New King James Version
Numbers 8:24
24“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;
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 Living Translation (NLT)“This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five,
Context of Numbers 8:24
22After that the Levites went in to do their work in the tabernacle of meeting before Aaron and his sons; as the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them. 23Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “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; 25and at the age of fifty years they must cease performing this work, and shall work no more. 26They may minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of meeting, to attend to needs, but they themselves shall do no work. Thus you shall do to 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 above, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting.
- 1 Chronicles 23:24These were the sons of Levi by their fathers’ houses—the heads of the fathers’ houses as they were counted individually by the number of their names, who did the work for the service of the house of the Lord, from the age of twenty years and above.
- 1 Chronicles 4:3These were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi;
- 1 Chronicles 4:25Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, and Mishma his son.
- 1 Chronicles 23:3Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and above; and the number of individual males was thirty-eight thousand.
- 1 Chronicles 28:12and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things;
- 1 Corinthians 9:7Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
- 2 Corinthians 10:4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
- 1 Timothy 1:18This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
- 1 Timothy 6:12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
- 2 Timothy 2:3You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries