Numbers 1 34

Numbers 1:34 kjv

Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Numbers 1:34 nkjv

From the children of Manasseh, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers' house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:

Numbers 1:34 niv

From the descendants of Manasseh: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

Numbers 1:34 esv

Of the people of Manasseh, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war:

Numbers 1:34 nlt

[34-35] Manasseh son of Joseph ? 32,200

Numbers 1 verses

Numbers 1 34 Meaning

Numbers 1:34 details the registration of the tribe of Gad during the wilderness census. It specifies that the counting included all males "from twenty years old and upward," who were organized and capable for military service, meticulously enumerated by their ancestral lines from generations to fathers' houses, highlighting the orderly preparation of God's people for their divine purpose and future inheritance.

Numbers 1 34 Context

Numbers chapter 1 opens with God commanding Moses and Aaron to take a detailed census of the Israelite community in the wilderness of Sinai, one month after the Tabernacle was consecrated. This census was not merely for demographic records but served specific, divine purposes. The primary goal was to organize the Israelites into a cohesive, disciplined fighting force ("all who are able to go to war") for the impending conquest of the Promised Land. Each tribe was meticulously counted, excluding the Levites, who were set apart for priestly and Tabernacle service. This precise enumeration highlights God's orderly nature, His intention to prepare His people for the tasks ahead, and His sovereign oversight of their journey from redemption to inheritance.

Numbers 1 34 Word analysis

• From the children of Gad: (מִבְּנֵי גָ֑ד - mi-b'nei Gad)
  • mi-b'nei: "From the sons of," emphasizing lineage and tribal identity. Each tribe's distinct count was important for their encampment, march, and future land inheritance.
  • Gad (גָ֑ד - Gad): Meaning "troop" or "fortune." Gad was the seventh son of Jacob, born to Leah’s handmaid, Zilpah. The phrase marks this count specifically as belonging to a recognized and named Israelite tribe.
• their generations: (תּוֹלְדֹתָם - tol'dohtam)
  • tol'dohtam: "Generations, lineages, descendants." This term highlights the continuity of the tribal identity and the historical unfolding of God's covenant with Abraham through specific family lines. It signifies a careful and complete record by descent.
• by their families: (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - l'mishp'ḥōtām)
  • l'mishp'ḥōtām: "According to their families/clans." This refers to sub-divisions within a tribe, denoting structured kinship units. The counting went beyond the general tribal name, into specific family groups, indicating a deeper level of organization.
• by their fathers’ houses: (לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם - l'beit avotam)
  • l'beit avotam: "According to the house of their fathers," meaning ancestral households or paternal homes. This signifies the smallest unit of social organization in Israelite society. The enumeration was extremely precise, counting every adult male within his direct patriarchal household, reflecting divine meticulousness.
• according to the number of names: (בְּמִסְפַּר שְׁמוֹת - b'mispar sh'mot)
  • b'mispar sh'mot: "By the number of names."
  • Mispar (מִסְפַּר): "Number." This points to the physical counting and record-keeping.
  • Shmot (שְׁמוֹת): "Names." This signifies individual identification. Each man was called by name, highlighting his personal recognition by God and inclusion in the covenant community for this specific purpose. God knows each individual in His vast company.
• from twenty years old and upward: (מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה - mi-ben esrim shanah va-ma'lah)
  • mi-ben esrim shanah va-ma'lah: "From the son of twenty years and upward." This establishes the qualifying age for military service in ancient Israel. Twenty years marked the age of adult responsibility, maturity, and physical readiness for battle, indicating those who were considered capable for national service.
• all who were able to go to war: (כָּל יֹצֵא צָבָא - kol yotzei tzava)
  • kol yotzei tzava: "All who go out for army/host." This defines the very specific purpose of this census: military enrollment. "Tzava" can mean a host or army, or even military service. It identifies the able-bodied men fit for military campaigning, not merely a general population count. This census was geared toward forming God's holy army for the conquest of Canaan.

Words-Group Analysis

• "From the children of Gad... all who were able to go to war": This phrase precisely limits the scope of the census, specifying a particular tribe, the age requirement, and the active capability for military service, demonstrating divine organization for specific, strategic purposes.
• "their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names": This series emphasizes the painstaking, meticulous detail of the census. It illustrates God’s interest in orderly enumeration down to the smallest societal units, ensuring no one was missed and every individual’s identity within the covenant community was accounted for.
• The emphasis on "names" and "fathers’ houses" underscores the personal accountability and recognition within the divinely ordered collective. This was not an impersonal, aggregate tally but a count of individuals rooted in their established heritage, ready for divine action.

Numbers 1 34 Bonus section

This precise enumeration, required by God, stands in contrast to later, often sinful, human censuses taken for reasons of pride or reliance on human strength (e.g., David's census in 2 Samuel 24). God’s census here in Numbers 1 serves a redemptive, strategic purpose, establishing an orderly encampment, a structured marching formation, and a disciplined fighting force. The inclusion of "names" rather than just a total number speaks to God’s individual concern for each member of His covenant people. Each individual was valued and recognized, not merely a statistic, contributing to the "army of the Lord" for the fulfillment of His promises.

Numbers 1 34 Commentary

Numbers 1:34 offers a snapshot into the meticulously ordered structure of the Israelite community under divine command. The verse, specific to the tribe of Gad, illustrates God's design for a unified, prepared people. The census, conducted at God's behest, wasn't just a record; it was an act of readiness for God's redemptive plan to bring His people into the Promised Land. Each able-bodied man, from his particular father's house and family, was counted and recognized by name. This detailed process emphasizes God's personal knowledge of each individual within His collective, his inclusion within the covenant community, and his required participation in the divine enterprise. It underscores the dual themes of divine order and human responsibility—that God organizes His people, and they, in turn, must be prepared to fulfill His purposes, especially through "going to war" (which encompassed the spiritual and physical battles of conquest and maintaining the covenant).