Numbers 3:39 kjv
All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.
Numbers 3:39 nkjv
All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all the males from a month old and above, were twenty-two thousand.
Numbers 3:39 niv
The total number of Levites counted at the LORD's command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.
Numbers 3:39 esv
All those listed among the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron listed at the commandment of the LORD, by clans, all the males from a month old and upward, were 22,000.
Numbers 3:39 nlt
When Moses and Aaron counted the Levite clans at the LORD's command, the total number was 22,000 males one month old or older.
Numbers 3 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 13:2 | "Sanctify unto me all the firstborn...it is mine." | God claims the firstborn. |
| Exod 13:12-13 | "You shall set apart unto the Lord all that opens the womb...every firstling of a man among your children." | Dedication of firstborn. |
| Exod 30:11-16 | "When you take the sum of the children of Israel...that there be no plague among them." | Divine command for census and redemption. |
| Num 1:2-3 | "Take ye the sum of all the congregation...after their families...every male." | General census of Israelites. |
| Num 3:12 | "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn..." | Levites substitute the firstborn. |
| Num 3:15 | "Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers...every male from a month old and upward." | Command for Levite census age requirement. |
| Num 3:21-22 | "Of Gershon was the family...and those that were numbered...seven thousand and five hundred." | Census of Gershonites. |
| Num 3:27-28 | "Of Kohath was the family...all males from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred." | Census of Kohathites. |
| Num 3:33-34 | "Of Merari was the family...all males from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred." | Census of Merarites. |
| Num 3:40 | "Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward..." | Command to number firstborn Israelites. |
| Num 3:45 | "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn..." | Reiteration of Levite substitution. |
| Num 8:14 | "Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel..." | Separation of Levites for service. |
| Num 8:16-18 | "For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb..." | Levites as God's chosen possession. |
| Num 18:2 | "Bring with thee also thy brethren of the tribe of Levi...and let them minister unto thee..." | Levites to assist Aaron. |
| Num 26:62 | "And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand...because there was no inheritance." | Later census of Levites, similar details. |
| Deut 10:8 | "At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant..." | Separation of Levites' specific duties. |
| 1 Chr 6:48 | "Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service..." | Levites' general service. |
| 1 Chr 23:24 | "These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers...that did the work for the service of the house of the Lord..." | Organization of Levite service by David. |
| Ezek 44:10 | "And the Levites that are gone away far from me...they shall bear their iniquity." | Warning regarding Levites who stray. |
| Heb 7:11-12 | "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood...what further need was there?" | New Covenant priesthood vs. Levitical. |
| Heb 9:9 | "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices..." | Levitical service as a shadow of Christ. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation..." | Believers as spiritual priests. |
Numbers 3 verses
Numbers 3 39 Meaning
Numbers 3:39 reports the total number of male Levites, aged one month and upward, counted by Moses and Aaron, according to the divine directive. This census was crucial for the organization of the tabernacle service and, most significantly, for the theological concept of the Levites serving as a substitute or redemption for the firstborn males of all the other Israelite tribes.
Numbers 3 39 Context
Numbers chapter 3 is dedicated to detailing the census of the tribe of Levi, distinguishing them from the general census of the other tribes recorded in Numbers chapter 1. The primary purpose was to enumerate the Levites for their distinct role in tabernacle service, relieving the other tribes from this responsibility. Furthermore, this census established the Levites as a divine substitute for the firstborn males of all Israel, who, by virtue of the Passover deliverance, were sanctified and claimed by God. The specific count of 22,000 male Levites from one month old and upward is presented in this verse as the consolidated sum before proceeding to count the firstborn of Israel to determine the exchange rate and any outstanding payments required. Historically, precise population counts were essential for ancient Near Eastern societies for military conscription, taxation, and communal organization; however, in Israel, the divine command elevated this census to a theological act of obedience and worship, ensuring the orderly function of the tabernacle as the center of their national life and faith.
Numbers 3 39 Word analysis
- All those that were numbered: Implies a comprehensive and divinely mandated count, not just a casual tally. The Hebrew word for "numbered" ( paqad, פקד) carries a richer meaning than mere counting; it often signifies a visitation for a specific purpose, an enrollment, an appointing, or an act of review with an outcome. Here, it denotes an official, careful registration.
- of the Levites: The tribe of Levi, uniquely set apart from the other eleven tribes of Israel. Unlike the others, they received no territorial inheritance but were provided for by offerings, dedicated solely to the Lord's service, particularly the Tabernacle duties.
- which Moses and Aaron numbered: Indicates the divinely appointed human agents. Moses, as the primary mediator and leader, and Aaron, as the designated high priest, were specifically chosen to execute this sacred task, underscoring the spiritual authority and authenticity of the census.
- at the commandment of the Lord: Highlights the ultimate source and authority behind the census. This was not a human initiative but a direct divine imperative (Hebrew: pi YHWH, פִּי יְהוָה - literally "mouth of the LORD"). This emphasizes the sacred, binding, and purposeful nature of the count, ensuring obedience and reflecting God's precise ordering of His people and their worship.
- throughout their families: Signifies a meticulous enumeration according to tribal and clan structures. The Hebrew mishpachah (מִשְׁפָּחָה) refers to extended families or clans. This detail underscores the organizational structure of Israel, derived from patriarchal lineage, reflecting the careful and systematic nature of the divinely commanded census.
- all males from a month old and upward: Defines the specific demographic included in this census. The Hebrew zakhar (זָכָר) means male. The inclusion of infants ("from a month old," miben khodesh, מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ) emphasizes God's comprehensive claim and provision, showing that the dedication to God’s service began very early in life, encompassing even the youngest. This lower age limit is specific to the Levite census, as the general census for military service (Num 1) was for those aged twenty and upward. It reflects the value placed on every life in relation to the sacred work and the concept of firstborn redemption.
- were twenty and two thousand: This precise numerical total is central to the verse. The Hebrew ishriym ushnayim elef (עֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁנַיִם אֶלֶף) confirms the exact number determined by the census. This number is presented as the final count of male Levites who would stand in for the firstborn of the other tribes. Its precise nature implies accuracy and serves a practical purpose for subsequent calculations concerning the redemption fee.
Numbers 3 39 Bonus section
Scholarly discussion often addresses a seeming numerical discrepancy within Numbers chapter 3. If one sums the individual counts of the three Levite clans as presented earlier in the chapter (Gershonites: 7,500; Kohathites: 8,600; Merarites: 6,200), the total is 22,300, which differs by 300 from the 22,000 stated in verse 39. Several explanations have been put forth by commentators and scholars:
- Exclusion of Moses, Aaron, and their sons: As priests, Moses, Aaron, and his sons (Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar) were considered set apart from the general Levitical count for ordinary duties, fulfilling a higher priestly office directly serving the sanctuary.
- Scribal convention/rounding: In ancient texts, large numbers were sometimes rounded or presented in a way that focused on significant units. Some theories suggest a specific group of 300 might have been separated or a slight variation in transmission.
- Deduction for special consecration: Another view posits that 300 were particularly set apart or dedicated for an extremely holy duty that excluded them from the general count for typical service, making them uniquely dedicated to the Lord beyond the broader Levite replacement.
- A specific "extra" category: Some propose that 300 were those specifically earmarked by Yahweh for an unknown "bonus" duty directly by Yahweh that Moses did not disclose or that this "300" refers to the first born not belonging to their families/tribe and are kept as special numbers so they wont be written among any of those tribes due to them being specifically set by Yahweh to dedicate temple duty and not the rest of Israel's tribal counts.Regardless of the precise resolution of this internal numerical detail, the consistent theological emphasis across the accounts remains the divine appointment of the Levites as a sanctified tribe for the Lord's service, serving as a perpetual redemption for the firstborn, showcasing God's ordered administration of His covenant people.
Numbers 3 39 Commentary
Numbers 3:39 succinctly concludes the census of the Levite males, emphasizing its divine mandate and the specific demographic counted. This number, 22,000, is pivotal within the chapter as it sets the stage for the redemption of the firstborn of Israel. By divine decree, the entire tribe of Levi, counted from infancy, was taken by God in place of every firstborn male from the other tribes. This sacred exchange underscores God's ownership of the firstborn due to the Passover deliverance, and His gracious provision of the Levites as substitutes. It established a perpetual priesthood and support system for the tabernacle, showcasing God's meticulous order, His claim over His people, and the theological principle of substitutionary atonement foreshadowing the ultimate substitute in Christ. The seemingly mundane act of numbering becomes a profound demonstration of God's sovereign will and covenant faithfulness.