King James Version

What Does Numbers 33:38 Mean?

Numbers 33:38 in the King James Version says “And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after t...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 33 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.”

Numbers 33:38 · KJV

Context

36

And they removed from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.

37

And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.

38

And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.

39

And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.

40

And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.

Read Numbers 33 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there—Aaron's death was divinely ordained, not accidental. The phrase at the commandment of the LORD (עַל־פִּי יְהוָה, 'al-pî YHWH, literally 'upon the mouth of Yahweh') indicates sovereign appointment. Aaron's time was complete.

The chronological marker—in the fortieth year after Exodus, the first day of the fifth month (about July/August)—gives precise dating. Aaron died five months before Israel crossed Jordan, having served as high priest for nearly 40 years. His exclusion from Canaan (like Moses') resulted from the rebellion at Meribah (20:12, 24). Even faithful servants face consequences for sin, yet God honored Aaron with a mountaintop death and mourning period (20:29).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Aaron was 123 years old (v. 39), having been consecrated as high priest at age 83 (Exodus 7:7). His death marked the end of the Exodus generation's leadership core. The fifth month (Av in the Hebrew calendar) became associated with tragedy—later, both temples were destroyed in this month.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does it mean that Aaron died 'at the commandment of the LORD'—by divine appointment rather than chance?
  2. How should we understand that faithful leaders like Aaron and Moses faced severe consequences (exclusion from Canaan) for their failures?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיַּעַל֩1 of 22

“went up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אַֽהֲרֹ֨ן2 of 22

“And Aaron”

H175

aharon, the brother of moses

הַכֹּהֵ֜ן3 of 22

“the priest”

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

אֶל4 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הֹ֥ר5 of 22

“Hor”

H2023

hor, the name of a peak in idumaea and of one in syria

הָהָ֛ר6 of 22

“into mount”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

עַל7 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פִּ֥י8 of 22

“at the commandment”

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

יְהוָ֖ה9 of 22

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וַיָּ֣מָת10 of 22

“and died”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

שָׁ֑ם11 of 22
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

בִּשְׁנַ֣ת12 of 22

“year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

הָֽאַרְבָּעִ֗ים13 of 22

“there in the fortieth”

H705

forty

לְצֵ֤את14 of 22

“were come out”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

בְּנֵֽי15 of 22

“after the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵל֙16 of 22

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ17 of 22

“of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרַ֔יִם18 of 22

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

לַחֹֽדֶשׁ׃19 of 22

“month”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

הַֽחֲמִישִׁ֖י20 of 22

“day of the fifth”

H2549

fifth; also a fifth

בְּאֶחָ֥ד21 of 22

“in the first”

H259

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

לַחֹֽדֶשׁ׃22 of 22

“month”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 33:38 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Numbers 33:38 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 10:6Deuteronomy 32:50Numbers 20:24-28

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
Mount Hor 1Mountain · Modern: Har Zin · 30.83°N, 35.06°E10 verses across 2 books
View all places in Numbers 33 →

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