows that even in the face of rebellion, some family lines can continue.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Korah was a leader who rebelled against Moses and Aaron, as described in Numbers 16.
It means that Korah's descendants continued to exist and were not wiped out like their ancestor's followers.
This verse highlights themes of survival and continuity within families, even after severe judgment.
We can learn that despite the failures of predecessors, new generations can rise and maintain their identity.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this verse teach us about the consequences of rebellion and the possibility of redemption for future generations?
- How can we apply the lessons from Korah's descendants to our own lives and families?
- In what ways can we support those in our families who may struggle with the legacy of past actions?
- What does this verse say about God's mercy and judgment in relation to family lines?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 26:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleNotwithstanding, the children of Korah died not. Neither of the pestilence, nor by fire, nor by the swallowing up of the earth; they not being in the counsel of their father, but followed the
Read John Gill on Numbers 26 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryNotwithstanding the children of Korah died not. Notwithstanding the children of Korah dies not. Either they were not parties to their father's crime, or they withdrew from it by timely repentance.
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 26 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleGod being pleased to spare them, either because they disowned their father’ s act, and thereupon separated themselves both from his tent and company, or because Moses interceded for them, or because God would glorify his own free mercy in sparing some, while he punished others, according to his declaration in a like case, . Hence the sons of Korah are mentioned ,37, and oft in the book of Psalms.
Read Matthew Poole on Numbers 26 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsNumbers 26:11 Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.Ver. 11. The children of Korah died not.] As being either innocent or penitent; for Aut paenitendum, ant pereundum
Read John Trapp on Numbers 26 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(11) Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.—See Notes on Numbers 16:27; Numbers 16:32.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Numbers 26 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. The children of Korah died not.] It is difficult to reconcile this place with Numbers 16:27; Numbers 16:31-33, where it seems to be intimated that not only the men, but the wives, and the sons, and the little ones of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, were swallowed up by the earthquake; see especially Numbers 16:27, collated with Numbers 16:33. But the text here expressly says, The children of Korah died not; and on a close inspection of Nu 16:27 of the above-mentioned chapter, we shall find that the sons and the little ones of Dathan and Abiram alone are mentioned. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out - and their…
Read AdamClarke on Numbers 26 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. and the sons of Korah died not] There is no mention of Korah’s family in ch. 16, but the inference might naturally be drawn from Numbers 26:32 that they were included in his body of adherents. This inference the writer felt it necessary to check, because in his day ‘sons of Korah’ were found in Jerusalem. They were a subdivision of the Levites, a guild which formed one of the temple choirs. To their hymnbook belonged Psalms 42, 44-49, 84 f., 87 f. In Numbers 26:58 (below) they are called ‘the family of the Korahites.’
Read Cambridge on Numbers 26 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe children of Korah died not - Compare Numbers 26:58. Samuel the prophet was of this family, and Heman, “the king’s seer” 1 Chronicles 6:22, 1 Chronicles 6:33; 1 Chronicles 25:5.
Read Albert Barnes on Numbers 26 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
However, the line of Korah did not die out.
Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah didn’t die.
However, the line of Korah did not die out.
But the descendants of Korah did not die.
Tyndale line
Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah died not.
Notwithstanding the sons of Korah died not.
Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
Notwithstanding, all the sonnes of Korah dyed not.
Strictly literal
But the children of Korah died not.
and the sons of Korah died not.
but the sons of Korah did not die.
But the sons of Korach did not die.
But Korah's line did not die out.
From the Latin
That when Core perished, his sons did not perish.
Simplified
But Korah's sons didn't die.)
But death did not overtake the sons of Korah.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Samaritan Pentateuch all agree on the wording of Numbers 26:11, affirming that the descendants of Korah did not die. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a restored text that also supports this reading.
וּבְנֵי־ קֹ֖רַח לֹא־ מֵֽתוּ׃ ס
4 of the 4 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ובני קרח לא מתו
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[ובני] [קורח] [לוא] [מתו]
nothing on the leather here — 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Numbers 26:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural constructHC/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
קֹ֫רַח (qo'rach) means 'bald' and refers to several figures in the Old Testament, including a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. The entries note Korah as an Edomite name and mention various individuals named Korah, including sons of Esau and a Judahite clan member. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
קֹ֫רַח 37 n.pr.m. (baldness?)
Edomite name
Levite, rebel ag. Moses
a ‘son’ of Hebron, i.e. Judahite clan
base
H7141 קֹ֫רַח (baldness?) . Edomite name
. Levite, rebel ag. Moses
. a ‘son’ of Hebron, i.e. Judahite clan
7141 Qorach ko'rakh
from 7139; ice; Korach, the name of two Edomites and three
Israelites:--Korah.
see HEBREW for 07139
קֹ֫רַח (qo.rach) — Korah.
A man of the Edomites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.5;
son of: Esau (H6215) and Oholibamah (H0173);
brother of: Jeush (H3266) and Jalam (H3281);
half-brother of: Eliphaz (H0464) and Reuel (H7467)
§ Korah = "bald"
1) son of Izhar, grandson of Kohath, great grandson of Levi and leader of the rebellion of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron while in the wilderness; punished and died by an earthquake and flames of fire
2) the 3rd son of Esau by Aholibamah and one of the dukes of Edom
3) son of Eliphaz by Adah, duke of Edom, and nephew of 1
4) one of the 'sons' of Hebron
קֹ֫רַח (qo.rach) — Korah.
A man of the Edomites living at the time of the Patriarchs, only mentioned at Gen.36.16;
son of: Eliphaz (H0464);
brother of: Teman (H8487), Omar (H0201), Zepho (H6825), Gatam (H1609), Kenaz (H7073) and Amalek (H6002H)
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
ko'-ra, (~qorach], "baldness," possibly; Kore):
(1) One of the 3 sons of Oholibamah, Esau's Hivite wife. The account says that the 3 were born in Canaan before Esau withdrew to the Seir mountain country. They are mentioned 3 times in the brief account from 3 points of view (Ge 36:5,14,18;, 1Ch 1:35), the 3rd mention being in the list of "chiefs."
(2) One of the sons of Eliphaz, the son of Adah, Esau's Hittite wife (Ge 36:16). He is mentioned as one of the Edomite "chiefs."
If one has the habit, finding a statement anywhere, of thinking that the statement ought to be changed into something else, he will be interested in the attempts to identify these Edomite Korahs with Korah (3).
Korah
Ice, hail. (1.) The third son of Esau, by Aholibamah (Gen. 36:14; 1 Chr. 1:35).
(2.) A Levite, the son of Izhar, the brother of Amram, the father of Moses and Aaron (Ex. 6:21). The institution of the Aaronic priesthood and the Levitical service at Sinai was a great religious revolution. The old priesthood of the heads of families passed away. This gave rise to murmurings and discontent, while the Israelites were encamped at Kadesh for the first time, which came to a head in a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, headed by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Two hundred and fifty princes, “men of renown” i.e., well-known men from among the other tribes, joined this conspiracy. The whole company demanded of Moses and Aaron that the old…
(baldness). Third son of Esau by Aholibamah. (Genesis 36:5,14,18; 1 Chronicles 1:35) He was born in Canaan before Esau migrated to Mount Seir, (Genesis 36:5-9) and was one of the "dukes" of Edom. (B.C. 1790.) Another Edomitish "duke" of this name, sprung from Eliphaz, Esau’s son of Adah. (Genesis 36:16) One of the "sons of Hebron," in (1 Chronicles 2:43) Son of Izhar the son of Kohath the son of Levi. He was leader of the famous rebellion against his cousins Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, for which he paid the penalty of perishing with his followers by an earthquake and flames of fire. (Numbers 16; 26:9-11) The…
A Levite, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron, and so against Jehovah. He was a cousin of Moses; for their fathers Izhar and Amram were brothers, Ex 6:16-21. He was jealous of the civil authority and priestly dignity conferred by God upon Moses and Aaron, his own cousins, while he was simply a Levite; and to obtain a part at least of their power for himself, he stirred up a factious spirit in the people. Too much, alas, of what may seem to be zeal for the honor of God, has its true character displayed in the pride and ambition of this rebellious Levite. The two hundred and fifty Levites whom he had enticed to join him were destroyed by fire from the Lord; while Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were swallowed up by the miraculous opening of the earth, Nu 26:11; and the Korahites or…
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
מוּת (mūth) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to die' or 'to kill.' It encompasses a range of meanings from dying naturally to being executed as a penalty. The word can refer to both humans and animals, and it includes various forms such as causing death or being killed. There is a distinction in usage based on the subject, whether it is a person or God inflicting death.
מוּת vb. die
Qal
die, of natural or other causes
die as a penalty = be put to death
Po‛lel. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
Hiph.
abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
subj. God, by inflicting penalty
of animals killing men
bring to a premature death
Hoph. be killed, put to death
base
H4191 מוּת die .. die, of natural or other causes
. die as a penalty = be put to death
. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
. . abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
. subj. God, by inflicting penalty
. of animals killing men
. bring to a premature death
. be killed, put to death
4191 muwth mooth
a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively);
causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body,
man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to,
be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs,
slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.
מוּת (mut) — to die.
1) to die, kill, have one executed
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to die
1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death
1a3) to die, perish (of a nation)
1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct)
1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch
1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be killed, be put to death
1d1a) to die prematurely
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp