Numbers 3:31

Numbers 3:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.
• New International Version (NIV)They were responsible for the care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything related to their use.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And their guard duty involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the screen; all the service connected with these.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Their duty included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, the screen, and all the work relating to them.

Context of Numbers 3:31

29The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting. 30The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. They were in charge of the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things. 32The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron. It was Eleazar’s duty to supervise those who were in charge of the holy place. 33To Merari belonged the families descended from Mahli and Mushi. These were the families descended from Merari.

Numbers 3:31 word by word

וּמִשְׁמַרְתָּ֗ם הָאָרֹ֤ן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ וְהַמְּנֹרָ֣ה וְהַֽמִּזְבְּחֹ֔ת וּכְלֵ֣י הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְשָׁרְת֖וּ בָּהֶ֑ם וְהַ֨מָּסָ֔ךְ וְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And their chargeמִשְׁמֶ֫רֶתmishmereth · chargeH4931
• the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
• and the tableשֻׁלְחָןshûlchân · tableH7979
• and the candlestickמְנוֹרָהmenôrâh menôrâh · lampstandH4501
• and the altarsמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
• and the vesselsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• of the sanctuaryקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
• wherewith they ministerשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
• and the hangingמָסָךְmâsâk · coveringH4539
• and all the serviceעֲבֹדָה‛ăbôdâh ‛ăbôdâh · service: ministryH5656

Cross-references for Numbers 3:31

• Numbers 4:4“This is the work the Kohathites will do in the tent of meeting: They will take care of the most holy things.
• Exodus 25:10“Make an ark of acacia wood 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.
• Exodus 31:1The Lord said to Moses,
• Exodus 32:1When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. They said to him, “We don’t know what has happened to this Moses, who led us out of Egypt. Make gods who will lead us.”
• Exodus 33:1Then the Lord said to Moses, “You and the people you brought out of Egypt must leave this place. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’
• Exodus 34:1The Lord said to Moses, “Cut two ⌞more⌟ stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets which you smashed.
• Exodus 35:1Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the Lord has commanded you to do:
• Exodus 37:1Bezalel made the ark out of acacia wood 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.
• Exodus 39:33Then they brought everything to Moses—the inner tent, the outer tent and all its furnishings, the fasteners, frames, crossbars, posts, sockets,
• Exodus 40:2“Set up the tent (the tent of meeting) on the first day of the first month of the year.
• Exodus 30:1⌞The Lord continued,⌟ “Build an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense.
• Exodus 37:25He made an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense. It was 18 inches square and 36 inches high. The horns and altar were made out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟.
• Exodus 38:1He made the altar for burnt offerings out of acacia wood 7½ feet square and 4½ feet high.
• Exodus 26:31“Make a canopy of violet, purple, and bright red yarn. Creatively work an angel design into fine linen yarn.
• Exodus 36:35They made the canopy out of violet, purple, and bright red yarn and fine linen yarn. An angel design was creatively worked into the fabric.

Commentaries on Numbers 3:31

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27-32Verses 27-32 Of the Levites, the Kohathites, the kinsmen of Moses and Aaron, and the most numerous, have the most important charge confided to them, namely, that of the ark, the altars, and the more especially sacred furniture generally.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. 27-32Aaron and Moses, sons of Amram, were descendants of Kohath (see Exodus 6:18, 20, 26). They were caretakers of the Most Holy Place and its very holy furnishings (described in Numbers 3–4). The Kohathites were the most respected of the three clans.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 3:31

• Altar
• Ark
• Census
• Levites

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Conclude
• Custody
• Eleazar
• Encamp
• Kohathites
• 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