Numbers 3:20

Numbers 3:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.
• New International Version (NIV)The Merarite clans: Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans, according to their families.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the sons of Merari by their clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, by their fathers' houses.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers’ houses.

Context of Numbers 3:20

18Gershon had two sons. Their names were Libni and Shimei. 19Kohath's sons were called Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Merari's sons were called Mahli and Mushi. Those were the sons and grandsons of Levi. They became the leaders of the clans of Levi's tribe. 21There were two families in Gershon's clan. They were the families of Libni and Shimei. 22There were 7,500 males who were one month or older in their list.

Numbers 3:20 word by word

וּבְנֵ֧י מְרָרִ֛י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם מַחְלִ֣י וּמוּשִׁ֑י אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֛ם מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הַלֵּוִ֖י לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Merariמְרָרִיmerârîy · MerariH4847
• by their familiesמִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh · familyH4940
• Mahliמַחְלִיmachlîy · MahliH4249
• and Mushiמוּשִׁיmûshîy mûshshîy · MushiH4187
• areהֵ֫מָּהhêm hêmmâh · they(masc.)H1992
• of the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
• according to the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of their fathersאָב'âb · fatherH1

Cross-references for Numbers 3:20

• Numbers 3:33There were two families in Merari's clan. They were the families of Mahli and Mushi.
• Exodus 6:19The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These were the family clans of Levi, from the oldest to the youngest.
• 1 Chronicles 6:19Merari's sons were: Mahli and Mushi. These are the ancestors of the clans of the Levites:
• 1 Chronicles 15:6From Merari's clan, 220 people with their leader, Asaiah.
• 1 Chronicles 23:21Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli's sons were Eleazar and Kish.
• 1 Chronicles 24:27Merari's descendants by his son Jaaziah were: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri.
• 1 Chronicles 25:3From Jeduthun's sons, there were six musicians: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah. Their father Jeduthun had authority over their work. He spoke messages from God while he made music with a harp. He also sang to thank the Lord and to praise him.

Commentaries on Numbers 3:20

• 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 3:20

• Census
• Gershon
• Levites

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Conclude
• Custody
• Encamp
• Merarites
• Mushi
• 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