For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:
Parallel translations
- WEB For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were counted, from twenty years old and upward.
- BSB For according to the final instructions of David, the Levites twenty years of age or older were counted,
- NKJV For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above;
- NASB For by the last words of David, the sons of Levi were counted from twenty years old and upward.
- NLT In accordance with David’s final instructions, all the Levites twenty years old or older were registered for service.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
By David's last instructions, the Levites were counted from twenty years old and upward. This confirms the updated age standard for service.
Overview
This verse reiterates that David's final directives set the age of Levitical service at twenty, adapting earlier wilderness regulations to the new temple era. The reference to David's last words highlights his enduring concern for ordered worship to the end of his life. Such careful provision ensured continuity and faithfulness in serving the LORD.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 1 Chr 23:24These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.
- Ps 72:20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
- 2 Sam 23:1Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
- 1 Chr 23:3Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 23:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.