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.
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.”
- BSB “Number the Levites by their families and clans. You are to count every male a month old or more.”
- 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 26:62And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
- 2 Tim 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- Mark 10:14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
- Prov 8:17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
- Num 3:39–40All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.
- Num 18:15–16Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
- Num 3:28In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.
- Jer 2:2Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
- Num 3:34And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.
- Num 3:22Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.
- Num 3:43And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.
- Jer 31:3The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
- Num 1:47But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
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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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