Numbers 8:24
◄  Numbers 8:24  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting,

New Living Translation (©2007)
"This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five,

English Standard Version (©2001)
“This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the tent of meeting.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
In regard to the Levites: From 25 years old or more, a man enters the service in the work at the tent of meeting.

International Standard Version (©2012)
"Now regarding a descendant of Levi who is 25 years and above, he is to enter work in the service at the appointed place of meeting,

NET Bible (©2006)
"This is what pertains to the Levites: At the age of twenty-five years and upward one may begin to join the company in the work of the tent of meeting,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"These are the instructions for the Levites: Men 25 years old or older are eligible to serve at the tent of meeting.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
This is what pertains to the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of meeting:

American King James Version
This is it that belongs to the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait on the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

American Standard Version
This is that which belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service in the work of the tent of meeting:

Douay-Rheims Bible
This is the law of the Levites: From twenty-five years old and upwards, they shall go in to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.

Darby Bible Translation
This is that which concerneth the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward shall he come to labour in the work of the service of the tent of meeting.

English Revised Version
This is that which belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service in the work of the tent of meeting:

Webster's Bible Translation
This is it that belongeth to the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

World English Bible
"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;

Young's Literal Translation
This is that which is the Levites': from a son of five and twenty years and upward he doth go in to serve the host in the service of the tent of meeting,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:5-26 Here we have directions for the solemn ordination of the Levites. All Israel must know that they took not this honour to themselves, but were called of God to it; nor was it enough that they were distinguished from others. All who are employed for God, must be dedicated to him, according to the employment. Christians must be baptized, ministers must be ordained; we must first give ourselves unto the Lord, and then our services. The Levites must be cleansed. They must be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Moses must sprinkle the water of purifying upon them. This signifies the application of the blood of Christ to our souls by faith, that we may be fit to serve the living God. God declares his acceptance of them. All who expect to share in the privileges of the tabernacle, must resolve to do the service of the tabernacle. As, on the one hand, none of God's creatures are his necessary servants, he needs not the service of any of them; so none are merely honorary servants, to do nothing. All whom God owns, he employs; angels themselves have their services.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 24. - From twenty and five years old and upward. A short time before the minimum age had been fixed at thirty (Numbers 4:3). That direction, however, concerned the transport of the tabernacle and its belongings; this was a permanent regulation designed for the ordinary labours of the sanctuary at a time when the Levites would be scattered throughout their cities, and could only serve by courses. For the latter purpose many more would be required; and indeed they were found insufficient as it was in the latter days of David, when the wealth and devotion of the kingdom were fast increasing (see on 1 Chronicles 23:24-27). To wait upon the service. Literally, "to war the warfare;" the idea of the militia sacra is kept up.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

This is it that belongeth unto the Levites,.... The fixed and settled time for their service, as is after related:

from twenty and five years old and upward, they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; in Numbers 4:3; the time for the Levites entering on the work of the tabernacle is fixed to thirty years and upward, which Jarchi reconciles thus; at twenty five years old the Levite goes in to learn the rites of service, and he learns five years, and when thirty years of age he services; the same is observed by others (w); but what Aben Ezra proposes seems much better; at thirty years of age a Levite entered into the service of bearing and carrying burdens; and at twenty five years of age he entered into the service of the tent or tabernacle, where he was employed in lighter service, such as opening and shutting the doors of the sanctuary, keeping out strangers and unclean persons, and singing the songs of the sanctuary; but was not concerned till thirty years of age in carrying the vessels of the sanctuary on the shoulders, as the Kohathites; or in taking down and setting up the tabernacle, loading and unloading the wagons, as the Gershonites and Merarites; which is the business assigned unto them, and spoken of in Numbers 4:22, where the age of thirty years, and upward, is mentioned, as the time of their entrance on it, Numbers 4:23.

(w) Ben Gersom in loc. Bartenora in Pirke Abot, c. 5. sect. 21.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

24. from twenty and five years old, &c.—(Compare Nu 4:3). They entered on their work in their twenty-fifth year, as pupils and probationers, under the superintendence and direction of their senior brethren; and at thirty they were admitted to the full discharge of their official functions.

Numbers 8:24 Parallel Commentaries

Numbers 8:24 NIV
Numbers 8:24 NLT
Numbers 8:24 ESV
Numbers 8:24 NASB
Numbers 8:24 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Retirement for Levites
23And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24This is it that belongs to the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait on the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: 25And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting on the service thereof, and shall serve no more:

Numbers 1:53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law."
Numbers 4:3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.
Numbers 4:30 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.
Numbers 4:43 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting,
Numbers 8:23 The LORD said to Moses,
Numbers 8:25 but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer.
1 Chronicles 23:3 The Levites thirty years old or more were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand.
1 Chronicles 23:24 These were the descendants of Levi by their families--the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the temple of the LORD.