Numbers 3:39

Numbers 3:39 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.
• New International Version (NIV)The total number of Levites counted at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.
• English Standard Version (ESV)All those listed among the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron listed at the commandment of the Lord, by clans, all the males from a month old and upward, were 22,000.
• New King James Version (NKJV)All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, by their families, all the males from a month old and above, were twenty-two thousand.

Context of Numbers 3:39

37as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes. 38Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death. The total number of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD’s command, including all the males a month old or more, was 22,000. 40Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names. 41You are to take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.”

Numbers 3:39 word by word

כָּל־פְּקוּדֵ֨י הַלְוִיִּ֜ם אֲשֶׁר֩ פָּקַ֨ד מֹשֶׁ֧ה וְׄאַׄהֲׄרֹ֛ׄןׄ עַל־פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם כָּל־זָכָר֙ מִבֶּן־חֹ֣דֶשׁ וָמַ֔עְלָה שְׁנַ֥יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים אָֽלֶף׃ סRead the interlinear

• The totalכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• numberפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: listH6485
• of Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
• thatאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• and Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
• by their clansמִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh · familyH4940
• atעַל‛al · uponH5921
• the LORD’sיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• commandפֶּהpeh · lip: wordH6310
• the malesזָכָרzâkâr · maleH2145
• a monthחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · monthH2320
• oldבֵּןbên · son: agedH1121
• or moreמַ֫עַלma‛al · aboveH4605
• was 22,000שְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• was 22,000עֶשְׂרִים‛eώrîym · twentyH6242
• was 22,000אֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505

Cross-references for Numbers 3:39

• Numbers 3:28The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. They were responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.
• Numbers 3:22The number of all the males a month old or more was 7,500.
• Numbers 3:11Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
• Numbers 4:47from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting.
• Numbers 26:62The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.
• Matthew 7:14But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Commentaries on Numbers 3:39

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 39Which Moses and Aaron numbered - The word ואהרן veaharon, "and Aaron." has a point over each of its letters, probably designed as a mark of spuriousness. The word is wanting in the Samaritan, Syriac, and Coptic; it is wanting also in eight of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., and in four of De Rossi's. Moses alone, as Houbigant observes, is commanded to take the number of the Levites; see Numbers 3:5, Numbers 3:11, Numbers 3:40, Numbers 3:44, and Numbers 3:51. All…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 39twenty and two thousand - A number on which the commutation with the firstborn of the twelve tribes depends Numbers 3:43-46. The actual total of the male Levites is 22,300 (compare Numbers 3:22, Numbers 3:28, Numbers 3:34): and the extra 300 are considered by some to represent those who, being first-born themselves in the tribe of Levi, could not be available to redeem the first-born in other tribes. Others consider the difference due to an error in the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-39Verses 14-39 The Levites were in three classes, according to the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and these were subdivided into families. The posterity of Moses were not at all honoured or privileged, but stood upon the level with other Levites; thus it was plain, that Moses did not seek the advancement of his own family, or to secure any honours to it. The tribe of Levi was by much the least of all the tribes. God's chosen are but a little…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3922,000: The numbers for each clan totaled 22,300 (3:22, 28, 34). See the study note on 3:28.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3939. twenty and two thousand--The result of this census, though made on conditions most advantageous to Levi, proved it to be by far the smallest in Israel. The separate numbers stated in Nu 3:22, 28, 34, when added together, amount to twenty-two thousand three hundred. The omission of the three hundred is variously accounted for--by some, because they might be first-born who were already devoted to God and could not be counted as substitutes; and by…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 3:39

• Census
• Levites

In the dictionaries

• Aaron
• Moses
• Chief
• Conclude
• Custody
• Encamp
• O
• Secure
• Seek
• Sinai

Commentaries on Numbers 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings