New International Version
Numbers 3:32
32The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.
Numbers 3:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the chiefs of the Levites, and to have oversight of those who kept guard over the sanctuary.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, with oversight of those who kept charge of the sanctuary.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, was the chief administrator over all the Levites, with special responsibility for the oversight of the sanctuary.
Context of Numbers 3:32
30The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31They 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. The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary. 33To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these were the Merarite clans. 34The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 6,200.
Read all of Numbers 3Numbers 3:32 word by word
וּנְשִׂיא֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י הַלֵּוִ֔י אֶלְעָזָ֖ר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֑ן פְּקֻדַּ֕ת שֹׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Eleazarאֶלְעָזָר'el‛âzâr · EleazarH499
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- the priestכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- chiefנָשִׂיאnâώîy' nâώi' · leaderH5387
- of the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
- the oversightפְּקֻדָּהpeqûddâh · punishmentH6486
- of them that keepשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
- the chargeמִשְׁמֶ֫רֶתmishmereth · chargeH4931
- of the sanctuaryקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
Cross-references for Numbers 3:32
- Numbers 4:16“Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”
- Numbers 20:25Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.
- 2 Kings 25:18The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers.
- 1 Chronicles 9:14Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite;
- 1 Chronicles 26:20Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things.
Commentaries on Numbers 3:32
- 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. 32Aaron’s third son, Eleazar, led the Levites as an administrator. He was like an executive secretary, while his father did other tasks. He had "oversight of the entire tabernacle" (4:16–20). Eleazar had a key role during Israel’s time in the wilderness. He later became the high priest after his father (see 16:37–39; 19:3–6; 20:25–28; 26:1–3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3232. chief--rather, "chiefs" of the Levites. Three persons are mentioned as chiefs of these respective divisions [Nu 3:24, 30, 35]. And Eleazar presided over them; whence he is called "the second priest" (2Ki 25:18); and in the case of the high priest's absence from illness or other necessary occasions, he performed the duties (1Ki 4:4).Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 3:32
In the dictionaries
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries