Numbers 31:38
Numbers 31:38 in Multiple Translations
36,000 cattle, including a tribute to the LORD of 72,
And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the LORD’s tribute was threescore and twelve.
And the oxen were thirty and six thousand; of which Jehovah’s tribute was threescore and twelve.
The number of oxen was thirty-six thousand, of which the Lord's part was seventy-two;
36,000 cattle, with a Lord's contribution of 72,
And the beeues were six and thirty thousad, whereof the Lordes tribute was seuentie and two.
and the herd [is] six and thirty thousand, and their tribute to Jehovah [is] two and seventy;
The cattle were thirty-six thousand, of which the LORD’s tribute was seventy-two.
And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the LORD'S tribute was seventy two.
And out of the thirty-six thousand oxen, seventy-two oxen:
They took 36,000 cattle and gave 72 of them to Yahweh.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 31:38
BAB
Word Study
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Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Numbers 31:38 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הַ֨/בָּקָ֔ר
שִׁשָּׁ֥ה
וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים
אָ֑לֶף
וּ/מִכְסָ֥/ם
לַ/יהוָ֖ה
שְׁנַ֥יִם
וְ/שִׁבְעִֽים
וְ/הַ֨/בָּקָ֔ר
bâqâr
H1241
cattle
Conj | Art | N-cs
שִׁשָּׁ֥ה
shêsh
H8337
six
Adj
וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים
shᵉlôwshîym
H7970
thirty
Conj | Adj
אָ֑לֶף
ʼeleph
H505
thousand
Adj
וּ/מִכְסָ֥/ם
mekeç
H4371
tribute
Conj | N-ms | Suff
לַ/יהוָ֖ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
Prep | N-proper
שְׁנַ֥יִם
shᵉnayim
H8147
two
Adj
וְ/שִׁבְעִֽים
shibʻîym
H7657
seventy
Conj | Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 31:38
וְ/הַ֨/בָּקָ֔ר
bâqâr
H1241
"cattle"
Conj | Art | N-cs
Domesticated cattle or oxen, used for work or sacrifice, like the animals used in the temple sacrifices in 1 Kings 8:63.
Definition: 1) cattle, herd, oxen, ox 1a) cattle (generic pl. but sing. in form-coll) 1b) herd (particular one) 1c) head of cattle (individually)
Usage: Occurs in 172 OT verses. KJV: beeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox. See also: Genesis 12:16; Deuteronomy 8:13; Psalms 66:15.
שִׁשָּׁ֥ה
shêsh
H8337
"six"
Adj
This Hebrew word means the number six, and is often used in the Bible to describe measurements, like the six days of creation in Genesis 1.
Definition: 1) six 1a) six (cardinal number) 1b) sixth (ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers Aramaic equivalent: shet (שֵׁת "six" H8353)
Usage: Occurs in 202 OT verses. KJV: six(-teen, -teenth), sixth. See also: Genesis 7:6; 1 Kings 6:6; Proverbs 6:16.
וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים
shᵉlôwshîym
H7970
"thirty"
Conj | Adj
Thirty is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also be used as an ordinal to describe something as thirtieth. It is used to count quantities in the Bible.
Definition: thirty, thirtieth Aramaic equivalent: te.la.tin (תְּלָתִין "thirty" H8533)
Usage: Occurs in 163 OT verses. KJV: thirty, thirtieth. Compare H7991 (שָׁלִישׁ). See also: Genesis 5:3; 1 Samuel 11:8; Jeremiah 38:10.
אָ֑לֶף
ʼeleph
H505
"thousand"
Adj
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Definition: : thousand 1) a thousand 1a) as numeral 2) a thousand, company 2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
Usage: Occurs in 390 OT verses. KJV: thousand. See also: Genesis 20:16; Joshua 3:4; 2 Kings 18:23.
וּ/מִכְסָ֥/ם
mekeç
H4371
"tribute"
Conj | N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means a tax or tribute, often based on a census, and is used in the Bible to describe the payments made to kings and governments. It appears in books like Kings and Chronicles. The concept is still relevant today.
Definition: computation, proportion to be paid, tribute, tax
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: tribute. See also: Numbers 31:28; Numbers 31:39; Numbers 31:41.
לַ/יהוָ֖ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
Prep | N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
שְׁנַ֥יִם
shᵉnayim
H8147
"two"
Adj
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Definition: 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)
Usage: Occurs in 646 OT verses. KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. See also: Genesis 1:16; Exodus 30:4; Numbers 13:23.
וְ/שִׁבְעִֽים
shibʻîym
H7657
"seventy"
Conj | Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means the number seventy, like the seventy disciples Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1. It appears in phrases like threescore and ten. The KJV Bible uses it to describe groups of seventy people.
Definition: seventy
Usage: Occurs in 90 OT verses. KJV: seventy, threescore and ten ([phrase] -teen). See also: Genesis 4:24; Judges 9:2; Psalms 90:10.
Study Notes — Numbers 31:38
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Division of the Spoils
36This was the half portion for those who had gone to war: 337,500 sheep,
37including a tribute to the LORD of 675,
3836,000 cattle, including a tribute to the LORD of 72,
3930,500 donkeys, including a tribute to the LORD of 61, 40and 16,000 people, including a tribute to the LORD of 32.Numbers 31:38 Summary
This verse is talking about the Israelites giving some of their cattle to God as a way of saying thank you for helping them win a war. They gave 72 cattle to God, which was a small part of the 36,000 cattle they had. This shows that the Israelites recognized that God was the one who had given them the victory and the cattle, and they wanted to honor Him by giving some of it back (see Psalm 24:1). By giving to God, we can show our gratitude and trust in His provision, just like the Israelites did (see Malachi 3:8-12).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the cattle mentioned in Numbers 31:38?
The cattle represented the wealth and provision of the Israelites, and the tribute to the LORD of 72 cattle signified their gratitude and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over their possessions, as seen in Deuteronomy 26:1-11 and Leviticus 27:30-32.
Why did the Israelites give a tribute to the LORD from their spoils of war?
The Israelites gave a tribute to the LORD as an act of worship and obedience, recognizing that their victories were a result of God's power and provision, as stated in Numbers 31:1-54 and Deuteronomy 20:1-4.
How does this verse relate to the concept of tithing in the Bible?
The tribute given to the LORD in Numbers 31:38 is an example of the Israelites' practice of giving a portion of their increase back to God, which is a principle that is also seen in the concept of tithing in Malachi 3:8-12 and Leviticus 27:30-32.
What can we learn from the Israelites' practice of giving a tribute to the LORD?
We can learn the importance of acknowledging God's sovereignty over our lives and possessions, and of giving back to Him as an act of worship and gratitude, as seen in Psalm 24:1 and 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Reflection Questions
- How can I acknowledge God's sovereignty over my life and possessions in a practical way, like the Israelites did in Numbers 31:38?
- What are some ways that I can give back to God as an act of worship and gratitude, and what might be holding me back from doing so?
- How can I cultivate a heart of gratitude and recognition of God's power and provision in my life, like the Israelites did after their victories in war?
- What are some areas of my life where I need to surrender to God's sovereignty and give Him control, and how can I take steps to do so?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 31:38
[See comments on Numbers 31:32].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 31:38
And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep: No JFB commentary on these verses.
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 31:38
25–54. The apportionment of the spoil. Those who fought and those who remained behind were to receive equal shares. This was an ancient custom, which was traced to the action of David (1 Samuel 30:24 f.). But before the appropriation by individuals, a religious tax was to be paid. The fighters were to pay from their share 1/500th to the priests, and the others 1/50th to the Levites. Such a tax is not mentioned elsewhere in the O.T., but perhaps, like the foregoing regulation, it had an ancient custom behind it. Mohammed, whose religion was ultimately based on the O.T., enjoined a similar tax of 1/5th (Koran viii. 42, cited by Gray).