Numbers 3 37

Numbers 3:37 kjv

And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

Numbers 3:37 nkjv

and the pillars of the court all around, with their sockets, their pegs, and their cords.

Numbers 3:37 niv

as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes.

Numbers 3:37 esv

also the pillars around the court, with their bases and pegs and cords.

Numbers 3:37 nlt

They were also responsible for the posts of the courtyard and all their bases, pegs, and ropes.

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 37 Meaning

Numbers 3:37 delineates the culmination of the census for the Kohathite clan of the Levites, specifically listing their families by name and affirming their divine appointment for service within the Tabernacle, conducted under the direct command of the Lord through Moses and Aaron. It highlights divine order, precise responsibilities, and the obedience of God's appointed leaders in organizing the sacred service.

Numbers 3 37 Context

Numbers chapter 3 describes the first detailed census of the Levite tribe, distinguishing them from other Israelite tribes. While the other tribes were counted for military purposes, the Levites were counted to serve as attendants to the priests and for the care of the Tabernacle, reflecting their distinct spiritual role. The chapter outlines the specific duties and encampment positions for the three main Levitical clans: the Gershonites (verses 21-26), the Kohathites (verses 27-32, with 37 summarizing their listing), and the Merarites (verses 33-37). Verse 37 specifically concludes the section pertaining to the Kohathites, confirming their divine selection, precise enumeration, and designated responsibility for the Tabernacle's most holy objects, highlighting God's meticulous organization of worship in the wilderness.

Numbers 3 37 Word analysis

• And these were the numbered (וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם – u-fe-qu-dei-hem):
  • "Numbered" (root: פקד – paqad): Not merely a count, but implies oversight, divine appointment, inspection, and designation for a specific task. It indicates an active registration and a placement into service.
  • Significance: Every individual designated for Tabernacle service was divinely known and accounted for. This wasn't a casual enrollment but a divine commissioning.
• of the families (מִשְׁפְּחֹת – mish-pe-chot):
  • "Families" (singular: מִשְׁפָּחָה – mishpachah): Refers to the subdivisions within the clan, emphasizing the tribal and lineage-based organization crucial to Israelite society.
  • Significance: Duties and responsibilities were assigned according to family lines, ensuring order and hereditary continuity in service within the designated clans.
• of the Kohathites (הַקְּהָתִי – ha-qehathī):
  • Kohath: Son of Levi and ancestor of the priests (Aaron descended from Kohath) and a specific branch of Levites.
  • Significance: The Kohathites had the unique and most sacred duty among the Levites: carrying the holy objects of the Tabernacle (Ark of the Covenant, Table of Showbread, Menorah, Altars). This highlights their distinct and vital role. Their service was direct and dangerous if mishandled (cf. Num 4:15, 1 Sam 6:6-7, 2 Sam 6:6-7).
• all that might do service (כָּל־הָעֹבֵד – kol-ha-oved):
  • "Do service" (root: עבד – avad): Signifies worship, serving, labor, or ministering. In this context, it refers to the sacred duties connected with the Tabernacle.
  • Significance: Not all Levites served in the Tabernacle. This refers to those qualified and appointed to directly perform its functions. It was a divine vocation.
• in the tabernacle of the congregation (בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד – be-ohel mo'ed):
  • "Tabernacle of the congregation" (more literally: Tent of Meeting): The central sanctuary where God met with Israel, a physical representation of His presence among His people.
  • Significance: The service was specifically directed towards maintaining and transporting the holy presence of God. It was a direct interaction with the divine requirements for worship and atonement.
• which Moses and Aaron (אֲשֶׁר פָּקַד מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן – asher paqad Mosheh ve-Aharon):
  • Moses: God's appointed law-giver and leader.
  • Aaron: God's appointed high priest, representative of the priesthood.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the human instruments through whom God's divine will was executed. Their involvement validates the process and emphasizes divine authorization for the Levitical appointments.
• did number (פָּקַד – paqad):
  • Repetition of "paqad": Reinforces that their action was not an arbitrary human decision but a careful and authorized registration under divine direction.
  • Significance: Emphasizes accountability and thoroughness in the execution of God's command.
• according to the commandment of the LORD (עַל־פִּי יְהוָה – al-pi YHVH):
  • "Commandment" (פֶה – peh): Lit. "mouth" or "utterance." "Al-pi" means "at the mouth of," or "according to the command/utterance of."
  • "The LORD" (יְהוָה – YHVH): The covenant name of God.
  • Significance: This phrase underlines the ultimate source of authority for the entire system of service and organization. It was not a human invention but a divinely revealed pattern, ensuring holiness and efficacy in Israel's worship. This phrase is a cornerstone, validating the entire arrangement as God-ordained.

Words-group analysis

• "And these were the numbered of the families of the Kohathites...": This establishes the focus on the specific enumeration and identity of the Kohathite clan. It's a precise account, indicating order and intentionality.
• "...all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation...": This clause defines the purpose of their numbering—for active sacred duty related to the physical Tabernacle and its functions. It delineates their distinct holy vocation.
• "...which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD.": This critical phrase authenticates the entire process. It emphasizes divine origination and authorization (from "the LORD") carried out through appointed human leadership ("Moses and Aaron"), ensuring its legitimacy and sanctity. It's an affirmation of divine sovereignty over worship.

Numbers 3 37 Bonus section

The strictness and specificity of the Kohathite duties (particularly their sole responsibility to carry the sacred furnishings, Num 4:4-15, Num 7:9) reveal the profound reverence required for approaching God's holy presence. Any deviation, as seen later with Uzzah (2 Sam 6:6-7), had severe consequences, underscoring that obedience to the "commandment of the LORD" was not merely a procedural formality but a matter of life and death, reflecting the awesome holiness of God. This principle of proper conduct and reverence in God's service echoes into New Testament teachings on serving God with fear and trembling, recognizing the divine order in the church, and upholding the sanctity of sacred callings (e.g., Heb 12:28, 1 Cor 14:40).

Numbers 3 37 Commentary

Numbers 3:37 acts as a conclusive summary for the Kohathites' enumeration within the Levitical census. It is a vital statement affirming that their service, and indeed the entire structure of the Tabernacle's upkeep, was not of human devising but originated from the direct command of the covenant God, YHWH. The careful "numbering" or "listing by name" underscores God's meticulous care for His dwelling place and His detailed assignment of duties. Every role, even carrying the Tabernacle furniture, was a sacred trust, divinely appointed and executed through His chosen leaders, Moses and Aaron. This verse underscores the foundational principle that true worship and ministry flow from divine initiative and strict obedience to God's revealed will, providing order and distinction in God's service.