List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.
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.
- 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.
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 who enter into the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Tim 1:18This instruction I commit to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you may wage the good warfare;
- 2 Cor 10:3–5For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh;
- 2 Cor 6:7in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
- Gal 5:24Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
- Isa 63:1–4Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Who this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
- Gal 5:17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
- 1 Chr 23:24These were the sons of Levi after their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’ houses of those who were counted individually, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of Yahweh’s house, from twenty years old and upward.
- 1 Cor 9:7What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?
- 2 Tim 2:3–4You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- Eph 6:10–19Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
- 1 Chr 23:27For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were counted, from twenty years old and upward.
- Rom 7:14–24For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin.
- 2 Tim 4:7I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.
- 1 Chr 23:3The Levites were counted from thirty years old and upward; and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.
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 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.