Numbers 16:15 Meaning: Moses' Angry Prayer to God
Moses was very angry, and said to Yahweh, “Don’t respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them.”
And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
And Moses was very wroth, and said unto Jehovah, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
And it is very displeasing to Moses, and he saith unto Jehovah, `Turn not Thou unto their present; not one ass from them have I taken, nor have I afflicted one of them.'
Then Moses was very wroth, and said to Jehovah, Have no regard to their oblation: not one ass have I taken from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
Meaning in one sentence
Moses, the meekest man, prays a bold, angry prayer. What does this teach about righteous anger? Verse meaning and application.
Context
Korah, Dathan and Abiram had gathered 250 leaders to challenge Moses and Aaron. They accused Moses of failing to bring the people into a land flowing with milk and honey and of setting himself up as a prince over them. When Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram to discuss the matter, they refused to come, hurling bitter insults instead. This verse is Moses' response. He does not answer them directly. He turns to God in a prayer that is both passionate and defensive, asking God to reject the offering these rebels will bring the next day and declaring his own clear conscience before the Lord.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight here. The verb charah (burned) lies behind the phrase “was very angry.” It means to be kindled, to grow hot. This is the same word used of God’s own anger when His people turned to idols. Moses’ anger was not a cool, calculating bitterness; it was fire, and he carried it straight to God.
When Moses says “respect not” (literally tefen, “turn not to”), he uses a word for turning one’s face or attention. He asks God to look away from the offering, to show that He does not accept it. In the ancient world, a gift offered to God was a way of seeking His favor. Moses prays that God would not grant that favor here.
Finally, the word for “hurt” (hareoti) means to do harm or treat badly. Moses insists he has not used his authority for personal gain or oppression. This is not empty pride; it is the testimony of a shepherd who has served among sheep, asking God to judge between him and his accusers.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian readers have long seen this verse as a picture of righteous anger. John Calvin argued that Moses was “inflamed with holy ardor” and that he acted under the Spirit’s direction, not from personal passion. Matthew Henry agreed, noting that Moses was angry not for his own sake but for the dishonor done to God.
Other commentators, like Adam Clarke, emphasized the danger of self-made worship: the rebels wanted to invent their own priesthood and sacrifice, and Moses knew God would never bless such an arrangement. The Anglican Cambridge Bible sees the offering as the ordinary sacrifice every Israelite could bring, and Moses’ prayer as a plea that God would not accept the gifts of those who rejected His appointed authority. Across traditions, readers agree that the anger here is not sin but sorrow for what dishonors God.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Moses’ anger contradicts Numbers 12:3, where he is called the meekest man on earth. They assume meekness means never feeling anger. In fact, meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control. Moses did not explode at the people. He brought his anger to God in prayer, trusting Him to judge. This is the holy anger of a shepherd defending both his flock and his Lord.
Living This Out
Have you been misrepresented? Someone twisted your words, questioned your motives, or accused you unjustly. Your first instinct may be to defend yourself loudly, to set the record straight in front of everyone. Moses shows another way. He took his case directly to God. He named the false charge, stated his innocence, and then let God decide. This week, before you rehearse your defense to another person, try saying it to God first. Tell Him the truth of what happened. Then leave the outcome with Him. You may still need to speak, but your heart will be different.
Main takeaway: Righteous anger turns to God, not against others, and trusts Him to judge what we cannot fix.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Moses was very angry because people told lies about him. But he did not yell at them. He talked to God about it. When you are angry, you can talk to God too.
For ages 9, 12
Moses was called the meekest man on earth, yet here he is very angry. That tells us anger is not always wrong. Moses was angry because the rebels were dishonoring God and hurting the people. But notice: he did not take revenge. He prayed, “God, do not accept their offering.” He defended his own integrity to God, not to the crowd. When you are wrongly accused, you can tell God how you feel and leave the judgment to Him. That is strong, not weak.
Questions People Ask
How can Moses be called meek if he gets so angry here?
Meekness is not the absence of anger; it is strength under God's control. Moses' anger was not personal revenge but zeal for God's honor. He took his anger to the Lord in prayer instead of attacking the rebels himself.
What does 'respect not their offering' mean?
The Hebrew word means 'turn not to' their gift. Moses asked God to reject the sacrifice the rebels planned to offer, showing that He did not approve of their rebellion. It is a prayer for God to judge the matter publicly.
Why does Moses mention a donkey specifically?
A donkey was a common but valuable possession. By saying he had not taken even one donkey, Moses declared he had not used his authority for personal gain. It echoes the oath of a leader with a clear conscience, similar to Samuel's defense in 1 Samuel 12.
Did God answer Moses' prayer about the offering?
Yes. The next day, when Korah and his followers presented their censers, fire came from the Lord and consumed them, showing that God did not accept their offering and that Moses was indeed His chosen leader.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study