Numbers 1:47
New International Version
The ancestral tribe of the Levites, however, was not counted along with the others.

New Living Translation
But this total did not include the Levites.

English Standard Version
But the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe.

Berean Standard Bible
The Levites, however, were not numbered along with them by the tribe of their fathers.

King James Bible
But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

New King James Version
But the Levites were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe;

New American Standard Bible
The Levites, however, were not counted among them by their fathers’ tribe.

NASB 1995
The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe.

NASB 1977
The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe.

Legacy Standard Bible
The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe.

Amplified Bible
The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe.

Christian Standard Bible
But the Levites were not registered with them by their ancestral tribe.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the Levites were not registered with them by their ancestral tribe.

American Standard Version
But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

Contemporary English Version
But those from the Levi tribe were not included

English Revised Version
But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the households from the tribe of [Levi] were not registered along with the other Israelites.

Good News Translation
The Levites were not registered with the other tribes,

International Standard Version
The descendants of Levi were not counted according to their ancestral houses

Majority Standard Bible
The Levites, however, were not numbered along with them by the tribe of their fathers.

NET Bible
But the Levites, according to the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them.

New Heart English Bible
But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

Webster's Bible Translation
But the Levites, after the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them.

World English Bible
But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not counted among them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the Levites, for the tribe of their fathers, have not numbered themselves in their midst,

Young's Literal Translation
And the Levites, for the tribe of their fathers, have not numbered themselves in their midst,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Levites for the tribe of their fathers were not reviewed in the midst of them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the Levites in the tribes of their families were not numbered with them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the Levites in the tribes of their families were not numbered with them.

New American Bible
Now the Levites were not enrolled by their ancestral tribe with the others.

New Revised Standard Version
The Levites, however, were not numbered by their ancestral tribe along with them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
¶But the Levites and the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Levites and the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But the Levites of the tribe of their family were not counted among the children of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Exemption of the Levites
47The Levites, however, were not numbered along with them by the tribe of their fathers. 48For the LORD had said to Moses:…

Cross References
Exodus 28:1
“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.

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.

Joshua 18:7
The Levites, however, have no portion among you, because their inheritance is the priesthood of the LORD. And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already received the inheritance that Moses the servant of the LORD gave them beyond the Jordan to the east.”

1 Chronicles 23:13
The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.

Hebrews 7:13-14
He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. / For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Deuteronomy 18:1-2
The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the food offerings to the LORD; that is their inheritance. / Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.

Numbers 3:5-10
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. / They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle. ...

Numbers 8:14-19
In this way you shall separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and the Levites will belong to Me. / After you have cleansed them and presented them as a wave offering, they may come to serve at the Tent of Meeting. / For the Levites have been wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself in place of all who come first from the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel. ...

Numbers 18:20-24
Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. / Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting. / No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die. ...

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.

Malachi 2:4-7
Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts. / “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, which I gave to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. / True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. ...

Hebrews 5:1-4
Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. / He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness. / That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ...

Hebrews 9:6-7
When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. / But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Revelation 1:6
who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.


Treasury of Scripture

But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

Numbers 1:3,50
From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies…

Numbers 2:33
But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 3:1
These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.

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Ancestral Counted Families Fathers However Levi Midst Numbered Others Themselves Tribe
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Ancestral Counted Families Fathers However Levi Midst Numbered Others Themselves Tribe
Numbers 1
1. God commands Moses to number the people
5. The princes of the tribes
17. The number of every tribe
47. The Levites are exempted for the service of the Lord














The Levites, however, were not numbered
The Levites
The Levites were one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. In the Hebrew context, the name "Levi" is associated with the idea of being joined or attached, which is fitting given the Levites' role in being set apart for service to God. Historically, the Levites were chosen for their faithfulness during the incident of the golden calf (Exodus 32:26-29). They were given the responsibility of the tabernacle and later the temple, serving as priests and caretakers of the holy things. This special role highlights the importance of dedication and service to God, reminding believers of the call to be set apart for divine purposes.

however
This word introduces a contrast to the preceding verses where the other tribes of Israel were numbered. The use of "however" signifies a deliberate exception, emphasizing the unique status of the Levites. In a broader theological sense, it underscores the principle that God's ways and choices often defy human expectations and norms. The Levites' exclusion from the census is a reminder that God's kingdom operates on principles of divine selection and purpose, not merely human logic or strength.

were not numbered
The act of numbering, or taking a census, was typically associated with military organization and readiness for battle. The Hebrew root for "numbered" is "paqad," which can mean to count, muster, or appoint. The Levites' exclusion from this census indicates their distinct role; they were not to be warriors but worshippers and servants in the tabernacle. This distinction serves as a powerful reminder of the diverse roles within the body of Christ, where not all are called to the same function, but each has a vital part to play in God's plan. It also reflects the idea that spiritual service and worship are as crucial to the community of faith as physical strength and defense.

Verse 47. - Not numbered among them. They were numbered (Numbers 3:39), but not among the rest; their census was taken separately, and on a different basis.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The Levites, however,
וְהַלְוִיִּ֖ם (wə·hal·wî·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

were not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

registered
הָתְפָּקְד֖וּ (hā·ṯə·pā·qə·ḏū)
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

with
בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ (bə·ṯō·w·ḵām)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

the tribe
לְמַטֵּ֣ה (lə·maṭ·ṭêh)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

of their fathers.
אֲבֹתָ֑ם (’ă·ḇō·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father


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OT Law: Numbers 1:47 But the Levites after the tribe (Nu Num.)
Numbers 1:46
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