Numbers 1 29

Numbers 1:29 kjv

Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

Numbers 1:29 nkjv

those who were numbered of the tribe of Issachar were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

Numbers 1:29 niv

The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.

Numbers 1:29 esv

those listed of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.

Numbers 1 verses

Numbers 1 29 Meaning

This verse states the precise number of men from the tribe of Naphtali who were qualified for military service during the first census of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. It highlights God's meticulous order in preparing His people for their journey and eventual conquest of Canaan, emphasizing their generational continuity, family structure, and readiness for divine purpose.

Numbers 1 29 Context

Numbers 1:29 is part of the extensive and highly detailed first census commanded by the LORD to Moses and Aaron at Mount Sinai. This census was taken on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Its primary purpose was to count every male from twenty years old and upward who was physically able to serve in Israel's army, effectively registering the fighting force of the newly formed nation. Each tribe's count, from Reuben to Naphtali, is meticulously recorded, providing an organized structure for the nation, particularly for military purposes and the order of encampment and march around the Tabernacle. This immediate post-Exodus generation was being prepared for the conquest of the Promised Land, hence the emphasis on military readiness, organizational precision, and adherence to divine instruction.

Numbers 1 29 Word analysis

• Of the children of Naphtali (בְּנֵי נַפְתָּלִי, _bə·nê Nap̄tālî_):
  • Bənê: "sons of" or "children of". Emphasizes the continuation of the lineage from the patriarch.
  • Naphtali: Meaning "my wrestling" or "my struggle," given by Rachel to Jacob's sixth son through Bilhah (Gen 30:8). This refers to the specific tribe being enumerated, rooted in its patriarchal heritage.
• throughout their generations (לְתֹלְדֹתָם, _lə·ṯōl·ḏō·ṯām_):
  • lə·ṯōl·ḏō·ṯām: From _toledot_, meaning "generations," "descendants," or "accounts of creation/lineage." Signifies that the census respected and recorded the full, continuous line of descent. This highlights the genealogical purity and integrity important for tribal identity, inheritance, and priestly service in Israel. It implies an orderly and comprehensive register spanning across family lines.
• by their families (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם, _lə·mišpəḥō·ṯām_):
  • Mišpəḥôtām: From _mishpachah_, referring to "clans" or "larger family units" composed of multiple "fathers' houses." This term denotes a significant intermediate organizational level between the whole tribe and individual households. It ensures that the census accounts for specific kinship groups.
• by their fathers’ houses (לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם, _lə·ḇêṯ 'ă·ḇō·ṯām_):
  • Bêt 'aḇôtām: Literally "house of their fathers," meaning "patriarchal household" or "extended family." This represents the foundational and smallest unit of family organization. The census goes down to this very specific level, confirming the meticulous nature of the count and reinforcing the importance of ancestral identity within Israel.
• according to the number of names (בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת, _bə·mispar šēmôt_):
  • Mispar šēmôt: Literally "number of names." Emphasizes that each individual person was counted by name, not merely estimated. This reflects God's specific knowledge and care for each person within His covenant people, reinforcing accountability and precision.
• from twenty years old and upward (מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמָעְלָה, _mibben ‘eśrīm šānāh wāmā‘lāh_):
  • mibben 'eśrīm šānāh wāmā‘lāh: Establishes the specific age criterion for eligibility. This age typically marked adulthood, legal responsibility, and readiness for military service in ancient Near Eastern cultures, a standard confirmed by God's Law (Ex 30:14).
• all who were able to go out to war (כָּל יֹצֵא צָבָא, _kāl yō·ṣê ṣā·ḇā’_):
  • kāl yōṣê ṣāḇā’: Literally "all going out of army/host." This defines the primary purpose of the census: to determine military strength. It signifies physical fitness and readiness for military service and implies a willingness to fight. This prepares the nation not just for a nomadic journey but for direct confrontation to conquer their inheritance.
• all those who were numbered were fifty-three thousand and four hundred (חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת, _ḥamiššîm ūšlōšāh ’elep̄ wə’arba‘ mē’ôt_):
  • ḥamiššîm ūšlōšāh ’elep̄ wə’arba‘ mē’ôt: The precise numerical count (53,400) for the tribe of Naphtali. This final figure represents the sum of individuals who met all the specific criteria previously detailed. It is part of God's complete and precise record of His people.

• "Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses...": This phrase highlights the profound genealogical, tribal, and hierarchical organization divinely ordained for Israel. It underscores identity, lineage, and orderly structure as fundamental to the covenant people. It stands in contrast to the amorphous or purely expedient groupings of other nations.
• "...according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war...": This grouping clearly defines the scope and purpose of the census. "Number of names" signifies individual accountability and divine precision, while the age and "able to go out to war" clearly designate it as a military registry for an army ready to obey God's command for conquest, not just a general population count. This prepares them not just physically but morally for the task.
• "...all those who were numbered were fifty-three thousand and four hundred.": This segment provides the outcome, emphasizing the definite and exact nature of the divinely mandated count. The specificity demonstrates God's sovereignty over even the demographics of His people, and His methodical preparation for their collective journey and mission.

Numbers 1 29 Bonus section

The tribe of Naphtali, despite their readiness for war here, later earned prophetic blessings that tied their land to a special spiritual significance. Isaiah 9:1-2 prophesied that "the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles" would see "a great light." This prophecy found its fulfillment in the New Testament when Jesus began His earthly ministry precisely in this region, which was once the territory of Naphtali, establishing it as a place of spiritual light for a people living in darkness (Matt 4:13-16). This census entry, while focused on physical warfare, therefore indirectly points to the future spiritual warfare waged by the Son of God, originating from and shining light upon a land previously allocated by God. It also represents God's sustained interest in specific tribal lines through generations.

Numbers 1 29 Commentary

Numbers 1:29 encapsulates the rigorous precision and divine intentionality behind the first Israelite census. Far from being a mere population survey, this detailed enumeration of Naphtali's fighting men, meticulously categorized by generations, families, and fathers’ houses, reveals God’s orderly nature and His strategic preparation of His covenant people. Every man meeting the age and physical readiness criteria was counted by name, underscoring personal accountability and participation in the divine mission. This emphasis on an organized, war-ready populace signified God's equipping of Israel for the forthcoming conquest of Canaan. The uniformity of the census procedure across all tribes reinforces the concept of a unified, disciplined body moving forward under God’s singular leadership, reflecting the divine expectation for order and purposeful action in all aspects of life and worship within the covenant community.