Numbers 8:25
New International Version
but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer.

New Living Translation
and they must retire at the age of fifty.

English Standard Version
And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more.

Berean Standard Bible
But at the age of fifty, they must retire from performing the work and no longer serve.

King James Bible
And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:

New King James Version
and at the age of fifty years they must cease performing this work, and shall work no more.

New American Standard Bible
But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work anymore.

NASB 1995
“But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more.

NASB 1977
“But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more.

Legacy Standard Bible
But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from their duty in the service and not serve anymore.

Amplified Bible
but at the age of fifty years, they shall retire from the service of the [tabernacle] work and serve no longer.

Christian Standard Bible
But at fifty years old he is to retire from his service in the work and no longer serve.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But at 50 years old he is to retire from his service in the work and no longer serve.

American Standard Version
and from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the work, and shall serve no more,

English Revised Version
and from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the work, and shall serve no more;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But when they're 50 years old, they must retire from active service and not work anymore.

Good News Translation
and at the age of fifty he shall retire.

International Standard Version
but starting at 50 years of age, he is to retire from service and is no longer to work.

Majority Standard Bible
But at the age of fifty, they must retire from performing the work and no longer serve.

NET Bible
and at the age of fifty years they must retire from performing the work and may no longer work.

New Heart English Bible
and from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting on the work, and shall serve no more,

Webster's Bible Translation
And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service of it, and shall serve no more:

World English Bible
and from the age of fifty years they shall retire from doing the work, and shall serve no more,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and from a son of fifty years he returns from the host of the service, and does not serve anymore,

Young's Literal Translation
and from a son of fifty years he doth return from the host of the service, and doth not serve any more,

Smith's Literal Translation
And from the son of fifty years, he shall turn back from the warfare of the service, and shall serve no more.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they shall have accomplished the fiftieth year of their age, they shall cease to serve:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when they will have completed the fiftieth year of age, they shall cease to serve.

New American Bible
But everyone fifty on up shall retire from the work force and serve no more.

New Revised Standard Version
and from the age of fifty years they shall retire from the duty of the service and serve no more.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And from the age of fifty years they shall cease from the service and shall serve no more,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And from fifty years old he will return from power of service and he shall serve no more.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and from the age of fifty years they shall return from the service of the work, and shall serve no more;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And from fifty years old the Levites shall cease from the ministry, and shall not work any longer.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Retirement for Levites
24“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. 25But at the age of fifty, they must retire from performing the work and no longer serve. 26After 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.”…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 23:3-5
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 23:24-27
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 23:32
So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, the service of the house of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 28:13
for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all the work of service in the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD:

1 Chronicles 28:21
The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God, and every willing man of every skill will be at your disposal for the work. The officials and all the people are fully at your command.”

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 3:8
In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the construction of the house of the LORD.

Leviticus 25:50
He and his purchaser will then count the time from the year he sold himself up to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale will be determined by the number of years, based on the daily wages of a hired hand.

Leviticus 27:7
And if the person is sixty years of age or older, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels for the male and ten shekels for the female.

Job 32:6-7
So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know. / I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.

Psalm 92:14
In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,

Luke 2:37
and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

1 Timothy 5:9
A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, faithful to her husband,

1 Timothy 5:17
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? / In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.


Treasury of Scripture

And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting on the service thereof, and shall serve no more:

Numbers 4:23
From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

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Numbers 8
1. How the lamps are to be lighted
5. The consecration of the Levites
23. The age and time of their service














But at the age of fifty
The phrase "at the age of fifty" marks a significant transition in the life of a Levite. In the Hebrew context, the number fifty often symbolizes completion or fulfillment. The Jubilee year, occurring every fifty years, was a time of liberation and restoration (Leviticus 25:10). Similarly, reaching the age of fifty for a Levite signifies the completion of their active service in the tabernacle. This age was chosen by God, reflecting His wisdom in understanding the physical demands of the Levites' duties and the need for a period of rest and mentorship for the younger generation.

they must retire from their service
The directive "they must retire" underscores the importance of rest and transition in God's design for His people. The Hebrew word for "retire" (שָׁבַת, shavat) is related to the concept of Sabbath, a time of rest and cessation from labor. This retirement is not merely an end but a transition to a new phase of life. It reflects God's care for the well-being of His servants, ensuring they are not overburdened and can enjoy the fruits of their labor while still contributing in other ways.

in the work
The "work" refers to the specific duties assigned to the Levites in the tabernacle, which included tasks such as carrying the tabernacle's components, setting it up, and assisting the priests. This work was both physically demanding and spiritually significant, as it facilitated the worship and presence of God among His people. The Levites' service was a vital part of maintaining the holiness and order of the Israelite camp, and their work was a form of worship in itself.

and no longer serve
The phrase "and no longer serve" indicates a shift from active duty to a more advisory or supportive role. While the Levites were to cease their physical labor, they were not to be idle. Instead, they could use their experience and wisdom to mentor younger Levites, ensuring the continuity and integrity of the tabernacle service. This transition highlights the value of experience and the importance of passing on knowledge and skills to the next generation, a principle that resonates throughout Scripture.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But at the age
וּמִבֶּן֙ (ū·mib·ben)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of fifty,
חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים (ḥă·miš·šîm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 2572: Fifty

they must retire
יָשׁ֖וּב (yā·šūḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

from performing
מִצְּבָ֣א (miṣ·ṣə·ḇā)
Preposition-m | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

the work
הָעֲבֹדָ֑ה (hā·‘ă·ḇō·ḏāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5656: Work of any kind

and no
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

longer
עֽוֹד׃ (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

serve.
יַעֲבֹ֖ד (ya·‘ă·ḇōḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave


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OT Law: Numbers 8:25 And from the age of fifty years (Nu Num.)
Numbers 8:24
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