So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he had been commanded.
Parallel translations
- WEB Moses counted them according to Yahweh’s word, as he was commanded.
- KJV And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.
- ESV So Moses listed them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.
- NKJV So Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded.
- NASB So Moses counted them according to the word of the Lord, just as he had been commanded.
- NLT So Moses listed them, just as the Lord had commanded.
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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 counted the Levites just as the Lord commanded. His faithful obedience carried out God's exact instruction.
Overview
This notes Moses' compliance with the divine command to number the Levites. The emphasis on obedience 'according to Yahweh's word' recurs throughout Numbers as the mark of faithful leadership. Moses models the submission to God's word that should characterize all who serve Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Num 4:37These were counted from the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron numbered them according to the command of the LORD through Moses.
- Num 3:39The 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 4:41These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command.
- Num 4:49At the LORD’s command they were numbered through Moses and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
- Num 4:27All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry.
- Num 3:51And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the word of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.
- Deut 21:5And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault.
- Num 4:45These were counted from the Merarite clans, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the LORD’s command through Moses.
- Gen 45:21So the sons of Israel did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 3:16 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.