Numbers 4:44 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּהְי֥וּ פְקֻדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וּמָאתָֽיִם׃
BSAThe men registeredpâqad [numbered by families] by their clansmishpâchâh [in their families, after their families] numbered 3,200shâlôwsh [were reckoned to be, were found to be, three thousand and two hundred, a total of 3,200]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּהְי֥וּ | and they were | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| פְקֻדֵיהֶ֖ם | enrolled [men] their | Verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural common, suffix |
| לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם | to clans their | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת | three | Adj |
| אֲלָפִ֖ים | thousand | |
| וּמָאתָֽיִם׃ | and two hundred | Conjunction |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200. |
| KJV | Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred. |
| ASV | even those that were numbered of them by their families, were three thousand and two hundred. |
| YLT | even their numbered ones, by their families, are three thousand and two hundred. |
| WEB | even those who were counted of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred. |
| BBE | Who were numbered by families, were three thousand, two hundred. |
Where they part company is שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause with supporting phrases, providing clarity on the counting process.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Numbers 4:44
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Census of the Levitesgenerated
Numbers 4:44 describes the total number of men registered by their clans, indicating the organization and structure of the Israelite community. This census was part of a larger effort to account for the Levites and their roles in the service of the Tent of Meeting, reflecting the importance of family and clan in Israelite society.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 3:34 | The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 33:25 | May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze, and may your strength match your days.” |
| 3 | 1 Corinthians 10:13 | No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it. |
| 4 | 1 Corinthians 12:8–12 | To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, |
| 5 | 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 | But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — פְקֻדֵיהֶם, fe.ku.dei.Hemgenerated
The word פָּקַד (paqad) is a verb that means to reckon or list, often used in the context of overseeing or appointing. Here, it indicates that the men were counted or enrolled by their families, emphasizing the communal aspect of the census.
As a passive participle, it highlights that the action of being counted was done to them, rather than them actively counting themselves. This underscores the authority of the leaders in conducting the census.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses registered for פְקֻדֵיהֶם. The KJV and ASV also use enrolled, maintaining the sense of an official count.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת — three thousand and two hundred (ASV, KJV) versus simply three (BBE, WEB), which reflects a different focus on the total count.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is וַיִּהְי֥וּ, and they were, which governs the entire clause. The structure includes a subject noun phrase, a prepositional phrase indicating the clans, and a numeral phrase detailing the total number.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the total count at the end of the sentence, highlighting the conclusion of the census.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses ἐγενήθη, which means 'became' or 'came to be', indicating a transformation or realization of the count. This choice suggests a focus on the event of the counting itself rather than merely the state of being counted.
The Greek wording also reflects the communal aspect of the census, similar to the Hebrew, but with a slightly different emphasis on the process of becoming.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 4:44 tells us that the total number of men registered by their clans was 3,200. This reflects the organization of the Israelite community and the importance of family ties.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This indicates that the men were counted according to their family groups, highlighting the significance of family and clan in the Israelite community.
This number represents the total count of men eligible for service, reflecting the size and organization of the Levite community.
The census demonstrates the importance of family and clan affiliations in Israelite society, as well as the role of leadership in organizing the community.
The method of counting by clans shows the value placed on community and organization, which is essential for the functioning of the Israelite people.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see the importance of family in my own life?
- How can understanding the structure of the Israelite community help me appreciate my own community?
- What role does organization play in our communities today?
- How can I apply the principles of oversight and care seen in this census to my own responsibilities?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 4:44 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleEven those that were numbered of them after their families,.... [See comments on Numbers 4:34].
Read John Gill on Numbers 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers, Moses and Aaron ... This enumeration was made on
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 4 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHere appears the wisdom of Divine Providence, that whereas in the Kohathites and Gershonites, whose burdens were fewer and easier, there were but about a third part of them which were fit for service, the Merarites, whose burdens were more and heavier, had above one half of them fit for this work.
Read Matthew Poole on Numbers 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsNumbers 4:44 Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.Ver. 44. Three thousand and two hundred.] By this diversity of number among the Levite families, God showeth his wisdom, saith an interpreter, in fitting men for the work, whereunto he hath appointed them, whether it requireth multitude or gifts. "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, &c., dividing to every man severally as he will." It is reported, that in Luther’ s house was found written, Res et verba Philippus, res sine verbis Lutherus, verba sine re Erasmus, Melancthon hath both matter and words; Luther hath…
Read John Trapp on Numbers 4 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges34–49. A detailed statement that Moses and Aaron numbered the men between the ages of 30 and 50 in the three Levitical families, as had been commanded.
Read Cambridge on Numbers 4 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleCENSUS OF LEVITES, Numbers 4:34-49.The results of the enumeration of Levites between thirty and fifty years are here tabulated, together with the number of incompetents and the
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 4 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200.
even those who were counted of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred.
The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200.
those of them numbered by their families were 3,200.
Tyndale line
Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.
even those that were numbered of them by their families, were three thousand and two hundred.
even those that were numbered of them by their families, were three thousand and two hundred.
Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.
So the nombers of them by their families were three thousand, and two hundreth.
Strictly literal
even those that were numbered of them according to their families, were three thousand two hundred.
even their numbered ones, by their families, are three thousand and two hundred.
even their numbered ones, by their families, are three thousand and two hundred.
Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.
All the men, counted by their clans and their ancestor's families, numbered 3,200.
From the Latin
And they were found three thousand two hundred.
Simplified
The total by families was 3,200.
Who were numbered by families, were three thousand, two hundred.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree closely, with the Samaritan version using משׁפחותם (clan) instead of the Masoretic מִשְׁפְּחֹתָם. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, but the essential content aligns with the Masoretic Text.
וַיִּהְי֥וּ פְקֻדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וּמָאתָֽיִם׃
4 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויהיו פקדיהם למשׁפחותם שׁלשׁת אלפים ומאתים
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: משׁפחותם (clan)
[ויהיו] פקדי׳הם למשפחת׳ם שלשת אלפים ומאתים
3 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Numbers 4:44
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Hc/Vqw3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
פָּקַד (paqad) is a Hebrew verb that encompasses a range of meanings including to attend to, visit, muster, appoint, and punish. It can imply oversight or care, as well as the act of seeking or lacking something. The word can also be used in various grammatical forms, indicating actions such as being appointed or being visited upon. The plural form פְּקוּדִים refers to musterings or expenses.
פָּקַד 303 vb. attend to, visit, muster, appoint
Qal
pay attention to, observe (with care, practical interest)
attend to, in act, see to
seek (with interest, desire)
seek in vain, need, miss, lack
specif. visit, c. acc., for different purposes
c. עַל pers., visit upon
pass in review, muster (nearly = number), c. acc.
appoint
Niph.
be (sought, i.e. needed) missed, lacking
be visited (graciously)
be visited upon, עַל pers.
be appointed
Pi. (intens.) muster a host
Pu. be passed in review; be caused to miss, deprived
Hithp. be mustered
Hothp. id.
Hiph.
c. acc. pers. set (over), make overseer
c. acc. rei (implic.)
commit, entrust
deposit
Hoph.
be visited in punishment
be deposited
be made overseer
base
[פְּקוּדִים] n.pl.[m.] abstr. musterings, i.e. expenses;—cstr. Ex 38:21
ref
H6485a פָּקַד attend to, visit, muster, appoint .. . . pay attention to, observe (with care, practical interest)
. attend to, in act, see to
. seek (with interest, desire)
. seek in vain, need, miss, lack
. specif. visit, c. acc., for different purposes
. c. עַל pers., visit upon
. pass in review, muster (nearly = number), c. acc.
. appoint
. . be (sought, i.e. needed) missed, lacking
. be visited (graciously)
. be visited upon, עַל pers.
. be appointed
. (intens.) muster a host
. be passed in review; be caused to miss, deprived
. be mustered
. id.
. . c. acc. pers. set (over), make overseer
. c. acc. rei (implic.) . commit, entrust
. deposit
. . be visited in punishment
. be deposited
. be made overseer
H6485b פְּקוּדִים n. pl. [m.] abstr. musterings, i.e. expenses
6485 paqad paw-kad'
a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent);
by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss,
deposit, etc.:--appoint, X at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint
to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep,
be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up,
look, make, X by any means, miss, number, officer, (make)
overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to)
remember(-brance), set (over), sum, X surely, visit, want.
פָּקַד (pa.qad) — to reckon: list.
: list/count
1) to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pay attention to, observe
1a2) to attend to
1a3) to seek, look about for
1a4) to seek in vain, need, miss, lack
1a5) to visit
1a6) to visit upon, punish
1a7) to pass in review, muster, number
1a8) to appoint, assign, lay upon as a charge, deposit
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be sought, be needed, be missed, be lacking
1b2) to be visited
1b3) to be visited upon
1b4) to be appointed
1b5) to be watched over
1c) (Piel) to muster, call up
1d) (Pual) to be passed in review, be caused to miss, be called, be called to account
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to set over, make overseer, appoint an overseer
1e2) to commit, entrust, commit for care, deposit
1f) (Hophal)
1f1) to be visited
1f2) to be deposited
1f3) to be made overseer, be entrusted
1g) (Hithpael) numbered
V-Qal-Inf-c | Suff — Verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural common · suffixHVqsmpc/Sp3mp
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah) refers to a clan or family, encompassing a circle of relatives and extending to tribes or peoples. It can also denote a class of persons, species of animals, or kinds of things. The entries highlight its various uses, including guilds and aristocrats, but do not present any significant disagreement.
מִשְׁפָּחָה 303 n.f. clan
clan
= guild
= species, kind
pl. = aristocrats
base
H4940 מִשְׁפָּחָה clan . clan
. = guild
. = species, kind
. pl. = aristocrats
4940 mishpachah mish-paw-khaw'
from 8192 (compare 8198); a family, i.e. circle of relatives;
figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or
sort (of things); by extens. a tribe or people:--family,
kind(-red).
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 08198
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mish.pa.chah) — family.
1) clan, family
1a) clan
1a1) family
1a2) tribe
1a3) people, nation
1b) guild
1c) species, kind
1d) aristocrats
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word שָׁלֹשׁ (*shalosh*) means 'three' or 'triad.' It can also refer to the ordinal 'third' and is used in various contexts, including multiplication as 'thrice.' The entries consistently define it as a primitive number without significant disagreement.
שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה 430 n.m. et f. a three, triad
base
H7969 שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה a three, triad
7969 shalowsh shaw-loshe'
or shalosh {shaw-loshe'}; masculine shlowshah {shel-o-shaw'};
or shloshah {shel-o-shaw'}; a primitive number; three;
occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multipl.) thrice:--+ fork,
+ often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, + thrice.
Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07991
שָׁלֹשׁ (sha.losh) — three.
1) three, triad
1a) 3, 300, third
Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532)
Adj — AdjHAcbsc
(shalosh; treis).
See NUMBER.
The phrase "three days and three nights," Mt 12:40, was equivalent in Hebrew to the English "three days;" the Jews employing the expression "a day and a night" to denote our "day" of twentyfour hours. Nor did "three days," 1Sa 30:13, literally "this third day," according to their usage, necessarily include the whole of three days, but a part of three days, a continuous period including one whole day of twenty-four hours, and a portion of the day preceding it and the day following it. Compare Ge 7:12,17 1Sa 30:12-13.
אֶ֫לֶף (eleph) means 'thousand' in Hebrew. It can refer to the numeral itself or denote a company or clan, particularly a group of men under one leader. The word is built from the concept of a thousand, and it is associated with the ox's head, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
אֶ֫לֶף n.m. thousand
base
H505 אֶ֫לֶף thousand
505 'eleph eh'-lef
prop, the same as 504; hence (the ox's head being the first
letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral)
a thousand:--thousand.
see HEBREW for 0504
אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand.
: thousand
1) a thousand
1a) as numeral
2) a thousand, company
2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand: clan.
: clan
1) a thousand
1a) as numeral
2) a thousand, company
2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
HAcbpa — HAcbpa
thou'-zand ('eleph; chilioi).
See NUMBER.
מֵאָה (me'ah) means 'hundred' in Hebrew. It can refer to a simple number, a component of a larger number, or a fraction representing one one-hundredth. The entries consistently describe its use as a numeral without significant disagreement.
מֵאָה 583 n.f. hundred
as simple number
as part of larger number
a hundredth part
base
H3967 מֵאָה hundred . as simple number
. as part of larger number
. a hundredth part
3967 me'ah may-aw'
or metyah {may-yaw'}; properly, a primitive numeral; a
hundred; also as a multiplicative and a
fraction:--hundred((-fold), -th), + sixscore.
מֵאָה (me.ah) — hundred.
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)
HC/Acfda — ConjunctionHC/Acfda
hun'-dred (me'-ah; hekaton).
See NUMBER.