Skip to main content
Psalmlog Logo
Read

Psalm 106:17

The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

15He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
16They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, the LORD’s saint.
17The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
18A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.
19They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped a molten image.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →
← Psalm 106:16Psalm 106:18 →
Notice

Dathan’s death beneath the opened earth confronts you with the severity of God’s judgment in an account preceded by envy of Moses and Aaron.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What is hardest for you to face in the earth swallowing Dathan and covering Abiram’s company?

Write on this

How does the mention of envy in verse 16 shape your reading of this judgment?

Write on this
Connect

Where else Scripture says this

7 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Deuteronomy 11:6and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben—how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their …Both recount the earth swallowing Dathan and Abiram’s company; Deuteronomy includes their households and possessions in the account.
Numbers 26:10and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died; at the time the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they …Both recall the earth opening and swallowing people; Numbers also names Korah and describes the deaths as a sign.
Numbers 16:29–33If these men die the common death of all men, or if they experience what all men experience, then the LORD hasn’t sent me.Moses speaks of death unlike the common death of men; the psalm recounts people being swallowed by the earth.
Numbers 16:32The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Korah’s men, and all their goods.Both describe the earth opening and swallowing people, with Numbers specifying households, Korah’s men, and their goods.
Psalm 21:9You will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of your anger. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath. The fire shall devour them.Both describe destruction through swallowing up; Psalm 21 names the LORD’s wrath, while Psalm 106 recounts the earth opening.
Numbers 26:9The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram who were called by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and against …Both name Dathan and Abiram; Numbers identifies their rebellion against Moses and Aaron as rebellion against the LORD.
Psalm 56:1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, God, for …Both use the language of swallowing up, though Psalm 106 recounts judgment and Psalm 56 pleads for mercy amid human oppression.
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read Numbers 26:9–10 and note what preceded judgment

scriptureoncelight
Encouragement

You do not have to soften this account to read it with faith. These deaths are part of Israel’s remembered history, and God’s judgment against rebellion is grave.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 106:17. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 106 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).