New English Translation
Numbers 4:31
31This is what they are responsible to carry as their entire service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets,
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
29“As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their families and by their clans. 30You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting. This is what they are responsible to carry as their entire service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, 32and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their sockets, tent pegs, and ropes, along with all their furnishings and everything for their service. You are to assign by names the items that each man is responsible to carry. 33This is the service of the families of the Merarites, their entire service concerning the tent of meeting, under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”
Read all of Numbers 4Numbers 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 3:36The appointed responsibilities of the Merarites included the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, its utensils, plus all the service connected with these things,
- Numbers 7:8and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their service required, under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
- Exodus 26:15“You are to make the frames for the tabernacle out of acacia wood as uprights.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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