Numbers 4:44

The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The narrative records Moses and Aaron tallying the Merarite Levite clans at the LORD’s command during the wilderness census. This count specifically covers men aged thirty to fifty who are qualified to serve at the Tent of Meeting.

The words — The phrase פְקֻדֵי־הֶם (pequdei-hem) literally means "their enrolled [men]" and denotes those formally registered for duty. The numerical phrase שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּמָאתַיִם (shloshet alafim u-matayim) translates directly to "three thousand and two hundred."

The thread — This census of Levite servants parallels the earlier enumeration of all males a month old or more in Numbers 3:34. The structural emphasis on ordered counting and divine command also echoes the administrative themes found in Deuteronomy 33:25.

Why it lands — The text states that sacred service requires precise qualification and official registration. It instructs the reader to value orderly accountability over arbitrary participation in communal worship.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיִּהְי֥וּva/i.yih.Yuand/ they were פְקֻדֵיהֶ֖םfe.ku.dei./Hemenrolled [men]/ their לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑םle./mish.pe.cho.Ta/mto/ clans/ their שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetthree אֲלָפִ֖ים'a.la.Fimthousand<s>וּמָאתָֽיִם׃u./ma.Ta.yimand/ two hundred

King James Version

Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.

Cross-references

Numbers 3:34 The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200.
Deuteronomy 33:25 May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze, and may your strength match your days.”
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.
1 Corinthians 12:8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
2 Corinthians 12:9 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.