Selected story
Korah
Read the cited context and compare 8 documented textual points.
Comparison 28 of 34
Korah
The two accounts at a glance
Bible
World English BibleKorah leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron; the earth opens and swallows the rebels.
Qur'an
Sahih InternationalQarun is given great wealth, boasts in it, rejects counsel, and is swallowed by the earth with his home.
These are concise account summaries with exact references. Open the complete texts at these passages →
8 documented comparison points
The comparison covers Korah's rebellion, allied leaders, divine test, deaths, priestly aftermath, and the Qur'anic Qarun account of wealth and destruction. Labels use one standard: agreement means both texts state the point; additional detail means one adds a non-conflicting detail; omission means one is silent; ambiguity means an identity or meaning is not explicit; contradiction means both texts state mutually exclusive claims. Stylistic wording alone is not counted.
Korah's lineage and associates
Korah is a Levite son of Izhar allied with Dathan, Abiram, On, and 250 community leaders.
Qarun is one of Moses' people. His lineage, Levitical status, named allies, and 250 leaders are not given.
The central offense
Korah's coalition challenges Moses and Aaron's leadership and seeks priestly status, claiming the whole congregation is holy.
Qarun acts arrogantly because of immense wealth and claims it was given through his own knowledge; no attempt to seize Aaronic priesthood is narrated.
Qarun's wealth
Numbers does not describe Korah's treasure, keys, clothing display, or economic pride.
Qarun possesses treasures whose keys burden a group of strong men and appears before his people in splendor.
The incense test
Moses orders Korah and 250 leaders to present censers and incense before Yahweh to reveal whom God chooses.
No censers, incense test, tabernacle confrontation, or priestly selection ritual appears.
Who is swallowed by the earth
The earth swallows the households and possessions associated with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, while fire consumes the 250 incense offerers.
God causes the earth to swallow Qarun and his house or dwelling; no separate fire judgment on 250 leaders is narrated.
The fate of Korah's sons
Numbers later explicitly says Korah's sons did not die.
Qarun's children are not mentioned, so no preservation of his sons is stated.
The people's reaction and later plague
The congregation accuses Moses and Aaron of killing Yahweh's people; a plague kills 14,700 before Aaron's incense makes atonement.
Those who had envied Qarun recognize God's control of provision and say they would have been swallowed too; no 14,700-person plague or Aaronic incense atonement follows.
Aaron's budding staff
After the rebellion, tribal staffs are placed before God; Aaron's staff buds, blossoms, and bears almonds as a sign of priestly choice.
No tribal staff test or budding almond staff follows Qarun's destruction.
What do both texts share?
- Korah/Qarun opposes the divinely guided community.
- The earth swallows him in divine judgment.