Numbers 3:15 kjv
Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
Numbers 3:15 nkjv
"Number the children of Levi by their fathers' houses, by their families; you shall number every male from a month old and above."
Numbers 3:15 niv
"Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more."
Numbers 3:15 esv
"List the sons of Levi, by fathers' houses and by clans; every male from a month old and upward you shall list."
Numbers 3:15 nlt
"Record the names of the members of the tribe of Levi by their families and clans. List every male who is one month old or older."
Numbers 3 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:2-3 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans... all in Israel twenty years old or more, able to go to war..." | Contrast: Census for military readiness vs. Levitical service. |
| Num 4:3 | "From thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can enter the service..." | Contrast: Active service age for Levites vs. their initial registration from infancy. |
| Ex 13:2 | "Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel... is mine." | Origin of God's claim on firstborn, leading to Levites as substitutes. |
| Num 3:12 | "Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb..." | Levites are the substitution for the firstborn. |
| Num 8:16-17 | "For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb... I have taken them for myself." | Emphasizes Levites are uniquely consecrated to God. |
| 1 Sam 1:28 | "Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD." | Concept of dedicating a child from birth/early age to the LORD's service. |
| Luke 2:22-23 | "When the time came for their purification... they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)." | Echoes the consecration of firstborn, linked to Levites. |
| Num 26:62 | "And those of them who were numbered were 23,000, every male from a month old and upward..." | Subsequent census confirms the 1-month-old starting age for Levites. |
| Ex 32:26-29 | "Then Moses stood in the gate... ‘Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.’ And all the sons of Levi gathered around him... they consecrated themselves today..." | Levites' faithfulness during the golden calf incident, underscoring their dedication. |
| Deut 10:8-9 | "At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD... and to bless in his name, to this day." | Distinctive function and role of the Levites confirmed. |
| Heb 7:11-12 | "If perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood... what further need would there have been for another priest to arise...?" | Highlights the temporary and symbolic nature of the Levitical priesthood pointing to Christ. |
| Mal 3:3 | "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver..." | Prophecy regarding the future purity and renewed service of spiritual "Levites." |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Contrasts with genealogical distinctions in the Old Covenant; new covenant identity. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | Application of priestly functions to all believers in the New Covenant. |
| 1 Cor 12:28 | "And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues." | Diversity of gifts and service roles in the New Testament Church. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry..." | New Testament understanding of equipping for service, contrasting with birthright service. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men... You are serving the Lord Christ." | Principle of wholehearted service to the Lord for believers. |
| Psa 22:10 | "From my mother’s womb you have been my God." | Concept of being chosen or set apart by God from very early in life. |
| Num 1:49 | "Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor take a census of them among the people of Israel." | Sets Levites apart; though a census is done, it's distinct from the general military census. |
| Rom 12:1 | "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." | General call for all believers to a dedicated life of service to God. |
Numbers 3 verses
Numbers 3 15 Meaning
Numbers 3:15 establishes the divine command for a specialized census of the tribe of Levi. Unlike other tribes numbered for military service, the Levites were to be counted specifically "by their fathers' houses, by their families." This census included "every male from a month old and upward," marking a unique distinction from the census for other tribes, which began at twenty years old for military service. The purpose was to identify and register them as a dedicated tribe to serve the LORD in the Tabernacle, replacing the firstborn sons of Israel, signifying their early divine designation and the meticulous order required for God's holy service.
Numbers 3 15 Context
Numbers 3:15 is situated within the book of Numbers, which chronicles Israel's journey through the wilderness following their exodus from Egypt. Specifically, this verse is part of a detailed section (Chapters 3 and 4) dealing with the census and organization of the Levites, who were set apart for exclusive service to the Tabernacle. This follows the general census of the other eleven tribes (Numbers 1 and 2), which focused on men aged twenty and above, fit for military service. The context highlights a major distinction: while the other tribes were organized for encampment and battle, the Levites were structured for sacred duty. Their counting from one month old and the familial emphasis underscored their hereditary, divinely appointed role as caretakers of God's dwelling place, making them substitutes for the firstborn sons whom God had claimed as His own following the tenth plague in Egypt (Ex 13). The meticulously organized nature of Israel's camp and service reflects the holiness and order required for approaching a holy God.
Numbers 3 15 Word analysis
- Number (פקד, paqad): This Hebrew verb signifies more than just counting; it implies a "visitation" or "inspection" with a purpose, often divine. It carries connotations of enrolling, commissioning, or appointing individuals for a specific role or duty. Here, it indicates a deliberate, divinely ordained census for identifying those who would serve God, not simply a demographic count.
- Them: Refers to the males of the tribe of Levi, distinguishing them from the general male population of Israel previously counted for military purposes.
- By their fathers' houses (בֵּית אָבוֹת, bêt 'āvōṯ): Emphasizes the patriarchal structure of Israelite society and the hereditary nature of the Levitical service. This refers to ancestral clans or lineages, stressing the importance of identity within family groups for divine organization and proper record-keeping. Service was inherited, not chosen.
- By their families (מִשְׁפָּחוֹת, mišpāḥōṯ): Refers to a broader grouping than the "fathers' house," a subdivision within a tribe. It highlights a precise, structured system of identification, essential for assigning specific duties within the Tabernacle (e.g., Kohathites, Gershonites, Merarites had distinct tasks). It reinforces thoroughness in the census.
- Every male (כָּל זָכָר, kol zāḵār): Specifies inclusivity of gender within the census group. In ancient Israelite society, specific roles and lines of descent, especially for priesthood and service, were typically traced through the male lineage. This highlights the particular claim God had on male firstborns, for whom the Levites served as substitutes.
- From a month old and upward (מִבֶּן חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה, mibben ḥōḏeš wāmā‘lâ): This is a critical distinctive marker. While other Israelites were counted from twenty years old for military service (Num 1:3) and Levites began active service from thirty (Num 4:3), this verse marks their registration and divine claim from early infancy. This age likely corresponds to the period after which an infant was considered viable and outside the immediate dangers of birth, marking the earliest point a "life" could be ritually redeemed or dedicated, echoing the redemption of the firstborn who survived the Passover plague (Num 3:40-43). It underscores God's total claim on them from almost the beginning of life.
Words-Group Analysis
- "Number them by their fathers' houses, by their families": This phrase underlines the hierarchical and systematic organization essential for sacred service. God establishes a precise order, from the largest tribal unit down to specific familial groups. This meticulous census ensured no Levite was missed and that their inherited duties within the Tabernacle structure were properly accounted for. It emphasizes order and divine oversight.
- "Every male from a month old and upward": This unique demographic range for the Levitical census speaks volumes. It signifies the divine ownership of the Levites from a very early stage of life, distinguishing them starkly from the other tribes counted for military strength (20 years old and upward). It reinforces the theological concept that these individuals were chosen by God not for earthly battles, but for lifelong spiritual service, acting as sacred substitutes for Israel's firstborn whom God had claimed during the Exodus. It highlights their special status of being set apart to God from nearly birth.
Numbers 3 15 Bonus section
The counting of Levites from one month old highlights a significant theological truth: God claims individuals for His service not based on their strength or capability, but based on His divine election and grace, often from their earliest existence. While the later age limit for active Tabernacle service (30-50 years old, Num 4:3) required physical and spiritual maturity, their initial registration at one month old indicated their identity was forged by divine selection, distinct from human achievement. This mirrors the New Testament truth that salvation and service are gifts from God, not earned by works. The precision in counting by families also prefigured the importance of lineage in messianic prophecies, demonstrating God's sovereign control over even minute details of history. The meticulous order also stood as an indirect polemic against pagan practices which were often chaotic and lacked the precise organization commanded by God.
Numbers 3 15 Commentary
Numbers 3:15 provides a foundational instruction for the distinct identification of the Levites. Their unique census, from infancy and by precise familial divisions, reveals their singular role in Israel: they were God's own, given in place of the firstborn sons of Israel. This enumeration was not for military strength, but for meticulous sacred service, highlighting divine order and consecration. The one-month-old marker underscored God's total claim on their lives from its very inception, marking them as uniquely belonging to Him. This early designation served to instill a profound sense of purpose and identity within the tribe, whose existence was directly tied to the maintenance of God's presence among His people through the Tabernacle. This setup illustrates the principle of designated service and divine election.