20
But they shall notוְלֹאgo inיָבֹאוּto seeלִרְאוֹתthe holy thingsאֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁeven for an instant,כְּבַלַּעor they will die.”וָמֵתוּ
Numbers 4:20
Study it in the app“But they shall not go in to see the holy things even for an instant, or they will die.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Numbers 4:20, word by word
- go inיָבֹאוּyavou
enter
To go into a place.
Where else “yavou” appears- to seeרְאוֹתreot
see
To see with one's eyes.
Where else “reot” appears- the holy thingsקֹּדֶשׁkodesh
holy thing
Something set apart for God: a day, an offering.
Where else “kodesh” appears- even for an instantבַלַּעvala
swallow
Swallow, swallow up; hence, destroy.
Where else “vala” appears- or they will dieמֵתוּmetu
die
To cease living; also, one who has ceased living.
Where else “metu” appears
Translation note
The Hebrew expression translated “even for an instant” is, word for word, “as at swallowing.” Others understand: “when the holy things are wrapped up.”
The context
19But do this for them, so that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign them, each man to his service and to his load.
20 · This verse (above)
21And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,