🔢WEB · Numbers 4:36
What does Numbers 4:36 mean?
"Those who were counted of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty."
— Numbers 4:36 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the Tent of Meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”
Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation counted the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ houses,
from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting.
Those who were counted of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty.
These are those who were counted of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
Those who were counted of the sons of Gershon, their families, and by their fathers’ houses,
from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting,
Explanation
Numbers 4:36 reports a specific number from a military-style census: two thousand seven hundred fifty men. On its own, this verse is simply the tally of a headcount, but its meaning comes from the surrounding chapter, which explains who was being counted and why.
The book of Numbers records events from Israel's wilderness journey after the exodus from Egypt, traditionally attributed to Moses. In chapter 4, Moses and Aaron are commanded by God to count the men of the Levite clan of Kohath between the ages of thirty and fifty. The Levites were the tribe set
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.