from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
Parallel translations
- WEB you shall count them from thirty years old and upward until fifty years old; all who enter in to wait on the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.
- KJV From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
- NKJV From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number them, all who enter to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting.
- NASB from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old you shall count them: all who can enter to perform service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.
- NLT List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.
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
The Gershonites were counted from thirty to fifty years old, the age for active tabernacle service. The same standard of mature readiness applied to them.
Overview
This consistent age range across the Levite clans marks the years of full strength suited to demanding sacred labor. It shows God's even-handed ordering of His servants' duties. Such fairness and structure reflect the character of a God who calls each person to serve in a fitting season of life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Num 4:3men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Tim 1:18Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
- 2 Cor 10:3–5For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.
- 2 Cor 6:7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
- Gal 5:24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- Isa 63:1–4Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”
- Gal 5:17For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
- 1 Chr 23:24These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD.
- 1 Cor 9:7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?
- 2 Tim 2:3–4Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- Eph 6:10–19Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- 1 Chr 23:27For according to the final instructions of David, the Levites twenty years of age or older were counted,
- Rom 7:14–24We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
- 2 Tim 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- 1 Chr 23:3The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000.
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 4:23 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.