Numbers 3:39
New International Version
The total number of Levites counted at the LORD’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.

New Living Translation
When Moses and Aaron counted the Levite clans at the LORD’s command, the total number was 22,000 males one month old or older.

English Standard Version
All those listed among the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron listed at the commandment of the LORD, by clans, all the males from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

Berean Standard Bible
The 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.

King James Bible
All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

New King James Version
All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all the males from a month old and above, were twenty-two thousand.

New American Standard Bible
All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the command of the LORD by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

NASB 1995
All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the command of the LORD by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

NASB 1977
All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the command of the LORD by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

Legacy Standard Bible
All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the command of Yahweh by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

Amplified Bible
All the men of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the command of the LORD, by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

Christian Standard Bible
The total number of all the Levite males one month old or more that Moses and Aaron registered by their clans at the LORD’s command was 22,000.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The total number of all the Levite males one month old or more that Moses and Aaron registered by their clans at the LORD’s command was 22,000.

American Standard Version
All that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Jehovah, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

Contemporary English Version
So Moses and Aaron obeyed the LORD and counted the Levites by their clans. The total number of Levites at least one month old was 22,000.

English Revised Version
All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The grand total of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD's command, by families, every male who was at least one month old, was 22,000.

Good News Translation
The total number of all the Levite males one month old or older that Moses enrolled by clans at the command of the LORD, was 22,000.

International Standard Version
As the LORD had instructed, everyone counted by Moses and Aaron from the descendants of Levi, according to their tribe, all males from a month old and above numbered 22,000.

Majority Standard Bible
The 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.

NET Bible
All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the word of the LORD, according to their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

New Heart English Bible
All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

Webster's Bible Translation
All that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

World English Bible
All who were counted of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
All those numbered of the Levites whom Moses numbered—Aaron also—by the command of YHWH, by their families, every male from a son of a month and upward, [are] twenty-two thousand.

Young's Literal Translation
All those numbered of the Levites whom Moses numbered -- Aaron also -- by the command of Jehovah, by their families, every male from a son of a month and upward, are two and twenty thousand.

Smith's Literal Translation
All they being reviewed of the Levites, which Moses reviewed and Aaron, at the mouth of Jehovah, according to their families, every male from the son of a month and above, two and twenty thousand.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
All the Levites, that Moses and Aaron numbered according to the precept of the Lord, by their families, of the male kind from one month and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

Catholic Public Domain Version
All the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by their families according to the precept of the Lord, of the male gender, from one month and above, were twenty-two thousand.

New American Bible
The total enrollment of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron enrolled at the direction of the LORD, by clans, every male a month old or more, was twenty-two thousand.

New Revised Standard Version
The total enrollment of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron enrolled at the commandment of the LORD, by their clans, all the males from a month old and upward, was twenty-two thousand.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses numbered at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
All of the number of Levi whom Moshe numbered by the word of the mouth of LORD JEHOVAH, every male from a son of a month and above: twenty and two thousand.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
All that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
All the numbering of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the word of the Lord, according to their families, every male from a month old and upwards, were two and twenty thousand.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses and Aaron
38Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death. 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.

Cross References
Exodus 12:37
The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children.

Exodus 38:26
a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.

Numbers 1:46
And all those counted totaled 603,550.

Numbers 2:32
These are the Israelites, numbered according to their families. The total of those counted in the camps, by their divisions, was 603,550.

Numbers 26:62
The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

Deuteronomy 10:8
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.

Deuteronomy 33:8-11
Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah. / He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant. / He will teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel; he will set incense before You and whole burnt offerings on Your altar. ...

1 Chronicles 6:48-49
Their fellow Levites were assigned to every kind of service of the tabernacle, the house of God. / But Aaron and his sons did all the work of the Most Holy Place. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

1 Chronicles 23:3-6
The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000. / “Of these,” said David, “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, 6,000 are to be officers and judges, / 4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.” ...

1 Chronicles 23:24-32
These 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. / For David had said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever. / So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.” ...

2 Chronicles 29:34
However, since there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings, their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites had been more diligent in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.

Ezra 2:36-39
The priests: The descendants of Jedaiah (through the house of Jeshua), 973; / the descendants of Immer, 1,052; / the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247; ...

Nehemiah 7:39-42
The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the house of Jeshua), 973; / the descendants of Immer, 1,052; / the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247; ...

Nehemiah 12:1-7
Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, / Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, / Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, ...

Matthew 2:6
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”


Treasury of Scripture

All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

Numbers 3:28
In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

Numbers 3:22
Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.

Numbers 3:11
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 4:47,48
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation, …

Numbers 26:62
And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.

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Aaron Clans Command Commandment Counted Families Including Levites Male Males Month Moses Numbered Order Thousand Throughout Total Twenty Twenty-Two Upward
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Aaron Clans Command Commandment Counted Families Including Levites Male Males Month Moses Numbered Order Thousand Throughout Total Twenty Twenty-Two Upward
Numbers 3
1. The sons of Aaron
5. The Levites are given to the priests instead of the firstborn
14. Are numbered by their families
21. The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites
27. Of the Kohathites
33. Of the Merarites
38. The place and charge of Moses and Aaron
40. The firstborn are freed by the Levites
44. The balances are refunded














The total number of Levites
The Levites were set apart for special service to God, distinct from the other tribes of Israel. The Hebrew root for "Levites" is לֵוִי (Levi), which means "joined" or "attached." This reflects their role as those who are joined to God’s service, emphasizing their unique calling and dedication. Historically, the Levites were not given a portion of land like the other tribes but were instead given cities among the tribes, signifying their role as spiritual leaders and mediators.

counted by Moses and Aaron
Moses and Aaron, as leaders appointed by God, were responsible for the census of the Levites. This highlights the importance of divinely appointed leadership in the community of faith. The act of counting signifies order and organization within the people of God, ensuring that each person and family is accounted for in the service of the Lord. The Hebrew word for "counted" is פָּקַד (paqad), which can also mean to visit or to appoint, indicating a careful and intentional process.

at the LORD’s command
The census was conducted not by human initiative but by divine command. The phrase underscores the authority and sovereignty of God in directing the affairs of His people. The Hebrew word for "command" is מִצְוָה (mitzvah), which implies a directive that is to be followed with obedience and reverence. This reflects the broader biblical theme of obedience to God’s will as a central aspect of faith.

by their clans and families
The organization of the Levites by clans and families emphasizes the importance of family and community in the biblical narrative. The Hebrew word for "clans" is מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah), and for "families" is בֵּית אָבוֹת (beit avot), meaning "house of fathers." This structure ensured that the service to God was a communal and familial responsibility, passed down through generations, highlighting the continuity of faith and service.

was 22,000
The specific number of 22,000 Levites signifies completeness and sufficiency for the tasks assigned to them. Numbers in the Bible often carry symbolic meaning, and while the exact significance of 22,000 is not explicitly stated, it reflects God’s provision and the adequacy of the Levites for their sacred duties. This number also serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in providing for His people and ensuring that His work is accomplished through them.

(39) And Aaron . . . --In the Hebrew text the word Aaron has certain marks over it, known as puncta extraordinaria, denoting that it is to be regarded as spurious or doubtful. It is omitted in the Samaritan and Syriac versions and in a few MSS. There appears. however, to be no sufficient reason for its rejection from the text.

Twenty and two thousand.--The total of the three several items--viz., 7,500, 8,600, and 6,200--amounts to 22,300. It appears, however, from Numbers 3:46 that the total is correctly given as 22,000, inasmuch as the number of the firstborn, 22,273, exceeded that of the Levites by 273. It has been suggested that in Numbers 3:28 we should read ??? (shalosh), three, for ?? (shesh), six--i.e., 8,300 instead of 8,600; or, if the numbers were denoted, as it has been commonly supposed, by the letters of the alphabet, it is quite possible that one letter may have been substituted by the scribe for another. Some suppose that the three hundred were themselves firstborn sons, who had been born since the command to sanctify the firstborn, and that it is on this account that they were not included in the census. (See Bishop Wordsworth's Notes in loc., where the reasons which may be assigned for the extreme paucity of this tribe, as compared with the other tribes, are discussed.) The later census, which also included the children from a month old and upwards, shows but a very small increase in the number of this tribe, the number on that occasion amounting only to 23,000 (Numbers 26:62).

Verse 39. - Twenty and two thousand. It is obvious that there is a discrepancy between this total and its three component numbers, which make 22,300. It is so obvious that it must have been innocent; no one deliberately falsifying or forging would have left so palpable a discrepancy on the face of the narrative. It may, therefore, have arisen from an error in transcription (the alteration of a single letter would suffice); or it may be due to the fact that, for some reason not stated, 300 were struck off the Levitical total for the purpose of this census. Such a reason was found by the Hebrew expositors, and has been accepted by some moderns, in the fact that the Levites were taken and counted instead of the first-born, and that, therefore, their own first-born would have to he excluded. There is nothing to be said against this explanation, except that no trace of it appears in a narrative otherwise very full and minute. The first-born of the Levites may have been just 300 (although the number is singularly small), and they may have been considered ineligible for the purpose of redeeming other first-born; but if so, why did not the sacred writer say so, instead of silently reducing the total of "all that were numbered of the Levites"?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The total
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

number
פְּקוּדֵ֨י (pə·qū·ḏê)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

of Levites
הַלְוִיִּ֜ם (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

that
אֲשֶׁר֩ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֧ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

and Aaron
וְׄאַׄהֲׄרֹ֛ׄןׄ‪‬ (wə·’a·hă·rōn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

registered
פָּקַ֨ד (pā·qaḏ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

by their clans
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם (lə·miš·pə·ḥō·ṯām)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people

at
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the LORD’s
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

command,
פִּ֥י (pî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

including all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the males
זָכָר֙ (zā·ḵār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2145: Remembered, a male

a month old
מִבֶּן־ (mib·ben-)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

or more,
וָמַ֔עְלָה (wā·ma‘·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4605: The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top

was 22,000.
שְׁנַ֥יִם (šə·na·yim)
Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)


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OT Law: Numbers 3:39 All who were numbered of the Levites (Nu Num.)
Numbers 3:38
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