those who were numbered of the tribe of Reuben were forty-six thousand five hundred.
Parallel translations
- WEB those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty-six thousand five hundred.
- KJV Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
- BSB those registered to the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.
- NASB their numbered men of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.
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
Quick answer
Reuben's fighting men number 46,500. The first tribe's strength is recorded.
Overview
The specific total for Reuben begins the tribal tallies that demonstrate God's faithfulness in multiplying Israel from a small family into a great nation, as promised to Abraham (Gen. 15:5). The numbers also reveal the considerable military force God was preparing for the conquest. Each figure testifies to God's covenant blessing of fruitfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Num 26:7These are the families of the Reubenites; and those who were counted of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty.
- Num 2:10–11“On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
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
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 1:21 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.