Numbers 8 · Verse 24

Numbers 8:24

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:
Numbers 8:24, King James Version

Numbers 8:24 in other translations

BSB“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.
WEB“This is what is assigned 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;
ASVThis 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:
YLT‘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,
DARBYThis 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.
BBEThis is the rule for the Levites: those of twenty-five years old and over are to go in and do the work of the Tent of meeting;
WebsterThis 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:

What does Numbers 8:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 From twenty and five years old - See the note on Num 4:3, where the two terms of twenty-five and thirty years are reconciled.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 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…

Read the full comment on Numbers 8:5-26 →

Numbers 8:24 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.

זֹ֖אתzotthisH2063
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sher[is that] whichH834
לַלְוִיִּ֑םlal.vi.Yim[is] to the LevitesH3881
מִבֶּן֩mi.Benfrom a son ofH1121
חָמֵ֨שׁcha.MeshfiveH2568
וְעֶשְׂרִ֤יםve.'es.Rimand twentyH6242
שָׁנָה֙sha.Nahyear[s]H8141
וָמַ֔עְלָהva.Ma'.lahand up -wardsH4605
יָבוֹא֙ya.Vo'he will goH935
לִצְבֹ֣אlitz.Vo'to serveH6633
צָבָ֔אtza.Va'serviceH6635
בַּעֲבֹדַ֖תba.'a.vo.Datin [the] service ofH5656
אֹ֥הֶל'O.hel[the] tent ofH168
מוֹעֵֽד\׃mo.'EdmeetingH4150

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

Cross references for Numbers 8:24

  • 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.

  • 1 Chronicles 23:3

    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.

  • 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 2:3-5

    Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:4

    (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

  • 1 Corinthians 9:7

    Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

  • 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.

  • 1 Chronicles 23:24-27

    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:

  • 1 Timothy 6:12

    Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

  • 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;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
from twenty.In ch. 4:3, the Levites are appointed to the service of the tabernacle at the age of 30 years; and in 1 Ch 23:24, they are ordered to commence their work at 20 years of age. In order to reconcile this apparent discrepancy, it is to be observed, 1. At the time of which Moses speaks in ch. 4:3, the Levitical service was exceedingly severe, and consequently required full grown, robust men, to perform it; the age of 30 was therefore appointed as the period for commencing this service, the weightier part of which was probably there intended. 2. In this place God seems to speak of the service in a general way: hence the age of 25 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 20 years was the age appointed.
4:3,23; 1Ch 23:3,24-27; 28:12,13
wait upon. Heb. war the warfare of, etc.
1Co 9:7; 2Co 10:4; 1Ti 1:18; 6:12; 2Ti 2:3-5

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

Context

  • Numbers 8:23

    And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

  • Numbers 8:24

    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:

  • Numbers 8:25

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

Read all of Numbers 8

Numbers 8:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Esto cuanto á los Levitas: de veinte y cinco años arriba entrarán á hacer su oficio en el servicio del tabernáculo del testimonio:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		C’est ici ce qui concerne les Lévites: Depuis l’âge de 25 ans et au-dessus, le Lévite entrera en service pour être employé à la tente d’assignation;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dies ist es, was die Leviten betrifft: Von 25 Jahren an und darüber soll er eintreten, um die Arbeit zu tun im Dienste des Zeltes der Zusammenkunft.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæc est lex Levitarum: a viginti quinque annis et supra, ingredientur ut ministrent in tabernaculo fœderis.