Numbers 4:35 kjv
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:
Numbers 4:35 nkjv
from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting;
Numbers 4:35 niv
All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting,
Numbers 4:35 esv
from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty, for service in the tent of meeting;
Numbers 4:35 nlt
The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,
Numbers 4 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 4:3 | From thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. | Context for the Kohathites' specific age requirement. |
| Num 8:24 | “This is what pertains to the Levites: From twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting." | Levites begin service/training at 25, implying Num 4 is for heavy duty. |
| Num 8:25 | “And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more..." | Retirement age for heavy Tabernacle work. |
| Num 3:27 | From the families of the Kohathites were the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites. | Identifies the Kohathite clans for whom these rules apply. |
| Deut 10:8 | At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day. | Purpose of Levitical service, specifically carrying the Ark. |
| 1 Chr 23:3 | And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward... | Reiterates the 30-year start for major Levitical roles in later history. |
| 1 Chr 23:24 | These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers’ houses, the heads of the fathers’ houses as listed by their enrollment, in the number of names, individuals twenty years old and upward who were to do the work... | Later change in age requirement for Levites to 20 for general service, perhaps post-Tabernacle transport duties. |
| 1 Chr 23:27 | For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward; for their service was to assist the sons of Aaron... | David lowers the age to 20 for Temple service (less strenuous carrying). |
| 2 Chr 31:17 | ...together with the enrollment of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward in their divisions. | Reconfirms 20 as the general service age for Levites in Hezekiah's time. |
| Luke 3:23 | Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age... | Jesus begins public ministry around the traditional age of readiness for significant public roles. |
| Gen 41:46 | Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh... | Example of leadership/major responsibility starting at age 30. |
| 2 Sam 5:4 | David was thirty years old when he began to reign... | Example of significant leadership role beginning at age 30. |
| 1 Tim 3:2 | Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach... | New Testament emphasis on character and maturity for service, not just age. |
| Tit 1:7 | For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach... | Parallel passage highlighting moral and spiritual qualifications for leaders in the Church. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | Redefines sacred service for all believers under the New Covenant, moving beyond tribal or age-specific limitations. |
| Heb 9:11 | But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)... | Christ's fulfillment of Tabernacle ministry, operating in a superior heavenly tabernacle. |
| Heb 9:24 | For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands... but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. | Emphasizes the heavenly reality transcending earthly Tabernacle service. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | New Testament concept of believers as a priesthood, contrasting with the Old Testament's specific Levitical roles. |
| Matt 20:26 | ...but whoever would be great among you must be your servant... | Christian service emphasizes humility and spiritual gifting over physical qualifications alone. |
| Eph 4:11 | And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers... | New Covenant gifts and offices for equipping the saints for ministry. |
| Phil 2:7 | ...but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant... | Christ's example of humble service. |
| John 12:26 | If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. | General call to discipleship and service in Christ, regardless of specific physical parameters. |
Numbers 4 verses
Numbers 4 35 Meaning
Numbers 4:35 outlines the specific age range for Kohathite Levites who were eligible for the full responsibilities of carrying and disassembling the most sacred objects of the Tabernacle—the Ark of the Covenant, the altar of incense, the table of showbread, and other holy vessels. This age bracket of thirty to fifty years old indicated the prime period of a man's life, suitable for the demanding physical labor, the spiritual maturity required for handling holy things, and the wisdom gained from experience, ensuring dedicated and reverent service in God's presence within the tent of meeting.
Numbers 4 35 Context
Numbers chapter 4 meticulously details the specific duties of the three main Levitical clans—the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites—in the transport of the Tabernacle during Israel's wilderness wanderings. Verses 1-37 describe the enumeration of these clans and their precise roles. Verse 35 falls within the section addressing the Kohathites (Num 4:1-20), who were assigned the highly sensitive task of carrying the most sacred components of the Tabernacle, such as the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, and the altars, after they had been covered by the priests. The prescribed age range (30-50) for these duties reflects the demanding physical nature of the work, which included dismantling, carrying heavy objects, and reassembling the holy dwelling, as well as the significant spiritual maturity and reverence required for handling items associated with God's immediate presence. Historically, this meticulous organization underscored the sanctity of God's dwelling and the divine order essential for the holy nation.
Numbers 4 35 Word analysis
- from thirty years old: Hebrew shloshim shanah (שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה). This marks the commencement of full, active, and arduous service. In ancient Near Eastern cultures and even throughout the biblical narrative (e.g., Joseph, David, Jesus), the age of 30 was often associated with the transition to full maturity, leadership, and responsibility, implying both physical vigor and acquired wisdom.
- and upward: Hebrew va-ma'alah (וָמַעְלָה). This indicates inclusivity for those who had reached the age of 30.
- even to fifty years old: Hebrew chamishim shanah (חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה). This sets the upper limit for active duty involving strenuous Tabernacle transportation. After 50, Levites would transition to lighter supervisory roles, contributing their experience and knowledge without bearing the physical burden, as detailed in Num 8:24-26. This period, from 30 to 50, encompassed a person's peak physical strength and mental acumen for such demanding and precise work.
- all that enter: Hebrew kol ha-ba' (כָּל הַבָּא). This emphasizes that every eligible Levite within this age range was expected to participate in this specific service, highlighting universal participation among the qualified.
- into the host: Hebrew la-tzava' (לַצָּבָא). While often translated "host" or "army" in military contexts, here it signifies "service," "warfare," or "labor" within the spiritual domain. It denotes an organized, disciplined, and rigorous service for God, similar to military duty. It implies a structured and demanding commitment.
- for service: Hebrew avodah (עֲבֹדָה). This fundamental Hebrew term means "work," "labor," "service," or "worship." In this context, it refers to the specialized, active, and physical duties related to dismantling, transporting, and setting up the Tabernacle components. This avodah was central to their calling as Levites.
- in the tabernacle of the congregation: Hebrew ohel mo'ed (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד), literally "tent of meeting." This specifies the sacred place of service, where God met with Israel. The precise wording underscores the unique and holy nature of the service, directly related to God's presence and sacred space.
Numbers 4 35 Bonus section
The specific age for Levitical service has seen adjustments throughout Israelite history. While Numbers 4 focuses on 30-50 for heavy duty (especially carrying the Tabernacle elements during wilderness wanderings), later periods (e.g., in David's time for Temple service, 1 Chr 23:24, 27) saw the age of eligibility for general Levitical duties lowered to 20 or 25 (Num 8:24-25, Ezra 3:8). This might reflect the transition from the arduous task of transporting a movable Tabernacle to a stationary Temple setting, where duties were less physically demanding. It also highlights the evolving nature of ministry needs while maintaining the core principle of readiness and order. The very concept of specific age ranges for service contrasts with the New Covenant emphasis on spiritual gifting and maturity regardless of chronological age, allowing broader participation in the priesthood of all believers (1 Pet 2:9). Yet, even in the New Testament, there's a strong call for maturity, self-control, and proved character in leadership (1 Tim 3; Tit 1), echoing the spirit of qualification found in Numbers.
Numbers 4 35 Commentary
Numbers 4:35 meticulously defines the qualified age range for active Kohathite Levites, marking 30 to 50 years old as the period for their full service. This seemingly arbitrary age requirement actually communicates profound principles. Starting at 30 ensured physical robustness necessary for carrying weighty and sensitive holy objects like the Ark of the Covenant and the altars, which symbolized God's presence and judgment. It also implied a level of maturity, discernment, and acquired wisdom crucial for handling sacred things with reverence, discipline, and knowledge of specific procedures, minimizing accidental defilement or error. Concluding active heavy duty at 50 acknowledged the natural decline in physical strength while allowing seasoned Levites to transition into roles of oversight and instruction (Num 8:25-26), sharing their valuable experience without physical strain. This regulated service underscores the sanctity and order required in God's worship and ministry, recognizing that effective service involves both physical capacity and spiritual maturity. Though New Testament ministry no longer hinges on such rigid age limits or tribal descent, the underlying principles of spiritual preparedness, character, wisdom, and diligent effort for sacred service remain vital.