Numbers 31:39
Numbers 31:39 in Multiple Translations
30,500 donkeys, including a tribute to the LORD of 61,
And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the LORD’s tribute was threescore and one.
And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which Jehovah’s tribute was threescore and one.
The number of asses was thirty thousand, five hundred, of which the Lord's part was sixty-one.
30,500 donkeys, with a Lord's contribution of 61,
And the asses were thirtie thousande and fiue hundreth, whereof the Lordes tribute was three score and one:
and the asses [are] thirty thousand and five hundred, and their tribute to Jehovah [is] one and sixty;
The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which the LORD’s tribute was sixty-one.
And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the LORD'S tribute was sixty one.
Out of the thirty thousand five hundred asses, sixty-one asses:
They took 30,500 donkeys, and they gave 61 of them to Yahweh.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 31:39
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
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 31:39 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/חֲמֹרִ֕ים
שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים
אֶ֖לֶף
וַ/חֲמֵ֣שׁ
מֵא֑וֹת
וּ/מִכְסָ֥/ם
לַֽ/יהוָ֖ה
אֶחָ֥ד
וְ/שִׁשִּֽׁים
וַ/חֲמֹרִ֕ים
chămôwr
H2543
donkey
Conj | N-cp
שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים
shᵉlôwshîym
H7970
thirty
Adj
אֶ֖לֶף
ʼeleph
H505
thousand
Adj
וַ/חֲמֵ֣שׁ
châmêsh
H2568
five
Conj | Adj
מֵא֑וֹת
mêʼâh
H3967
hundred
Adj
וּ/מִכְסָ֥/ם
mekeç
H4371
tribute
Conj | N-ms | Suff
לַֽ/יהוָ֖ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
Prep | N-proper
אֶחָ֥ד
ʼechâd
H259
one
Adj
וְ/שִׁשִּֽׁים
shishshîym
H8346
sixty
Conj | Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 31:39
וַ/חֲמֹרִ֕ים
chămôwr
H2543
"donkey"
Conj | N-cp
The Hebrew word for a male donkey, it is translated as he ass in the KJV Bible. The name comes from the animal's reddish-brown color.
Definition: (he) ass
Usage: Occurs in 93 OT verses. KJV: (he) ass. See also: Genesis 12:16; Judges 6:4; Proverbs 26:3.
שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים
shᵉlôwshîym
H7970
"thirty"
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.
אֶ֖לֶף
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.
וַ/חֲמֵ֣שׁ
châmêsh
H2568
"five"
Conj | Adj
This Hebrew word simply means the number five. It is used throughout the Bible to describe quantities of five, such as five loaves of bread in Matthew 14:17. It can also mean a multiple of five.
Definition: 1) five 1a) five (cardinal number) 1b) a multiple of five (with another number) 1c) fifth (ordinal number)
Usage: Occurs in 272 OT verses. KJV: fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece). See also: Genesis 5:6; Numbers 31:45; Ezra 2:66.
מֵא֑וֹת
mêʼâh
H3967
"hundred"
Adj
Means a hundred, used as a simple number or part of a larger number in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including fractions like one one-hundredth. Found in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: 1) hundred 1a) as simple number 1b) as part of larger number 1c) as a fraction-one one-hundredth (1/100) Aramaic equivalent: me.ah (מְאָה "hundred" H3969)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. See also: Genesis 5:3; Numbers 2:6; Judges 18:17.
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.
לַֽ/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.
אֶחָ֥ד
ʼechâd
H259
"one"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.
Definition: 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Usage: Occurs in 739 OT verses. KJV: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, See also: Genesis 1:5; Exodus 36:26; Numbers 7:70.
וְ/שִׁשִּֽׁים
shishshîym
H8346
"sixty"
Conj | Adj
This Hebrew word represents the number sixty, often used to describe large quantities, like the sixty warriors who guarded King Solomon. It is also translated as three score, as seen in Psalm 90:10.
Definition: sixty, three score Aramaic equivalent: shit.tin (שִׁתִּין "sixty" H8361)
Usage: Occurs in 56 OT verses. KJV: sixty, three score. See also: Genesis 5:15; 1 Chronicles 2:21; Isaiah 7:8.
Study Notes — Numbers 31:39
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Division of the Spoils
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. 41Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as an offering for the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.Numbers 31:39 Summary
This verse is talking about the Israelites giving some of their donkeys to the Lord as an offering. They had just won a big battle and were dividing up the spoils, and they wanted to give back to God a portion of what they had received, just like we're taught to do in Malachi 3:10. This shows that they trusted God and wanted to obey Him, and we can learn from their example by giving back to God a portion of what we have, whether it's our money, time, or talents, as seen in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. By doing so, we acknowledge that everything we have belongs to Him, as stated in Psalms 24:1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the numbers mentioned in Numbers 31:39?
The numbers represent the spoils of war that the Israelites had taken, with a portion set aside as an offering to the Lord, as seen in Numbers 31:37-41, demonstrating their obedience to God's commands, such as in Deuteronomy 14:28-29.
Why did the Israelites give a tribute to the Lord from the donkeys and other livestock?
The tribute was a way for the Israelites to acknowledge God's provision and to give back to Him a portion of what they had received, as seen in the example of Abraham in Genesis 14:20, who gave a tenth of his spoils to Melchizedek, a priest of God Most High.
How does this verse relate to the broader theme of Numbers 31?
Numbers 31:39 is part of a larger narrative about the Israelites' victory over the Midianites and their subsequent division of the spoils, highlighting the importance of following God's instructions, as given in Numbers 31:1-4, and trusting in His provision and guidance, as seen in Psalms 37:3-7.
What can we learn from the Israelites' practice of giving a tribute to the Lord?
We can learn the importance of gratitude and giving back to God a portion of what we have received, as taught in Malachi 3:10 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, and recognizing that everything we have belongs to Him, as stated in Psalms 24:1.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can give back to God a portion of what I have received, just like the Israelites did in Numbers 31:39?
- How can I cultivate a spirit of gratitude and acknowledgment of God's provision in my life, as seen in this verse?
- What are some areas in my life where I can trust God's guidance and provision, just as the Israelites did in Numbers 31?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of giving a tribute to the Lord in my own life, whether through finances, time, or talents?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 31:39
[See comments on Numbers 31:32].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 31:39
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 31:39
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).