Numbers 3:15

Numbers 3:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
• New International Version (NIV)“Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)"List the sons of Levi, by fathers' houses and by clans; every male from a month old and upward you shall list."
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; you shall number every male from a month old and above.”

Context of Numbers 3:15

13I killed all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. But I kept the firstborn sons of every person and animal among the Israelites for myself. They belong to me. I am the Lord!’ 14The Lord said to Moses in the Sinai desert, ‘Put the Levites into clans and families and count them. Make a list of every male who is a month old or older.’ 16Moses obeyed the Lord. So Moses recorded them as the Lord said. 17The names of the sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

Numbers 3:15 word by word

פְּקֹד֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם כָּל־זָכָ֛ר מִבֶּן־חֹ֥דֶשׁ וָמַ֖עְלָה תִּפְקְדֵֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Numberפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: listH6485
• the childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Leviלֵוִיlêvîy · LeviH3878
• after the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of their fathersאָב'âb · fatherH1
• by their familiesמִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh · familyH4940
• every maleזָכָרzâkâr · maleH2145
• from a monthחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · monthH2320
• oldבֵּןbên · son: agedH1121
• and upwardמַ֫עַלma‛al · aboveH4605

Cross-references for Numbers 3:15

• Numbers 3:22There were 7,500 males who were one month or older in their list.
• Numbers 18:15I give to you every firstborn animal and male child that people offer to the Lord. But you must pay the price for every firstborn son and for every firstborn male animal that is not clean.
• Numbers 26:62There were 23,000 male Levites who were more than one month old. Moses did not include them on the list of the other Israelite tribes. They did not receive any land as the other tribes did.
• Proverbs 8:17I love those people who love me. Whoever looks for me will find me.
• Jeremiah 2:2He said, ‘Go and tell this to the people in Jerusalem: “This is what the Lord says: I remember how you used to love me when you were young. You loved me as a young wife loves her husband. You followed me through the wilderness, where no crops were growing.
• Jeremiah 31:3At that time long ago, the Lord showed himself to his people. He said, ‘I have always loved you and I always will love you. My faithful love for you continues for ever.
• Mark 10:14But when Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to them, ‘Do not stop the children. Let them come to me. People must become like these children so that God can rule their lives. That is what the kingdom of God is like.
• 2 Timothy 3:15Even when you were a child, you already knew the message of the Bible. The Bible has taught you how you can be truly wise. You understand that God saves you because you believe in Christ Jesus.

Commentaries on Numbers 3:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15A month old and upward - The males of all the other tribes were numbered, from twenty years and upward; had the Levites been numbered in this way, they would not have been nearly equal in number to the firstborn of the twelve tribes. Add to this, that as there must have been first-born of all ages in the other tribes, it was necessary that the Levites, who were to be their substitutes, should be also of all ages; and it appears to have been on this…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. 14-39This first phase of a two-part registration of the tribe of Levi summarized each family's special duties. 4:1–33 describes this in more detail (see 4:34–49 for the second phase). This count did not relate to military duties, so it included male Levites from the age of one month (3:40–41). Three family groups descend from the three sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. These clans, often called the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites, later…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-3114-31. Number the children of Levi--They were numbered as well as the other tribes; but the enumeration was made on a different principle--for while in the other tribes the number of males was calculated from twenty years and upward [Nu 1:3], in that of Levi they were counted "from a month old and upward." The reason for the distinction is obvious. In the other tribes the survey was made for purposes of war [Nu 1:3], from which the Levites were totally…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 3:15

• Census
• Levites

In the dictionaries

• Levi
• Levi, Levite
• Matthew, Levi
• Chief
• Conclude
• Custody
• Encamp
• O
• Secure
• Seek

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