Numbers 4 47

Numbers 4:47 kjv

From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 4:47 nkjv

from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who came to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the tabernacle of meeting?

Numbers 4:47 niv

All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting

Numbers 4:47 esv

from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come to do the service of ministry and the service of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting,

Numbers 4:47 nlt

All the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle and for its transportation

Numbers 4 verses

Numbers 4 47 Meaning

Numbers 4:47 defines the age range for active and strenuous service performed by the Levites in relation to the Tabernacle. This included the physical duties of transporting and managing the sacred furnishings. The verse stipulates that only males between the ages of thirty and fifty years old were to be counted for this specific type of intense labor. This range reflects a period of optimal physical strength, maturity, and experience deemed necessary for handling the holy objects and burdens associated with the Tent of Meeting.

Numbers 4 47 Context

Numbers Chapter 4 details the specific duties of the three Levitical clans—the Kohathites, the Gershonites, and the Merarites—in the wilderness. The primary focus of the chapter is their role in dismantling, transporting, and reassembling the Tabernacle during Israel's journeying. Each clan was assigned particular holy furnishings or structural components to carry. Verses 1-33 detail these specific duties and initial counts for the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Verses 34-49 then present a summary census of all eligible males within these three clans. Numbers 4:47, in particular, serves as the final statement consolidating the eligibility criteria for all those "came to do the work of the service and the work of bearing burdens" in the Tent of Meeting, specifically solidifying the required age range of thirty to fifty years for this arduous task. This context highlights the rigorous physical and sacred demands placed on the Levites, necessitating individuals in their prime.

Numbers 4 47 Word analysis

• From thirty years old: Hebrew: מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה (mibben sheloshim shanah).
  • From: Indicates the minimum threshold.
  • thirty: (שְׁלֹשִׁים - sheloshim). This age often signified full maturity, responsibility, and readiness for significant public or leadership roles in ancient Near Eastern cultures and throughout the Bible. Examples include Joseph (Gen 41:46), David (2 Sam 5:4), and Jesus (Luke 3:23). It represents the peak of physical strength and mental acumen necessary for the challenging and precise duties.
  • years old: (שָׁנָה - shanah). Denotes annual units of time.
• and upward: (וָמָעְלָה - vema'lah). Signifies continuing beyond the starting age.
• even to fifty years old: (וְעַד חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה - ve'ad chamishim shanah).
  • even to: Marks the maximum age for active, heavy service.
  • fifty: (חֲמִשִּׁים - chamishim). This age typically marked a decline in physical vigor, making the strenuous and mobile duties of the Tabernacle less suitable. After this age, Levites transition to less demanding roles (Num 8:26). This reflects a pragmatic understanding of human physical capacity for specialized work.
• all: (כֹּל - kol). Emphasizes that this age criteria applied universally to everyone designated for this service within the Levitical ranks.
• that came: (הַבָּא - habba). Literally, "who comes/came," indicating inclusion into the census of those assigned duties.
• to do: (לַעֲבֹד - la'avod). From the root עָבַד ('avad), meaning "to serve," "to work," or "to minister." It implies dedicated service and labor.
• the work: (מְלֶאכֶת - mele'khet). Refers to a specific, assigned task, labor, or occupation. Here, the physical aspect of the service.
• of the service: (הָעֲבֹדָה - ha'avodah). Another form of 'avodah, often carrying a connotation of worship, ministry, or dedicated service to God, linking the physical task to its sacred purpose.
• and the work of bearing burdens: (וּמַשָּׂא - umassa). Specifically emphasizes the strenuous physical act of carrying the heavy components of the Tabernacle and its sacred vessels. This part clarifies the physically demanding nature of their "work of the service."
• in the tabernacle of the congregation: (בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד - be'ohel mo'ed). Identifies the precise location of their service, emphasizing its sacred and central role in Israelite life. "Tent of Meeting" signifies the place where God met with His people.

Words-group analysis:

• "From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old": This phrase meticulously defines the limited window of peak performance and endurance required for their unique calling. It speaks to both the maturity (thirty) and the preservation of strength (up to fifty) deemed necessary by God for this critical work, implicitly setting aside very young or very old individuals from these particularly arduous responsibilities.
• "all that came to do the work of the service and the work of bearing burdens": This highlights the universal application of the age requirement to anyone involved in the functional, demanding aspects of Levitical duties. It differentiates their labor from general priestly or cultic duties, emphasizing the physical component of their sacred work. This also underscores a polemic against indiscriminate selection for service, advocating for divinely ordained order and specific qualification for tasks.
• "in the tabernacle of the congregation": This clarifies the scope and sacred nature of their labor. Their "work of bearing burdens" was not mere porterage but sacred service within the divine presence, making the strict physical and age requirements understandable within the context of divine order and reverence.

Numbers 4 47 Bonus section

The detailed instructions concerning the age and duties of the Levites in Numbers reflect a highly organized and purposeful approach to service within God's chosen people. Unlike the general population fit for war at age twenty (Num 1:3), the Levites had a different, higher standard for their specific, arduous holy work. This distinction underscores that spiritual service often requires particular qualifications beyond general adult status, focusing on readiness, strength, and accumulated experience for handling holy things. The emphasis on physical strength was vital given that the Tabernacle was mobile; carrying the poles, coverings, and utensils was a monumental task for a large community in constant transit. The retirement at fifty from heavy burden-bearing allowed for a natural transition, preventing overexertion or accidental mishandling of sacred objects due to diminishing physical capabilities. This shows God's wise provision for both efficient ministry and the well-being of His servants.

Numbers 4 47 Commentary

Numbers 4:47 concludes the precise enumeration and detailing of Levitical service by definitively setting the active age range for their most physically demanding duties. The requirement of being between thirty and fifty years old was not arbitrary but rooted in wisdom for handling the sacred and weighty responsibilities of the Tabernacle. This period represents the prime of life—a balance of robust physical strength needed for carrying heavy Tabernacle components during Israel's journeys (implied in "bearing burdens"), mature judgment for meticulous handling of holy objects, and accumulated experience in performing precise ritual-related tasks. While other service ages appear later (Num 8:24-25, 1 Chr 23:24), Numbers 4 establishes the standard for wilderness operations. This standard ensured effective, respectful, and sustainable execution of a divinely ordered, physically challenging ministry. The principles found here, though specific to ancient Levitical service, speak to the importance of maturity, preparation, and capacity in all forms of service to God and His people.

For instance, one could observe:

• A person may feel a call to ministry but may not be "ready" in terms of life experience or spiritual maturity, just as a Levite needed to be at least thirty for heavy service.
• Different seasons of life bring different capacities for service; a person past their physical prime might excel in prayer or teaching, much like Levites post-fifty had less strenuous roles.
• The church needs both youthful zeal and mature wisdom, just as God set specific roles for different Levitical age groups.