Numbers 1:17 kjv
And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:
Numbers 1:17 nkjv
Then Moses and Aaron took these men who had been mentioned by name,
Numbers 1:17 niv
Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been specified,
Numbers 1:17 esv
Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named,
Numbers 1:17 nlt
So Moses and Aaron called together these chosen leaders,
Numbers 1 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:2-3 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans..." | God commands the census and its structure. |
| Num 1:4-16 | "And with you there shall be a man from each tribe, each being the head..." | Identifies the very men "designated by name." |
| Exod 18:25 | "Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads..." | Similar act of Moses appointing leaders. |
| Deut 1:13-15 | "Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and experienced men..." | Principles for choosing community leaders. |
| Exod 30:12 | "When you take the census of the people of Israel..." | Initial instruction for the ransom census. |
| Num 26:1-4 | "After the plague the LORD said to Moses and to Eleazar... Take a census." | The second census, reinforcing God's order. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "But all things should be done decently and in order." | Principle of divine order in all things. |
| Isa 43:1 | "But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you... I have called you by name..." | God's personal knowledge and call. |
| Isa 49:1 | "Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother's womb he has spoken my name." | God's specific pre-birth designation. |
| Jer 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you..." | Divine foreknowledge and designation. |
| Psa 147:4 | "He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names." | God's precise knowledge even of creation. |
| John 10:3 | "The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name..." | Shepherd's personal knowledge of his flock. |
| Eph 1:4 | "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world..." | God's sovereign choice before creation. |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | "But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are his...'" | God's personal knowledge of His own. |
| Heb 5:4 | "And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God..." | Divine calling for service, like Aaron's priesthood. |
| Rom 8:29-30 | "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined... he also called..." | God's divine plan of calling and designation. |
| Acts 13:2 | "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'" | Specific divine appointment for ministry. |
| Tit 1:5 | "This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you..." | Structured appointment of leaders in the church. |
| Exod 7:6 | "Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them..." | Example of their faithful obedience. |
| Josh 18:4 | "Provide for yourselves three men from each tribe, and I will send them..." | Example of men being sent out on a designated task. |
Numbers 1 verses
Numbers 1 17 Meaning
Numbers 1:17 marks the initiation of the census ordered by God, by showing Moses and Aaron acting upon divine instruction to assemble the specific tribal leaders. The verse highlights that these leaders were not chosen arbitrarily but were already precisely and authoritatively "designated by name." This act underscores the immediate obedience of Moses and Aaron and emphasizes the divine origin and structured nature of the Israelite community, especially regarding its leadership for the important task of counting and organizing the twelve tribes.
Numbers 1 17 Context
Numbers chapter 1 is set at Mount Sinai on the first day of the second month in the second year after Israel's departure from Egypt. This context is crucial as it positions the census after the giving of the Law (Torah) and the construction of the tabernacle, signifying Israel's transformation from a group of freed slaves into an organized nation with a divinely ordained covenant, laws, and worship system. The census is not merely a demographic count but a military and administrative enrollment. Its primary purpose is to organize Israel's fighting men into divisions for their march to the Promised Land and for any necessary military engagement. It also sets the stage for the specific roles and positions each tribe will hold within the encampment and on the journey, establishing order around the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place among them. The men in Numbers 1:17 are the designated tribal representatives, the "princes" or "heads of fathers' houses," who were specifically chosen by God through Moses in Numbers 1:4-16 to assist in this vital organizational task.
Numbers 1 17 Word analysis
- Moses: Represents divine leadership and authority; the primary agent through whom God communicates His will and directs His people. His involvement highlights the divine mandate for the census.
- and Aaron: The High Priest, symbolizing the priestly authority and the sanctity of the task. His presence alongside Moses demonstrates the joint leadership in matters of divine command and communal organization within Israel.
- took: Hebrew "לָקַח" (laqach), meaning to take, seize, or receive. In this context, it signifies more than just physical gathering; it implies selection, accepting a responsibility, and acting on a divine directive. It reflects a decisive action in obedience to God's command.
- these men: Refers specifically to the twelve leaders, one from each tribe, who were individually named and identified in Numbers 1:5-16. This points to the collective nature of leadership and tribal representation crucial for the census's accuracy and acceptance.
- who had been designated: Hebrew "אֲשֶׁר נִקְּבוּ" (asher niqqevu), from the root "נָקַב" (naqab), meaning to pierce, bore, distinguish, appoint, or designate. The passive form "niqqevu" strongly indicates that they "were designated" or "were appointed." This is a crucial detail implying divine or authoritative selection, not a democratic choice. It underscores that these leaders held a distinct, purposeful appointment.
- by name: Hebrew "בְּשֵׁמֹות" (b'shemot). This phrase emphasizes precision, individuality, and clarity. Each leader was personally known and called out for this specific duty, reinforcing the divine precision in their selection and the accountability associated with their roles. It reflects God's personal knowledge of His chosen servants and the importance of individual recognition in His kingdom.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Moses and Aaron took": This phrase highlights the joint authority and obedient action of Israel's spiritual and administrative heads. Their unified action signifies the formal and divine initiation of the census.
- "these men, who had been designated by name": This identifies the specific group being gathered – not just any men, but those specifically, precisely, and divinely appointed for this task. It establishes the authoritative and pre-ordained nature of the individuals involved, emphasizing divine order and clear mandate over arbitrary selection. The detailed listing of names in the preceding verses underscores this precision.
Numbers 1 17 Bonus section
The emphasis on leaders being "designated by name" in this administrative context holds deep theological implications beyond a simple roll call. It highlights the biblical principle that true authority and service within God's people stem from a divine calling and explicit appointment, rather than mere human preference or worldly achievement. This careful, named designation ensures that responsibility is clear and that the foundation of the community's structure is rooted in God's will. Furthermore, it foreshadows God's personal knowledge and naming of each of His people throughout salvation history, recognizing individual identity within the collective (e.g., God calling out His people "by name" in Isaiah 43:1). This meticulous organizational effort at Sinai underscores the seriousness and orderliness of God's interaction with His covenant people as they transition into their national identity and embark on their divinely appointed journey.
Numbers 1 17 Commentary
Numbers 1:17 acts as a bridge, transitioning from the divine command and identification of leaders to the practical implementation of the census. Moses and Aaron's "taking" of these designated men signifies their immediate and faithful obedience to God's detailed instructions. The phrase "designated by name" is particularly rich. It assures us that the leaders were not self-appointed or randomly chosen, but specifically identified and appointed, ultimately by divine orchestration. This principle of divine designation for specific tasks permeates Scripture, from God calling individuals like Abraham, to Jesus personally calling His disciples, to the Holy Spirit setting apart individuals for ministry in the early church. This careful assembly of leadership reflects God's nature as a God of order, precision, and purpose, especially as His people prepared for a momentous journey and significant challenges. It lays the groundwork for accountability, organized movement, and effective governance for a burgeoning nation under God's direct guidance.