Numbers 4:39 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 4:39 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 4:39 niv
All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting,
Numbers 4:39 esv
from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty for service in the tent of meeting ?
Numbers 4:39 nlt
The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,
Numbers 4 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 4:3 | "from thirty years old even to fifty years old..." | Age range for Kohathites' active service |
| Num 4:23 | "from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old..." | Age range for Gershonites' active service |
| Num 4:30 | "from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old..." | Age range for Kohathites; consistent age requirement |
| Num 8:24-25 | "...from twenty-five years old and upward... At fifty they retire..." | Later age for beginning service; retirement age |
| 1 Chron 23:24 | "These were the sons of Levi... from twenty years old and upward." | Davidic modification of age for Temple service |
| 1 Chron 23:27 | "...counted among the sons of Levi from twenty years old and upward." | Confirms the adjusted age standard for Temple service |
| Gen 41:46 | "Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh..." | Thirty as age of readiness for significant public role |
| Lk 3:23 | "Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age..." | Thirty as an age for beginning ministry |
| 1 Tim 3:6 | "not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride..." | Requirement for maturity in leadership/service |
| 1 Tim 3:10 | "...let them also be proved first..." | Importance of vetting for sacred service |
| 2 Tim 2:15 | "Give diligence to present yourself approved unto God, a workman..." | Personal responsibility in spiritual labor |
| Heb 9:1-2 | "Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances... and a worldly sanctuary." | Describes the earthly Tabernacle's framework |
| Exod 40:2 | "On the first day of the first month, you shall set up the tabernacle..." | Divine instruction for Tabernacle setup/duties |
| Col 3:23-24 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord... knowing that from the Lord you will receive..." | Work as for the Lord, applying to all service |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "Let all things be done decently and in order." | Emphasis on order and structure in God's worship |
| Rom 12:4-5 | "For even as we have many members in one body... so we, who are many..." | Diversity of roles and specialized service |
| Exod 28:1 | "Bring near Aaron your brother, and his sons... that they may minister..." | Divine appointment for specific sacred roles |
| Jn 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Obedience to God's specific commands |
| Ps 84:10 | "...better is a day in your courts than a thousand." | Value placed on service and presence in God's house |
| Isa 40:31 | "...shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings..." | Divine strength for demanding service |
| Matt 20:26-28 | "...whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant." | Call to humble service in leadership |
| Deut 13:4 | "You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him and keep His commandments..." | General principle of adherence to God's ways |
Numbers 4 verses
Numbers 4 39 Meaning
Numbers 4:39 specifies the age demographic for those descendants of Merari who were deemed eligible and commanded by God to perform active, laborious service in the Tabernacle. This was a critical period of prime physical strength and mature judgment, dedicated entirely to the specific duties of maintaining and transporting the holy Tent of Meeting.
Numbers 4 39 Context
Numbers chapter 4 meticulously details the specific duties of the three Levitical clans—the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites—concerning the Tabernacle and its furnishings during Israel's wilderness journey. Each clan had distinct responsibilities for dismantling, transporting, and reassembling specific parts of the holy sanctuary. This verse specifically addresses the Merarites, following the description of their assigned burdens (frames, bars, pillars, bases) in the preceding verses (Num 4:29-33). The larger context is the meticulous divine order established for the priesthood and the Tabernacle, ensuring reverence and proper handling of holy objects as the presence of God moved with His people. Historically and culturally, this organization mirrored the meticulous attention to detail required in ancient military camps or sacred religious complexes, yet surpassed them in its divine origin and purpose, setting Israel apart in its dedication to God.
Numbers 4 39 Word analysis
- from thirty years old: Hebrew: מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה (mibben shĕlōšim shānāh), literally "from son of thirty year." This signifies the threshold of full physical strength, mental maturity, and societal responsibility. It was considered the prime of life, a time when individuals were deemed fully capable for significant public service. This age contrasts with later adjustments (e.g., twenty years) made during King David's reign for Temple service when heavy carrying was no longer required.
- and upward: Hebrew: וָמַעְלָה (wāmalaʿ). Indicates inclusivity from the age of thirty onwards, marking the commencement of eligibility.
- even to fifty years old: Hebrew: עַד בֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה (ʿad ben hamiššim shānāh), literally "until son of fifty year." This signifies the upper age limit for strenuous Tabernacle work. At fifty, Levites would retire from the heavy physical tasks, often transitioning to advisory or supervisory roles (Num 8:25-26). This boundary acknowledges physical limitations and ensures capable, active individuals performed the demanding duties.
- everyone who entered into the service: Hebrew: כֹּל הַבָּא לַצָּבָא (kōl habā' latzāvā'), "everyone who came for the service/host." Tzava (צָבָא) often refers to military service or an army, highlighting the highly disciplined, organized, and physically demanding nature of their sacred duties. It implies readiness, commitment, and adherence to specific commands, akin to a soldier's discipline.
- for work: Hebrew: לַעֲבֹדָה (laʿăvōdāh), "for work" or "for service." This emphasizes the active, labor-intensive nature of their role in transporting and maintaining the Tabernacle. It's not passive worship but diligent, dedicated labor for God.
- in the tent of meeting: Hebrew: בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (bĕ'ōhel môʿēd). This is the sacred portable sanctuary where God met with His people. It underscores the holiness and ultimate purpose of their work—to facilitate divine-human communion and worship. Every action was centered around this divinely appointed place.
Words-group analysis
- "from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old": This specific age range signifies a period of peak human capability—physical vigor for carrying heavy sacred objects and mature judgment for handling holy things with precision and reverence. It ensured the work was done by the most capable and responsible individuals.
- "everyone who entered into the service, for work": This phrase combines the disciplined commitment implied by "service" (tzava) with the practical, strenuous aspect of "work" (avodah). It speaks of dedicated, active participation in the prescribed tasks for the Lord, highlighting both duty and effort.
- "in the tent of meeting": This defines the exclusive sacred context of their service. Their labor was not mundane but profoundly spiritual, connected directly to God's dwelling place among His people. It underscored the Tabernacle as the center of Israel's worship and identity.
Numbers 4 39 Bonus section
The detailed regulations in Numbers 4 illustrate God's emphasis on meticulous order, proper conduct, and reverence in all matters pertaining to His worship and the handling of sacred things. This foreshadows the New Testament concept that spiritual service also requires maturity, dedication, and readiness, though the specific physical requirements shift from carrying tabernacle parts to building up the spiritual body of Christ (Eph 4:11-13). The temporary nature of this specific Levitical duty for the wandering period highlights how divine commands can be precise for a given season or purpose, later to be modified or fulfilled by a greater reality, as seen in the New Covenant through Christ, where every believer becomes part of a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9). The Levites' specific duties point to the broader principle of believers' unique callings and contributions within the Body of Christ.
Numbers 4 39 Commentary
Numbers 4:39 is not merely an age restriction; it is a foundational principle of divine order and responsibility in service. God mandated specific requirements for those handling His holy presence, reflecting the weight and seriousness of the task. The age bracket of thirty to fifty years signifies a period of human life characterized by optimal physical strength, emotional maturity, and accumulated wisdom, ensuring that the critical, labor-intensive tasks associated with the Tabernacle were performed with utmost competence and reverence. This principle underscores that God calls qualified individuals for specific tasks, emphasizing diligence, order, and mature devotion in sacred ministry. The work for the Lord is not to be undertaken lightly but with readiness and steadfast commitment, much like a disciplined army serves its commander.