Psalms 106:17 Meaning: Why Only Dathan and Abiram?
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, And covered the company of Abiram.
Earth openeth, and swalloweth up Dathan, And covereth over the company of Abiram.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram;
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Psalm 106:17 name Dathan and Abiram but omit Korah? The Psalmist follows Deuteronomy 11:6, focusing on the Reubenite rebels who challenged Moses.
Context
Psalm 106 is a confession of Israel's repeated sins in the wilderness. After crossing the Red Sea, the people quickly forgot God's works. They gave in to craving, tested God, and envied Moses and Aaron. Verse 17 recalls the judgment that fell on Dathan and Abiram when they led a rebellion against Moses' leadership. The story comes from Numbers 16, where the earth opened and swallowed the rebels. The Psalmist uses this event as one example among many of Israel's unfaithfulness. It serves as a warning for later generations to remember God's commands and respect His appointed leaders.
Key Words
Three Hebrew verbs carry the weight of this verse. First, opened (tiphtach) pictures the earth parting like a mouth. This shows that God used creation itself to execute judgment. Second, swallowed up (bala) means to engulf completely. There is no recovery. The word carries the sense of being taken down into the depths. Third, covered (kasah) means to conceal or overwhelm. The earth closed over them so they were hidden from sight. Together these words create a picture of finality. The judgment was absolute. For the reader today, they remind us that God's actions are decisive. He does not leave rebellion unaddressed. But the context of this verse is confession, not just warning. The Psalmist includes this event so that later generations can admit their own sins and turn back to God. The word study shows both the severity and the mercy beneath the whole psalm.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a historical event that demonstrates God's judgment on rebellion. Many Bible teachers note that the Psalmist follows Deuteronomy 11:6 in naming only Dathan and Abiram, avoiding mention of Korah. The Cambridge Bible observes that Korah's family did not perish, according to Numbers 26:11. Some see this as the Psalmist focusing on the Reubenite rebels who directly challenged Moses. Others emphasize that the verse is part of a larger confession of sin, not just a judgment scene. Across these views, the common thread is that God defends His appointed leaders and that rebellion against them is rebellion against Him. The verse calls readers to humility and to trust in God's order.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that this verse contradicts Numbers 16 by leaving out Korah. In fact, the Psalmist follows the account in Deuteronomy 11:6, which also names Dathan and Abiram alone. Korah died by fire (Numbers 16:35), and his sons survived (Numbers 26:11). The omission is not a contradiction but a selective focus. Another mistake is thinking that everyone who rebelled against Moses was swallowed by the earth. Only Dathan, Abiram, and their households died that way.
Living This Out
This verse asks you to consider how you respond to God's appointed leaders in your own life. It is not about blind obedience, but about recognizing that God works through people. This week, when you feel critical of a pastor, a boss, or a parent, pause and remember the gravity of rebellion in this story. God sees the heart. Instead of complaining, bring your concerns to God in prayer. You might even write down one way God has used that leader to bless you. That simple act can guard your heart from envy.
Main takeaway: When we reject God's leaders, we reject God Himself, but confession opens the door to mercy.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Some men were angry at God's leader Moses. God made the ground open up and swallow them. This shows that God wants us to respect the leaders He gives us. We can always trust God.
For ages 9, 12
In Numbers 16, Dathan and Abiram led a rebellion against Moses because they did not believe God had chosen him. God made the earth open up and swallow them as a clear sign. The Psalmist includes this event to warn us how serious it is to reject God's chosen servant. But the Psalm is also a confession of sin, so we see that God is merciful to those who turn back to Him.
Questions People Ask
Why does Psalm 106:17 mention Dathan and Abiram but not Korah?
The Psalmist is following the account in Deuteronomy 11:6, which also names only Dathan and Abiram. Korah died by fire (Numbers 16:35), and his sons did not perish (Numbers 26:11). So the poet focuses on the Reubenite rebels who directly challenged Moses' civil leadership.
Did the earth literally open up and swallow people?
The text is straightforward: the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them. This is described as a miraculous judgment from God. Christians who take the Bible as historically reliable accept it as a real event. It stands as a sign of God's power and His seriousness about rebellion against His order.
What is the significance of this verse for Christians today?
The verse serves as a warning against envy and rebellion toward God's appointed leaders. It also functions as part of a confession of sin, reminding readers that Israel's history is a lesson in both judgment and mercy. The same God who judged is the God who forgives when we confess.
Is this verse only about the Old Testament, or does it apply to the church?
The principle that God defends His leaders and judges rebellion carries over into the New Testament, where believers are called to respect their spiritual leaders (Hebrews 13:17). However, the specific event is part of Israel's history. We learn from it by seeing God's character in action.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study