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.
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.
- BSB from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
- 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 4:3From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
- 1 Tim 1:18This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
- 2 Cor 10:3–5For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
- 2 Cor 6:7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
- Gal 5:24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
- Isa 63:1–4Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
- Gal 5:17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
- 1 Chr 23:24These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.
- 1 Cor 9:7Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
- 2 Tim 2:3–4Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
- Eph 6:10–19Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
- 1 Chr 23:27For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:
- Rom 7:14–24For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
- 2 Tim 4:7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
- 1 Chr 23:3Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.
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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 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
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