Numbers 4:38

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,

Complete Jewish Bible:

The census of the descendants of Gershon, by their clans and families,

Berean Standard Bible:

Then the Gershonites were numbered by their clans and families,

American Standard Version:

And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, their families, and by their fathers’ houses,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And those that were numbered{H6485} of the sons{H1121} of Gershon{H1648}, throughout their families{H4940}, and by the house{H1004} of their fathers{H1},

Cross-References (KJV):


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Commentary for Numbers 4:38

Numbers 4:38 is a verse from the Old Testament that falls within the context of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The book of Numbers is so named because it contains a series of censuses or numberings of the Israelite community, as well as laws and narratives related to their organization and travels.

In the specific context of Numbers 4, the verse is part of a detailed account of the second census, which focuses on the Levites, the tribe designated to serve in the tabernacle, the portable sanctuary of God. The Gershonites were one of the three main families within the tribe of Levi, and they were responsible for carrying the tabernacle's coverings, curtains, and hangings.

Numbers 4:38 itself states the numbering of the Gershonite clans by their families and ancestral houses. This numbering was significant because it established the division of labor and responsibilities among the Levites in relation to the tabernacle. The Gershonites, as mentioned earlier, had specific duties concerning the care and transport of the tabernacle's fabric components.

The themes present in this verse include divine order and organization, the importance of heritage and lineage in the assignment of religious duties, and the sanctity of service to God. It reflects the detailed instructions given by God to Moses and Aaron on how to organize and manage the religious and social life of the Israelite community. The historical context is the period of wilderness wanderings, a formative time for the Israelites as they transitioned from a loose collection of tribes into a nation under God's covenant, with the tabernacle at the center of their religious life.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Strong's Number: H1648
    There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גֵּרְשׁוֹן
    Transliteration: Gêrᵉshôwn
    Pronunciation: gay-resh-one'
    Description: or גֵּרְשׁוֹם; from גָּרַשׁ; a refugee; Gereshon or Gereshom, an Israelite; Gershon, Gershom.
  4. Strong's Number: H4940
    There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִשְׁפָּחָה
    Transliteration: mishpâchâh
    Pronunciation: mish-paw-khaw'
    Description: from שָׁפָה (compare שִׁפְחָה); a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people; family, kind(-red).
  5. Strong's Number: H1004
    There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בַּיִת
    Transliteration: bayith
    Pronunciation: bah'-yith
    Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).
  6. Strong's Number: H1
    There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָב
    Transliteration: ʼâb
    Pronunciation: awb
    Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.