Numbers 3 34

Numbers 3:34 kjv

And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.

Numbers 3:34 nkjv

And those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above, were six thousand two hundred.

Numbers 3:34 niv

The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 6,200.

Numbers 3:34 esv

Their listing according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was 6,200.

Numbers 3:34 nlt

There were 6,200 males one month old or older among these Merarite clans.

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 34 Meaning

Numbers 3:34 records the exact total of the male Merarites, aged one month and upward, who were counted according to their families. This number, six thousand two hundred, concludes the census of the Merarite clan, detailing the strength of the Levites assigned to transport the heavy structural components of the tabernacle in the wilderness. It signifies divine order, meticulous counting, and the specific assignment within Israel’s organized religious system.

Numbers 3 34 Context

Numbers chapter 3 describes the census of the Levitical families, specifically their enumeration and their assigned duties for the care and transport of the tabernacle. Unlike the other tribes, who were counted for military service from twenty years old, the Levites were counted "from a month old and upward" (Num 3:15). This particular chapter distinguishes between the three major clans descending from Levi’s sons – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari – assigning each specific tasks related to the sacred dwelling. The verse 34 is the conclusion of the Merarite count, highlighting their numerical strength for handling the tabernacle's heaviest components, such as its frames, bars, pillars, and sockets, ensuring everything was moved with divine order and precision as Israel journeyed through the wilderness. This precise counting reflects God's meticulous care for His sanctuary and the order within His people.

Numbers 3 34 Word analysis

• All those that were numbered of them (כָּל פְּקֻדֵיהֶם - kol pequdeihem):
  • `Pequdeihem` comes from the root `paqad` (פָּקַד), which means "to visit, appoint, command, muster, count."
  • Significance: This is not just a casual counting but an authoritative, divinely ordered census for specific purposes. It denotes accountability, divine oversight, and careful record-keeping as commanded by God. The numbering signifies a divine appointment to specific roles and responsibilities within God's organized community.
• according to their families (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - l’mishpekhtotam):
  • `Mishpekhtotam` from `mishpachah` (מִשְׁפָּחָה) means "family, clan, tribe."
  • Significance: The census respected Israel's foundational familial and tribal structure. Even within the Levites, distinct familial groupings were maintained, highlighting identity and ensuring systematic delegation of duties down through lineages. It underscores that God’s order extends to specific households.
• by the number of names (בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת - b'mispar shemot):
  • `Mispar` (מִסְפָּר) means "number, counting," and `shemot` (שֵׁמוֹת) means "names."
  • Significance: This emphasizes the individual-level precision of the census. Every person, by name, was specifically accounted for. No one was overlooked. It reflects God’s comprehensive knowledge of each individual and their designated role within His divine plan.
• from a month old and upward (מִבֶּן חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה - mi'ben chodesh vama'alah):
  • `Ben chodesh` (בֶּן חֹדֶשׁ) means "son of a month," i.e., "one month old." `Vama'alah` (וָמַעְלָה) means "and upward."
  • Significance: This is a crucial distinction. While other tribes were counted from twenty years old for military service, the Levites were consecrated from infancy. This indicates an early and complete dedication of the Levites to God’s service, distinguishing them as set apart from birth. It reflects their substitution for the firstborn of Israel and highlights their lifelong devotion to tabernacle service.
• throughout all the males (לְכֹל זָכָר - lechol zachar):
  • `Zachard` (זָכָר) means "male."
  • Significance: This specifies that the census, and by extension the direct service of the tabernacle, was assigned exclusively to males, as was typical for priestly and leadership roles in the Old Covenant economy. It adheres to the specific covenantal requirements established for temple worship.
• of the Merarites (לַמְּרָרִי - laMerari):
  • Significance: Merari was one of the three sons of Levi, whose descendants had the weighty task of carrying the structural framework of the tabernacle (frames, bars, pillars, sockets) (Num 4:31-32). Their duties involved the heaviest transport.
• were six thousand and two hundred (שֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּמָאתַיִם - sheishet alafim umatayim):
  • Significance: The precise number attests to the accuracy of the divine census and God's detailed plan. This large number underscores the considerable workforce required for the heavy and physically demanding duties assigned to the Merarites during the wilderness journeys.

• Words-Group analysis: "from a month old and upward, throughout all the males":
  • This phrase highlights the comprehensive scope of the Levitical dedication. Unlike the typical military census of Israel (20 years and up), Levites were uniquely set apart for God's service from early infancy, signifying their exclusive ownership and perpetual commitment to the divine service. The focus on "males" underscores the specific gender role for active priestly and temple service in the Old Covenant.

Numbers 3 34 Bonus section

The total numbers of the Levite clans in chapter 3 were: Gershonites (7,500), Kohathites (8,600, although their service-age count for carrying was smaller), and Merarites (6,200). The specific charge of the Merarites (transporting frames, bars, pillars, sockets, and bases of the tabernacle) required significant physical strength, possibly correlating to their designated role as carrying the "weightier" items literally. This divine assignment showcases God's wisdom in allocating tasks according to the strength and capacity of His servants. While other Levites focused on lighter materials or sacred articles, the Merarites handled the core structure, signifying foundational and essential work within the tabernacle’s construction and movement.

Numbers 3 34 Commentary

Numbers 3:34 serves as the concluding tally for the Merarite clan within the Levite census, meticulously recorded to underscore divine order and responsibility within Israel's communal life. The precision of the "six thousand two hundred" males, counted "from a month old and upward," is not merely statistical; it emphasizes God’s detailed oversight of His people and the careful apportionment of duties for the Tabernacle service. This census reflects God's demand for holiness and organization in His worship, where every individual and clan had a specific, God-ordained role. For the Merarites, this meant bearing the substantial weight of the Tabernacle's framework. This detailed numbering foreshadows the principle that God's people are carefully identified and positioned for service within His house, whether the physical Tabernacle in the wilderness or the spiritual temple (the Church) in the New Covenant. This foundational commitment "from a month old" illustrates total consecration and lifelong dedication to God's purpose, urging believers to offer themselves wholly to Christ’s service, reflecting God's call to order and purpose in all spiritual endeavors.