King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Complete Jewish Bible:
But, as ADONAI ordered Moshe, the L'vi'im were not counted with the rest of Isra'el.
Berean Standard Bible:
But the Levites were not counted among the other Israelites, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
American Standard Version:
But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
But the Levites{H3881} were not numbered{H6485} among{H8432} the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}; as the LORD{H3068} commanded{H6680} Moses{H4872}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 26:57
- ¶ And these [are] they that were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
Numbers 26:62
- And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
Numbers 1:47
- ¶ But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
Numbers 1:49
- Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 2:33
Numbers 2:33 is a verse set within the context of the Israelites' organization in the wilderness as they prepared to journey towards the Promised Land. The book of Numbers, which gets its name from the census it records, details the arrangement of the tribes of Israel around the Tabernacle, the portable dwelling place of God. Each tribe was assigned a specific position and role as the Israelites traveled.
The verse in question highlights an exception to the general census: the Levites were not counted among the other tribes of Israel. This was in direct obedience to the command of the Lord given to Moses. The Levites were set apart for a unique purpose; they were responsible for the care of the Tabernacle and its sacred objects. Because of their priestly duties, they were exempt from the military service that was expected of the other tribes. This exemption signified their holy status and the importance of their role in facilitating worship and maintaining the sanctity of the Tabernacle.
The historical context of this verse reflects the broader theme of divine order within the Israelite community. God's instructions for the census and the organization of the tribes, including the special status of the Levites, were part of His detailed plan for His people. This plan was not only about physical arrangement but also about the spiritual and ritualistic life of the nation. The Levites' role was crucial in ensuring that the rituals and laws given by God were observed and that the Israelites remained in right relationship with Him during their journey through the wilderness.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3881
There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵוִיִּי
Transliteration: Lêvîyîy
Pronunciation: lay-vee-ee'
Description: or לֵוִי; patronymically from לֵוִי; a Levite or descendant of Levi; Leviite. - Strong's Number: H6485
There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּקַד
Transliteration: pâqad
Pronunciation: paw-kad'
Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] 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, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want. - Strong's Number: H8432
There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
Transliteration: tâvek
Pronunciation: taw'-vek
Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H6680
There are 475 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָוָה
Transliteration: tsâvâh
Pronunciation: tsaw-vaw'
Description: a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin; appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order. - Strong's Number: H4872
There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
Transliteration: Môsheh
Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.