Numbers 4 · Verse 3

Numbers 4:3

From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 4:3, King James Version

Numbers 4:3 in other translations

BSB	men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
WEB	from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter into the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.
ASV	from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter upon the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.
YLT	from a son of thirty years and upward, even till a son of fifty years, every one going in to the host, to do work in the tent of meeting.
DARBY	from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, all that enter into the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.
BBE	All those from thirty to fifty years old who are able to do the work of the Tent of meeting.
Webster	From thirty years old and upward, even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

What does Numbers 4:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 4:2-3

Nu 4:1-49. Of the Levites' Service. 2-3. sons of Kohath, from thirty years old and upward--This age was specifically fixed (see on Nu 8:24) as the full maturity of bodily energy to perform the laborious duties assigned them in the wilderness, as well as of mental activity to assist in the management of the sacred services. And it was the period of life at which John the Baptist and Christ entered on their respective…

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Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 3 From thirty years old - In Num 8:24, the Levites are ordered to enter on the service of the tabernacle at the age of twenty-five years; and in 1Chr 23:24, they were ordered to commence that work at twenty years of age. How can these different times be reconciled? 1. At the time of which Moses speaks here, the Levitical service was exceedingly severe, and consequently required men full grown, strong, and stout, to perform it; the age therefore of thirty years was appointed as the period for commencing this service, the weightier part of which is probably here intended. 2. In Num 8:24, Moses seems to speak of the service in a general way; the severe, which was to be performed by the full-grown Levites, and the less laborious work which younger men might assist in: hence the age of twenty-five is fixed. 3. In David's time and afterwards, in the fixed tabernacle and temple, the laboriousness of the service no longer existed, and hence twenty years was the age fixed on for all Levites to enter into the work of the sanctuary. The rabbins say that the Levites began to learn to do the service at twenty-five, and that having been instructed five years, they began the public service at thirty, and thus they reconcile the two periods referred to above. We may well suppose that the sons of the prophets continued a considerable time under instructions before they were called fully to exercise themselves in the prophetic office. Until fifty years old - This was allowing twenty years for public severe service; a very considerate and merciful ordinance. A preacher who devotes his whole time and strength to the service of the Church of God from twenty to fifty or sixty years of age, should be then excused from his severer labor, and maintained at the charge of the sanctuary. This would not only be a great comfort to a worn-out servant of God, but also of great use to the work of the ministry, which, to be faithfully and effectually performed, requires all the powers of the body and mind of man. Old faithful ministers are to be highly respected for their work's sake, and to be supplied with all the necessaries and comforts of life; but how little can they do in the public ministry of the word, however willing to work, when their eye waxes dim and their bodily strength fails! See Num 8:25. Both for their own sakes, and for the good of the Church, they should be excused from a labor to which they must be almost every way inadequate. But notwithstanding this comparative inactivity, their counsels, advice, and experience will always be considered as a treasure to the Church of Christ

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 4:1-3

The middle-aged men of the tribe of Levi, all from thirty years old to fifty, were to be employed in the service of the tabernacle. The service of God requires the best of our strength, and the prime portion of our time, which cannot be better spent than to the honour of Him who is the First and Best. And the service of God should be done when we are most lively and active. Those do not consider this who put off…

Read the full comment on Numbers 4:1-3 →

Numbers 4:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מִבֶּ֨ןmi.Benfrom a son ofH1121

שְׁלֹשִׁ֤יםshe.lo.ShimthirtyH7970

שָׁנָה֙sha.Nahyear[s]H8141

וָמַ֔עְלָהva.Ma'.lahand up -wardsH4605

וְעַ֖דve.'Adand toH5704

בֶּן\־ben-a son ofH1121

חֲמִשִּׁ֣יםcha.mi.ShimfiftyH2572

שָׁנָ֑הsha.Nahyear[s]H8141

כָּל\־kol-everyH3605

בָּא֙ba'[one who] comesH935

לַצָּבָ֔אla.tza.Va'for the serviceH6635

לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.Sotto doH6213

מְלָאכָ֖הme.la.KhahworkH4399

בְּאֹ֥הֶלbe.'O.helin [the] tent ofH168

מוֹעֵֽד\׃mo.'EdmeetingH4150

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 4:3

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.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. …
Numbers 8:24-26
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: And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.
Luke 3:23
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
1 Chronicles 23:3-5
Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand. Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the Lord; and six thousand were officers and judges: Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.
1 Chronicles 23:24-32
These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the Lord, from the age of twenty years and upward. For David said, The Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above: …
2 Kings 11:4-12
And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the Lord, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord, and shewed them the king’s son. And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house; And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down. And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king. …
1 Chronicles 6:48
Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
1 Timothy 1:18
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
1 Chronicles 28:12-13
And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord.
Ezra 3:8
Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord.
Numbers 4:35
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

thirty years.
8:24-26; Ge 41:46; 1Ch 23:3,24-27; 28:12,13; Lu 3:23; 1Ti 3:6
enter.
2Ki 11:4-12; 2Ch 23:1-11; 2Co 10:3,4; Eph 6:10-18; 1Ti 1:18
to do.
3:7,8; 16:9; 1Ch 6:48; 23:4,5,28-32; 1Ti 3:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Numbers 4:2
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
Numbers 4:3
From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Numbers 4:4
This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:

Read all of Numbers 4

Numbers 4:3 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	De edad de treinta años arriba hasta cincuenta años, todos los que entran en compañía, para hacer servicio en el tabernáculo del testimonio.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	depuis l’âge de 30 ans et au-dessus, jusqu’à l’âge de 50 ans, tous ceux qui entrent en service pour faire l’œuvre dans la tente d’assignation.
German Elberfelder 1871	von dreißig Jahren und darüber bis zu fünfzig Jahren, alle, welche in die Arbeit treten, um das Werk am Zelte der Zusammenkunft zu verrichten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	a trigesimo anno et supra, usque ad quinquagesimum annum, omnium qui ingrediuntur ut stent et ministrent in tabernaculo fœderis.