New English Translation
Numbers 8:24
24“This is what pertains to the Levites: At the age of twenty-five years and upward one may begin to join the company in the work of the tent of meeting,
Numbers 8:24 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:
- New International Version (NIV)“This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting,
- English Standard Version (ESV)"This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“This is what pertains to the Levites: From twenty-five years old and above one may enter to perform service in the work of the tabernacle of meeting;
Context of Numbers 8:24
22After this, the Levites went in to do their work in the tent of meeting before Aaron and before his sons. As the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did. 23Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “This is what pertains to the Levites: At the age of twenty-five years and upward one may begin to join the company in the work of the tent of meeting, 25and at the age of fifty years they must retire from performing the work and may no longer work. 26They may assist their colleagues in the tent of meeting, to attend to needs, but they must do no work. This is the way you must establish the Levites regarding their duties.”
Read all of Numbers 8Numbers 8:24 word by word
זֹ֖את אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַלְוִיִּ֑ם מִבֶּן֩ חָמֵ֨שׁ וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה יָבוֹא֙ לִצְבֹ֣א צָבָ֔א בַּעֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- unto the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
- from twentyעֶשְׂרִים‛eώrîym · twentyH6242
- and fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
- yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- oldבֵּןbên · son: agedH1121
- and upwardמַ֫עַלma‛al · aboveH4605
- they shall go inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- to waitצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · army: dutyH6635
- to waitצָבָאtsâbâ' · to serveH6633
- upon the serviceעֲבֹדָה‛ăbôdâh ‛ăbôdâh · service: ministryH5656
- of the tabernacleאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
- of the congregationמוֹעֵדmô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh · meetingH4150
Cross-references for Numbers 8:24
- Numbers 4:3from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work in the tent of meeting.
- 1 Chronicles 23:24These were the descendants of Levi according to their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the Lord’s temple and were twenty years old and up.
- 1 Chronicles 4:3These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. Their sister was Hazzelelponi.
- 1 Chronicles 4:25his son Shallum, his son Mibsam, and his son Mishma.
- 1 Chronicles 23:3The Levites who were thirty years old and up were counted; there were 38,000 men.
- 1 Chronicles 28:12He gave him the blueprints of all he envisioned for the courts of the Lord’s temple, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of God’s temple, and the storehouses for the holy items.
- 1 Corinthians 9:7Who ever serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not consume its milk?
- 2 Corinthians 10:4for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments
- 1 Timothy 1:18I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, in order that with such encouragement you may fight the good fight.
- 1 Timothy 6:12Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses.
- 2 Timothy 2:3Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Commentaries on Numbers 8:24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24From twenty and five years old - See the note on Numbers 4:3, where the two terms of twenty-five and thirty years are reconciled.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Twenty and five years old and upward - The permanent limit as distinguished from the temporary Numbers 4:3, Numbers 4:23, Numbers 4:30, though David found it necessary to extend the period of the Levites‘ service by causing it to commence at 20 years of age 1 Chronicles 23:24-28. This rule continued in force from the time of David downward (compare on 2 Chronicles 31:17; Ezra 3:8).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-26Verses 5-26 Here we have directions for the solemn ordination of the Levites. All Israel must know that they took not this honour to themselves, but were called of God to it; nor was it enough that they were distinguished from others. All who are employed for God, must be dedicated to him, according to the employment. Christians must be baptized, ministers must be ordained; we must first give ourselves unto the Lord, and then our services. The Levites…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-26These are guidelines for the length of the Levites' service. Whereas 4:3 says their service in the Tent of Meeting started at age 30, 8:24 says age 25. This difference might show changes in age requirements over time, depending on how many Levite men were available. Those aged 25–29 might have been unofficial workers or apprentices. Both passages set the retirement age at 50. Retired Levites could serve as guards of the Tent of Meeting (see Psalm 84:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. from twenty and five years old, &c.--(Compare Nu 4:3). They entered on their work in their twenty-fifth year, as pupils and probationers, under the superintendence and direction of their senior brethren; and at thirty they were admitted to the full discharge of their official functions.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 8:24
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 8
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries