Numbers 4:49
New International Version
At the LORD’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the LORD commanded Moses.

New Living Translation
When their names were recorded, as the LORD had commanded through Moses, each man was assigned his task and told what to carry. And so the registration was completed, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

English Standard Version
According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Berean Standard Bible
At the LORD’s command through Moses they were numbered, and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

King James Bible
According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

New King James Version
According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, each according to his service and according to his task; thus were they numbered by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

New American Standard Bible
According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses, they were counted, everyone by his serving or carrying; so these were his numbered men, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

NASB 1995
According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses, they were numbered, everyone by his serving or carrying; thus these were his numbered men, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

NASB 1977
According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses, they were numbered, everyone by his serving or carrying; thus these were his numbered men, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Legacy Standard Bible
According to the word of Yahweh by the hand of Moses, they were numbered, everyone by his serving or carrying; thus these were his numbered men, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

Amplified Bible
According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses, they were numbered, each assigned to his work of serving and carrying. Thus they were numbered by him, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Christian Standard Bible
At the LORD’s command they were registered under the direction of Moses, each one according to his work and transportation duty, and his assignment was as the LORD commanded Moses.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
At the LORD’s command they were registered under the direction of Moses, each one according to his work and transportation duty, and his assignment was as the LORD commanded Moses.

American Standard Version
According to the commandment of Jehovah they were numbered by Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

English Revised Version
According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
At the LORD's command through Moses each man was registered and told what to do and what to carry. So they were registered as the LORD commanded Moses.

Good News Translation
Each man was registered as the LORD had commanded Moses; and at the command of the LORD given through Moses, each man was assigned responsibility for his task of serving or carrying.

International Standard Version
They were numbered under the supervision of Moses according to what the LORD had said. Each person was assigned a responsibility to carry out, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Majority Standard Bible
At the LORD?s command through Moses they were numbered, and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

NET Bible
According to the word of the LORD they were numbered, by the authority of Moses, each according to his service and according to what he was to carry. Thus were they numbered by him, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

New Heart English Bible
According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by Moses, everyone according to his service, and according to his burden. Thus were they numbered by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Webster's Bible Translation
According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

World English Bible
According to the commandment of Yahweh they were counted by Moses, everyone according to his service and according to his burden. Thus they were counted by him, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
he has numbered them by the command of YHWH, by the hand of Moses, each man by his service, and by his burden, with his numbered ones, as YHWH has commanded Moses.

Young's Literal Translation
by the command of Jehovah hath one numbered them, by the hand of Moses, each man by his service, and by his burden, with his numbered ones, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

Smith's Literal Translation
At the mouth of Jehovah he reviewed them by the hand of Moses, a man, a man for his works and for his lifting up: and they were reviewed which Jehovah commanded Moses.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Moses reckoned them up according to the word of the Lord, every one according to their office and burdens, as the Lord had commanded him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Moses took a census of them, according to the word of the Lord, each one according to their office and their burdens, just as the Lord had instructed him.

New American Bible
As the LORD directed through Moses, they gave each of them their assignments for service and for transport; just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

New Revised Standard Version
According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were appointed to their several tasks of serving or carrying; thus they were enrolled by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service and according to his burden; thus they were numbered as the LORD commanded Moses.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
By the word of the mouth of LORD JEHOVAH they numbered them by the agency of Moshe, each man for his service and for his removing, and he numbered them as LORD JEHOVAH commanded Moshe.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
According to the commandment of the LORD they were appointed by the hand of Moses, every one to his service, and to his burden; they were also numbered, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He reviewed them by the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses, appointing each man severally over their respective work, and over their burdens; and they were numbered, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Numbering of the Levite Clans
48And the number of men was 8,580. 49At the LORD’s command they were numbered through Moses and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Cross References
Exodus 38:21
This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

Numbers 1:50-53
Instead, you are to appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its articles, care for it, and camp around it. / Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death. / The Israelites are to camp by their divisions, each man in his own camp and under his own standard. ...

Numbers 3:16
So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he had been commanded.

Numbers 8:24-26
“This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years of age or older shall enter to perform the service in the work at the Tent of Meeting. / But at the age of fifty, they must retire from performing the work and no longer serve. / After that, they may assist their brothers in fulfilling their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves are not to do the work. This is how you are to assign responsibilities to the Levites.”

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.” ...

1 Chronicles 9:28-32
Some of them were in charge of the articles used in worship, to count them whenever they were brought in or taken out. / Others were put in charge of the furnishings and other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices. / And some of the sons of the priests mixed the spices. ...

2 Chronicles 31:17
and to the priests enrolled according to their families in the genealogy, as well as to the Levites twenty years of age or older, according to their responsibilities and divisions.

Ezra 8:20
They also brought 220 of the temple servants, all designated by name. David and the officials had appointed them to assist the Levites.

Nehemiah 12:44-47
And on that same day men were appointed over the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. The portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites were gathered into these storerooms from the fields of the villages, because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who were serving. / They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. / For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. ...

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. / There are different ministries, but the same Lord. / There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. ...

1 Corinthians 12:28-31
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. / Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? / Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ...

Ephesians 4:11-12
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, / to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,

Romans 12:4-8
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, / so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another. / We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; ...

1 Peter 4:10-11
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. / If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 9:6
When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.


Treasury of Scripture

According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

according to the

Numbers 4:37,41,45
These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses…

Numbers 1:54
And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

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

every one

Numbers 4:16,24,31
And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof…

Isaiah 11:2-4
And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; …

Isaiah 42:1-7
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles…

and the Lord

Numbers 4:1,21
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, …

Jump to Previous
Appointed Assigned Burden Carry Carrying Command Commanded Commandment Counted Hand Lord's Moses Numbered Ones Part Relation Service Serving Task Transport Work
Jump to Next
Appointed Assigned Burden Carry Carrying Command Commanded Commandment Counted Hand Lord's Moses Numbered Ones Part Relation Service Serving Task Transport Work
Numbers 4
1. The age at which the Levites were to serve, and the duration of the service
4. The duty of the Kohathites
16. The charge of Eleazar
17. The office of the priests
21. The duty of the Gershonites
29. Of the Merarites
34. The number of the Kohathites
38. Of the Gershonites
42. And of the Merarites














At the LORD’s command
This phrase underscores the divine authority and initiative behind the census and organization of the Levites. The Hebrew word for "command" is "מִצְוָה" (mitzvah), which implies a directive or ordinance from God. This highlights the importance of obedience to God's instructions, reflecting a central theme in the Pentateuch where God's commands are to be followed precisely. The Levites' service was not a human invention but a divine mandate, emphasizing the sacredness of their duties.

they were numbered
The act of numbering, or taking a census, in Hebrew is "פָּקַד" (paqad), which can also mean to appoint or assign. This was not merely a counting exercise but a divine appointment of roles and responsibilities. In the context of the Israelites, numbering often signified preparation for service or battle, indicating that each Levite had a specific role in the service of the Tabernacle, which was central to Israel's worship and community life.

through Moses
Moses, as the mediator between God and the Israelites, played a crucial role in executing God's commands. His leadership is a testament to his faithfulness and obedience. Moses' involvement signifies the importance of godly leadership in carrying out divine instructions. It also reflects the hierarchical structure God established, with Moses as the leader who communicates God's will to the people.

each one according to his service and carrying task
This phrase highlights the organized and purposeful nature of the Levites' duties. The Hebrew word for "service" is "עֲבֹדָה" (avodah), which denotes work or labor, often with a sacred connotation. "Carrying task" refers to the specific responsibilities assigned to the Levites concerning the transportation of the Tabernacle. This division of labor ensured that the Tabernacle, the dwelling place of God's presence, was handled with care and reverence. It also illustrates the principle that God assigns specific roles to individuals within His community, each contributing to the whole.

thus they were registered
The registration of the Levites was a formal acknowledgment of their roles. The Hebrew root "כָּתַב" (kathab) means to write or record, indicating that their duties were officially documented. This registration was not only for organizational purposes but also served as a reminder of their covenantal relationship with God, who had chosen them for this sacred service.

as the LORD had commanded Moses
This closing phrase reiterates the divine origin of the instructions and the importance of adherence to God's commands. It emphasizes the theme of obedience and faithfulness that runs throughout the book of Numbers. The repetition of God's command underscores the seriousness with which these instructions were to be taken, reflecting the broader biblical principle that God's ways are to be followed precisely and faithfully.

Verse 49. - Thus were they numbered of him. Literally, "and his mustering." It may have the meaning given to it in the A.V. (and so the Septuagint and Targums), or it may be translated "mustered things," i.e., things assigned to him in the mustering, and read with the previous words, "Every one to his service, and to his burden, and his mustered things."



Parallel Commentaries ...


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

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

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

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

through
בְּיַד־ (bə·yaḏ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

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

and each one
אִ֥ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

was assigned
וּפְקֻדָ֕יו (ū·p̄ə·qu·ḏāw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

his work
עֲבֹדָת֖וֹ (‘ă·ḇō·ḏā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5656: Work of any kind

and burden,
מַשָּׂא֑וֹ (maś·śā·’ōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4853: A burden, tribute, porterage, an utterance, chiefly a, doom, singing, mental, desire

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

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

had commanded
צִוָּ֥ה (ṣiw·wāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

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


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OT Law: Numbers 4:49 According to the commandment of Yahweh they (Nu Num.)
Numbers 4:48
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