from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting;
Parallel translations
- WEB from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting.
- KJV From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:
- BSB everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
- ESV from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty, for service in the tent of meeting;
- NASB from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who could enter the service for work in the tent of meeting.
- NLT The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 Kohathites were counted from thirty to fifty years old for tabernacle service. The census followed exactly the standard God set.
Overview
The recorded numbering matches the earlier command precisely, demonstrating careful obedience. Counting those in their years of strength ensured the demanding sacred work would be properly staffed. Such exactness reflects the value God places on faithful adherence to His instructions.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Num 4:23you 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Luke 3:23Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
- Num 4:30you shall count them from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who enters on the service, to do the work of the Tent of Meeting.
- Num 4:39from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting,
- Num 8:24–26“This is that which belongs to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall go in to wait on the service in the work of the Tent of Meeting;
- Num 4:43from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting,
- 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.
- Num 4:47from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered in to do the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens in the Tent of Meeting,
- 1 Chr 28:13also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of Yahweh’s house, and for all the vessels of service in Yahweh’s house;
- 1 Chr 23:26–27Also the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its vessels for its service.”
- 1 Tim 3:6not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
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 4:35 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.