Numbers 3 33

Numbers 3:33 kjv

Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.

Numbers 3:33 nkjv

From Merari came the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari.

Numbers 3:33 niv

To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these were the Merarite clans.

Numbers 3:33 esv

To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites: these are the clans of Merari.

Numbers 3:33 nlt

The descendants of Merari were composed of the clans descended from Mahli and Mushi.

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 33 Meaning

Numbers 3:33 identifies Elizaphan, son of Uzziel, as the appointed head of the Kohathite clan. This verse is part of the detailed record of the Levite census and the specific assignments for their service in the Tabernacle. It signifies the structured and ordered nature of the worship and administration ordained by God for ancient Israel, emphasizing leadership and accountability within the sacred service.

Numbers 3 33 Context

Numbers chapter 3 details the census and organization of the Levites, who were uniquely set apart by God for service to the Tabernacle in lieu of the firstborn of Israel. The chapter systematically lists the three major Levitical clans: the Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites, along with their assigned camping locations around the Tabernacle and their specific duties concerning its transportation and care. Numbers 3:33 specifically focuses on the Kohathites, who had the most sacred charge: carrying the holy furniture of the Tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, the lampstand, and the altars (as further detailed in Numbers 4). This verse appoints Elizaphan, son of Uzziel, as the chief over this critically important division, ensuring a clear chain of command and accountability for handling these sacred objects that symbolized God's presence and holiness among His people. It is part of God's meticulous blueprint for an orderly and reverent approach to His worship.

Numbers 3 33 Word analysis

• And: Conjoins this detail with the preceding verses about the Levitical census and family divisions.
• the chief (Hebrew: נָשִׂיא, nasi): Signifies a leader, prince, or head of a division or family. It indicates an appointed position of authority and responsibility, not just seniority by age, but leadership within the divine structure for service.
• of the fathers' house (Hebrew: בֵּית־אָבֹות, beit-abot): Refers to a patriarchal household or extended family unit. It highlights the deeply ingrained patrilineal and tribal structure of ancient Israelite society, where identity and function were tied to one's lineage.
• of the Kohathites: The clan descended from Kohath, one of Levi's three sons. This specific designation immediately cues the reader to their unique and highly sacred duties related to the internal components of the Tabernacle.
• was Elizaphan (Hebrew: אֱלִיצָפָן, 'Eliytsaphan): Meaning "God has protected" or "my God is hidden." The name is significant as the Kohathites handled objects whose sanctity could bring death if not properly approached, thus requiring divine protection in their sensitive tasks.
• the son: Identifies the direct paternal lineage, crucial for establishing tribal and family authority and inheritance in ancient Israel.
• of Uzziel (Hebrew: עוּזִּיאֵל, 'Uzzi'el): Meaning "my strength is God." This name of Elizaphan's father further underscores the theme of divine enablement and strength needed for handling the sacred items of the Tabernacle. It suggests that the capability for sacred service comes from God.

• "chief of the fathers' house": This phrase emphasizes God's divine establishment of an orderly, hierarchical leadership within the family structure, essential for proper spiritual service and communal organization.
• "Kohathites...Elizaphan...Uzziel": This grouping identifies a specific lineage entrusted with immense responsibility. It showcases God's particularity in choosing individuals and families for sacred duties, ensuring both accountability and the proper execution of worship. The names themselves are loaded with meaning relating to divine protection and strength, indicating God's enablement for His appointed tasks.

Numbers 3 33 Bonus section

The careful naming of leaders like Elizaphan reinforced the legitimate authority and divinely appointed roles within the community, providing a bulwark against unauthorized claims to leadership or indiscriminate handling of holy things. This detailed accounting was also crucial for future generations to trace their lineage and understand their inherited sacred duties. The selection of specific individuals and families for sacred roles in the Old Testament Tabernacle ministry serves as a pattern for discerning and honoring various ministries within the New Covenant church, where gifts and callings are diverse yet contribute to the unified body of Christ.

Numbers 3 33 Commentary

Numbers 3:33 provides a specific administrative detail within God's meticulously designed Tabernacle service. By naming Elizaphan, son of Uzziel, as the chief of the Kohathite clan, the verse underscores the precision, order, and accountability required in the service of a holy God. The Kohathites bore the distinct and dangerous privilege of carrying the most sacred objects of the Tabernacle, items that manifested God's immediate presence and demanded absolute reverence. This designation of a chief highlights that divine service is not chaotic but divinely structured, with clear leadership roles for specialized functions. It reminds us that sacred duties demand not only willing hearts but also ordered hands, reflecting God's nature as a God of peace and not confusion (1 Cor 14:33). This meticulous detail serves as a foundational principle: that God's work, especially the most sacred, is conducted with specific divine appointments and accountability within a larger ordered system.