Numbers 4:31

Numbers 4:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,
• New International Version (NIV)As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,
• English Standard Version (ESV)And this is what they are charged to carry, as the whole of their service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, with its bars, pillars, and bases,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And this is what they must carry as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,

Context of Numbers 4:31

29Also God said to Moses, ‘Write a list of the people in Merari's clan in their families. 30Record the men who can work in the Tent of Meeting. Record them if they are between 30 and 50 years old. This is the work of the men in Merari's clan. They must carry the wood parts that hold the Tent of Meeting, and its poles. They must carry its pillars and its bases. 32And they must carry the pillars, bases, pegs and ropes for the yard that is round God's Tent. And the men in Merari's clan must keep all the tools that belong with those things safe. Each man in Merari's clan must take care of something. Tell each man which things he must carry. 33That is the work of the descendants of Merari in the Tent of Meeting. Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest, will tell them the things that they must do.’

Numbers 4:31 word by word

וְזֹאת֙ מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת מַשָּׂאָ֔ם לְכָל־עֲבֹדָתָ֖ם בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד קַרְשֵׁי֙ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן וּבְרִיחָ֖יו וְעַמּוּדָ֥יו וַאֲדָנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• the chargeמִשְׁמֶ֫רֶתmishmereth · chargeH4931
• of their burdenמַשָּׂאmaώώâ' · burdenH4853
• according to all their serviceעֲבֹדָה‛ăbôdâh ‛ăbôdâh · service: ministryH5656
• in the tabernacleאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
• of the congregationמוֹעֵדmô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh · meetingH4150
• the boardsקֶ֫רֶשׁqeresh · boardH7175
• of the tabernacleמִשְׁכָּןmishkân · tabernacleH4908
• and the barsבְּרִיחַberîyach · barH1280
• thereof, and the pillarsעַמּוּד‛ammûd ‛ammûd · pillarH5982
• thereof, and socketsאֶ֫דֶן'eden · socketH134

Cross-references for Numbers 4:31

• Numbers 3:36Merari's family had to take care of all the wood parts of the tabernacle. They took care of the heavy things that stood on the ground to hold the poles.
• Numbers 7:8He gave four carts and eight oxen to the descendants of Merari for their work. Ithamar was the son of Aaron. He had to tell the descendants of Merari the work that they should do.
• Exodus 26:15Use acacia wood to make boards to hold up the tabernacle.

Commentaries on Numbers 4:31

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28-33Verses 28-33 The Gershonites and Merarites are superintended by Ithamar, Aaron‘s younger son, who had already had the oversight of the tabernacle in its construction Exodus 38:21. Thus, readily do the permanent offices of the leaders of the Israelite community spring out of the duties which, under the emergencies of the first year of the Exodus, they had been led, from time to time, to undertake. Numbers 4:32 By name ye shall reckon the instruments - Or…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-33Verses 21-33 We have here the charge of the other two families of the Levites, which, though not so honourable as the first, yet was necessary, and to be done regularly. All the things were delivered them by name. It intimates the care God takes of his church and every member of it. The death of the saints is represented as the taking down of the tabernacle, 2Co 5:1, and the putting it off, 2Pe 1:14. All shall be raised up in the great day, when these…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-33This assignment to the Merarite clan involved items of lower priority than those of the Kohathites and Gershonites. It had to be done in a specific way, with each man's load assigned by name (4:32; see also 1 Corinthians 14:40). The Gershonites and Merarites did not have the status of Kohath’s family. Yet, each group helped move and set up the Tent of Meeting.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 29-3329-33. As for the sons of Merari--They carried the coarser and heavier appurtenances, which, however, were so important and necessary, that an inventory was kept of them--not only on account of their number and variety, but of their comparative commonness and smallness, which might have led to their being lost or missing through carelessness, inadvertency, or neglect. It was a useful lesson, showing that God disregards nothing pertaining to His service…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 4:31

• Levites
• Tabernacle

In the dictionaries

• Appoint
• David
• Kohathites
• Merarites
• Ministry
• Proportion
• Sinai
• Agrapha
• Alexander
• Apocrypha

Commentaries on Numbers 4

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings