Numbers 16:38

³⁶ Then the LORD said to Moses,

³⁷ “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to remove the censers from the flames and to scatter the coals far away, because the censers are holy.

As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”

³⁹ So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar,

⁴⁰ just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”
KJV: The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.
WEB: even the censers of those who sinned against their own lives. Let them be beaten into plates for a covering of the altar, for they offered them before the LORD. Therefore they are holy. They shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”
ASV: even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Jehovah; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.
DARBY: the censers of these sinners who have forfeited their life; and they shall make them into broad plates for the covering of the altar; for they presented them before Jehovah, therefore they are hallowed; and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.
BLB: [As for] the censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, because they presented them before the face of YHWH, and they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the sons of Israel.”

ÅB: de ildkar som tilhørte disse menn som ved sin synd har forbrutt sitt liv; der skal gjøres tynne plater av dem til å kle alteret med, for de bar dem fram for Herrens åsyn, og derfor er de hellige; og de skal være til et tegn for Israels barn.
OTB: ildkarene til de mennene som syndet med tap av sine liv. La dem bli laget til hamrede plater som dekke for alteret, for de ble båret fram for Herren og har blitt hellige. La dem være et tegn for israelittene.»
B1930: de ildkar som tilhørte disse menn som ved sin synd har forbrutt sitt liv; der skal gjøres tynne plater av dem til å klæ alteret med, for de bar dem frem for Herrens åsyn, og derfor er de hellige; og de skal være til et tegn for Israels barn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ezekiel 14:8
I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Read in context
Proverbs 20:2
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
Read in context
2 Peter 2:6
if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;
Read in context
Numbers 26:10
And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign.
Read in context
1 Kings 2:23
Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life.
Read in context
Numbers 17:10
The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.”
Read in context
Habakkuk 2:10
You have plotted shame for your house by cutting off many peoples and forfeiting your life.
Read in context
Proverbs 8:36
But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
Read in context