“Number the Levites by their families and clans. You are to count every male a month old or more.”
Parallel translations
- WEB “Count the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families. You shall count every male from a month old and upward.”
- KJV Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
- NKJV “Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; you shall number every male from a month old and above.”
- NASB “Count the sons of Levi by their fathers’ households, by their families; every male from a month old and upward you shall count.”
- NLT “Record the names of the members of the tribe of Levi by their families and clans. List every male who is one month old or older.”
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
Moses was to count every male Levite from one month old and upward. Unlike the army census, even infants were included because all belonged to God.
Overview
The Levite census counted males from a month old, the age at which an Israelite firstborn would be redeemed, rather than from twenty as in the military count. This reflects that the whole tribe, not just its warriors, served as the substitute for Israel's firstborn. Every Levite life, from infancy, was claimed for God's service, showing the comprehensive nature of His ownership.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Num 26:62The 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.
- 2 Tim 3:15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- Mark 10:14But 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.
- Prov 8:17I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
- Num 3:39–40The total number of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD’s command, including all the males a month old or more, was 22,000.
- Num 18:15–16The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.
- Num 3:28The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. They were responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.
- Jer 2:2“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.
- Num 3:34The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200.
- Num 3:22The number of all the males a month old or more was 7,500.
- Num 3:43The total number of the firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.
- Jer 31:3The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.
- Num 1:47The Levites, however, were not numbered along with them by the tribe of their fathers.
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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 3:15 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
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