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Numbers 3:15

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“Number the Levites by their families and clans. You are to count every male a month old or more.”

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 15

This chapter and the next are concerning the tribe of Levi, which was to be mustered and marshalled by itself, and not in common with the other tribes, intimating the particular honour put upon them and the particular duty and service required from them. The Levites are in this chapter considered, I. As attendants on, and assistants to, the priests in the temple-service. And so we have an account, 1. Of the priests themselves (Num 3:1-4) and their work (Num 3:10). 2. Of the gift of the Levites to them (Num 3:5-9), in order to which they are mustered (Num 3:14-16), and the sum of them taken (Num 3:39). Each particular family of them is mustered, has its place assigned and its charge, the Gershonites (Num 3:17-26), the Kohathites (Num 3:27-32), the Merarites (Num 3:33-39). II. As equivalents for the first-born (Num 3:11-13). 1. The first-born are numbered, and the Levites taken instead of them, as far as the number of the Levites went (Num 3:40-45). 2. What first-born there were more than the Levites were redeemed (Num 3:46, etc.).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 15

פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… לֵוִי (Lêvîy, H3878) — Levi, a son of Jacob בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of… זָכָר (zâkâr, H2145) — properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex) חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month מַעַל (maʻal, H4605) — properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from…

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Numbers 26:62rank 5

The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

Mark 10:14rank 3

But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

II Timothy 3:15rank 3

From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Jeremiah 2:2rank 2

“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

Numbers 3:28rank 2

The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. They were responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

Numbers 1:47rank 2

The Levites, however, were not numbered along with them by the tribe of their fathers.

Jeremiah 31:3rank 2

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.

Numbers 3:34rank 2

The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200.

Proverbs 8:17rank 2

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

Numbers 3:43rank 2

The total number of the firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.

Commentaries

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