Numbers 1 33

Numbers 1:33 kjv

Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.

Numbers 1:33 nkjv

those who were numbered of the tribe of Ephraim were forty thousand five hundred.

Numbers 1:33 niv

The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.

Numbers 1:33 esv

those listed of the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.

Numbers 1 verses

Numbers 1 33 Meaning

Numbers 1:33 specifies the details of the census for the tribe of Ephraim, outlining the precise criteria for identifying and counting every male member who was eligible for military service. It emphasizes a meticulously organized and thorough registration, from the broader tribal lineage down to individual men capable of engaging in warfare, highlighting the nation's readiness as a divine host.

Numbers 1 33 Context

Numbers chapter 1 details the first census of the Israelite nation, commanded by Yahweh to Moses and Aaron, carried out at Mount Sinai on the first day of the second month in the second year after the Exodus from Egypt. This census was not merely for demographic purposes but for organizing Israel as a highly structured encampment around the Tabernacle and as a unified "host" or army ready for their journey to the Promised Land. Each tribe's male members, from twenty years old and upward and capable of going to war, were to be individually counted and registered under their specific lineage. This precise enumeration, tribe by tribe, as exemplified for Ephraim in verse 33, ensured accountability, order, and preparedness for both military endeavors and civic administration as God's covenant people. The detailed records underscore God's meticulous care for His people and their ordered existence under His guidance, distinguishing them from disorganised pagan groups.

Numbers 1 33 Word analysis

• Of the children of Ephraim (בְּנֵי אֶפְרָיִם - Benei Ephrayim): Literally "sons of Ephraim." Signifies descent from the patriarch Ephraim, the younger son of Joseph, upon whom Jacob bestowed a blessing that prophesied his numerous descendants and prominence (Gen 48:19). The term establishes the specific tribal identity being counted.
• by their generations (לְתוֹלְדֹתָם - l'toldotam): "According to their genealogies" or "records of their begettings." Toldot emphasizes the documented lineage and birth records, indicating a precise and careful enumeration based on verifiable ancestry, critical for establishing tribal and family identity in ancient Israel.
• after their families (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - l'mishpekhotam): "According to their clans" or "extended families." Mishpacha refers to larger kinship groups, demonstrating that the count progressed from the broad tribal designation down to these significant internal groupings. This unit would often function collectively in various societal and military matters.
• by the house of their fathers (לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם - l'veit avotam): "According to their paternal households." This specifies the smallest unit of identification within the census. Beit Av denotes the most immediate patrilineal household or extended family dwelling, representing the foundational unit of Israelite society and ownership, crucial for land allocation and individual identity.
• according to the number of the names (בְּמִסְפַּר שְׁמוֹת - b'mispar shemot): "By the number of names" or "according to the counting of names." Emphasizes an individual, name-by-name enumeration. In ancient Hebrew thought, a "name" (shem) embodied the person's identity and essence, signifying that each individual was uniquely known and accounted for by God.
• from twenty years old and upward (מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה - mibben esrim shanah va-ma'lah): "From a son of twenty years and above." This sets the age qualification. Twenty years old was generally considered the age of adulthood and full physical maturity for military service in the ancient Near East, signifying readiness for demanding responsibilities.
• all that were able to go forth to war (כָּל יֹצֵא צָבָא - kol yotzei tzava): "All who go out for army" or "all fit for military service." This is the practical criterion. It specifies that the census was for those physically capable and ready for military deployment (tzava), whether for defense, journeying, or conquering. This highlighted the theocratic nation's role as God's army.

Words-group Analysis:

• "by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers": This threefold description shows a progressively detailed and thorough accounting methodology. It signifies God's insistence on order and structure within His covenant people, tracing every individual back to their fundamental lineage units, which was vital for tribal identity, inheritance, and religious participation.
• "according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war": These phrases form the definitive qualifications for inclusion in the counted number. They convey precise, objective criteria—individual recognition, adult age, and military capability—underscoring that this census was purposeful, selecting members ready to fulfill God's active plans for the nation's journey and conquest. This contrasts with chaotic tribal structures of their contemporaries.

Numbers 1 33 Bonus section

The repeated meticulous enumeration method across all tribes in Numbers 1 emphasizes that God's plan is one of divine order, accountability, and preparedness. For Ephraim, one of the two "half-tribes" descended from Joseph, its individual listing with a distinct count (40,500 in Num 1:33) directly fulfills Jacob's prophetic blessing (Gen 48), establishing Ephraim's numerical strength and leadership potential among the tribes even before their entry into Canaan. This detailed census not only provided a roster for military operations but also facilitated the organization of the encampment around the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's presence at the center of their ordered life, reinforcing the nation's identity as a cohesive unit under divine authority. This structured formation would later become crucial for Israel's movement and establishment in the Promised Land, representing both military might and a divinely guided society.

Numbers 1 33 Commentary

Numbers 1:33, like the similar verses for other tribes, encapsulates God's precise organizational plan for the nation of Israel. This wasn't merely a demographic headcount but a foundational military census and administrative blueprint. The emphasis on detailed lineage, from "generations" down to "fathers' houses," underscores the divine value placed on individual identity within the covenant community and its connection to the tribal structure, which would later determine land inheritance and responsibilities. The "twenty years old and upward" criterion denotes the threshold of adult responsibility, particularly for national defense and the collective journey. By identifying those "able to go forth to war," God constituted Israel not just as a chosen people but as His unified host, prepared for the challenging wilderness journey and the eventual conquest of the Promised Land. This meticulous approach speaks to divine foresight and the order required for fulfilling God's purposes, presenting a structured nation ready to serve His will both physically and spiritually.