What number verse is Numbers 1:29 in the Bible?

Numbers 1:29 is the 3,634th verse of the Bible. Counting straight through the King James canon — all 31,102 verses from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 — Numbers 1:29 sits at position 3,634.

1:281:28 1:301:30

Numbers 1:29

“The Census Results by Tribe”· Numbers 1:20–46Read in context

King James Version

Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

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KJV (with Strong's)

Those that were numbered ^H6485 of them, even of the tribe ^H4294 of Issachar ^H3485, were fifty ^H2572 and four ^H702 thousand ^H505 and four ^H702 hundred ^H3967.

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Complete Jewish Bible

Consolidated into verse 28 by this translation.

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Berean Standard Bible

those registered to the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400.

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American Standard Version

those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

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World English Bible Messianic

those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

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Geneva Bible (1599)

The nomber of them also of the tribe of Issachar was foure and fiftie thousande and foure hundreth.

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Young's Literal Translation

their numbered ones, for the tribe of Issachar, are four and fifty thousand and four hundred.

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Translation

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Summary

Numbers 1:29 meticulously records the precise count of fifty-four thousand four hundred fighting men from the tribe of Issachar during the inaugural census of Israel. This divinely mandated enumeration, conducted shortly after the Exodus at Mount Sinai, was a foundational act of national organization, preparing the Israelite nation for its arduous wilderness journey, impending military campaigns, and the eventual inheritance of the Promised Land, thereby underscoring God's sovereign attention to detail, His purposeful ordering of His people, and the unique significance of each tribal unit within His chosen nation.

Context

Literary Context

Numbers 1:29 is embedded within the opening chapter of the Book of Numbers, which systematically details a comprehensive census of the Israelite tribes. This census, explicitly commanded by God to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, meticulously enumerates all males aged twenty years and upward who were able to go to war, with the Levites being intentionally excluded for their distinct priestly service. The verses immediately preceding Numbers 1:29 provide the count for the tribe of Zebulun (Numbers 1:31), while subsequent verses detail the numbers for Asher (Numbers 1:33) and other tribes, demonstrating a highly structured, tribe-by-tribe accounting. This detailed numbering serves as a foundational act of organization and preparation, setting the stage for the subsequent arrangement of the camp around the Tabernacle (Numbers 2), the specific duties assigned to the Levites (Numbers 3-4), and the various laws and narratives governing the wilderness journey, profoundly emphasizing divine order and readiness for the challenges and responsibilities that lay ahead for the nascent nation.

Historical & Cultural Context

The census documented in Numbers 1 unfolds approximately one year after Israel's miraculous Exodus from Egypt and roughly a month following the erection of the Tabernacle at the base of Mount Sinai. At this pivotal juncture, Israel was transitioning from a newly liberated collection of slaves into an organized, covenantal nation. While ancient Near Eastern cultures frequently conducted censuses for purposes such as military conscription, taxation, or labor, Israel's census was uniquely tied to their identity as God's holy army, preparing them to fulfill God's promises of inheriting Canaan. The primary objective was not merely demographic, but strategic and theological: to ascertain the nation's military strength for the impending journey to the Promised Land and the necessary conquest of its inhabitants. The meticulous record-keeping underscores a divine emphasis on order, accountability, and the readiness of a people called to inherit a land and establish a unique, covenantal relationship with the Almighty.

Key Themes

Numbers 1:29, as part of the broader census narrative, powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in the Book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Foremost among these is Divine Order and Sovereignty, illustrating God's meticulous care in organizing His people for their sacred mission. The precise enumeration of each tribe, including Issachar, highlights God's purposeful design for every segment of His nation, ensuring that each unit understood its place and contribution within the larger divine plan. This census also underscores the theme of Preparation for Holy War and Inheritance, as the primary purpose of numbering the fighting men was to ready Israel for the conquest of Canaan, a task requiring both military strength and spiritual obedience. Furthermore, the distinct identity and enumeration of each tribe reinforce the theme of Covenantal Identity and Accountability, reminding Israel that their individual and collective existence was bound by their covenant with Yahweh, requiring their readiness and obedience as His chosen people, as seen in the subsequent commands for their wilderness journey (Numbers 9:15-23).

Exposition and Analysis

Key Word Analysis

Numbered pâqad' H6485

This verb (H6485) carries a rich semantic range, encompassing "to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc." In the context of a census, it specifically signifies a divine act of reckoning, accounting, or mustering. It implies that this numbering was not a mere human administrative initiative but a direct command and oversight from God Himself, emphasizing His purposeful attention, active involvement, and the assignment of roles in organizing His people for their divinely appointed mission.

Tribe maṭṭeh' H4294

This noun (H4294), literally meaning "a branch (as extending)," figuratively denotes a tribal division or clan, often linked to a patriarchal lineage. In ancient Israel, the "tribe" was a fundamental unit of identity, inheritance, and military organization. The meticulous enumeration of each maṭṭeh underscores the importance of communal identity within the larger nation, highlighting that each family group had a distinct place, a unique contribution, and a specific role to play within the collective body of Israel.

Issachar Yissâˢkâr' H3485

This proper noun (H3485) refers to the ninth son of Jacob by Leah, whose name possibly means "he will bring a reward." While Numbers 1:29 primarily provides their numerical strength, the tribe of Issachar was later noted for its "men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (1 Chronicles 12:32). This suggests a character beyond mere military prowess, perhaps indicating a tribe known for wisdom, discernment, or industriousness, which would contribute uniquely to the nation's overall well-being and strategic direction.

Verse Breakdown

"Those that were numbered of them,"

This opening clause establishes the core action of the verse, indicating that a precise count was taken. The passive voice "were numbered" implies that this was not a self-initiated act by the people but a process carried out under a higher authority, specifically God's command to Moses, thereby emphasizing divine initiative and comprehensive oversight in the meticulous organization of Israel.

"[even] of the tribe of Issachar,"

This phrase precisely identifies the specific tribal unit being accounted for. It highlights the meticulous, systematic nature of the census, where each of the twelve tribes was individually recognized, distinguished, and enumerated. This underscores the distinct identity, unique contribution, and specific place of every segment within the collective nation of Israel, ensuring no group was overlooked in God's ordered plan.

"[were] fifty and four thousand and four hundred."

This provides the exact numerical strength of the fighting men from the tribe of Issachar. The precision of this large number emphasizes the thoroughness of God's organizational plan, the substantial readiness of this particular tribe for its role in the wilderness journey, and its significant contribution to the overall military might and strategic preparedness of the Israelite nation as they embarked on their divinely appointed mission.

Literary Devices

The entire census account in Numbers 1, of which verse 29 is an integral part, prominently features Repetition and Catalog/List. The recurring phrase "those that were numbered of them" followed by the tribe's name and its specific count creates a rhythmic and emphatic pattern throughout the chapter, reinforcing the comprehensive and systematic nature of the divine command. This consistent enumeration functions as a meticulous Catalog or List, detailing each tribal unit's contribution to the national strength. The precise numerical figures for each tribe also highlight Precision and Detail, underscoring God's meticulousness and His sovereign attention to every component of His people. This literary technique serves to emphasize the divine order and thoroughness in preparing Israel for their divinely appointed mission, leaving no doubt about the exact strength and organization of the nation.

Theological and Thematic Connections

Numbers 1:29, situated within the broader context of the Israelite census, powerfully illustrates God's nature as a God of order, purpose, and meticulous care for His people. The detailed enumeration of each tribe's fighting men underscores the divine principle that every individual and every group within God's grand plan has a specific place, a unique identity, and a vital contribution to the whole. This was not merely an administrative task but a profound theological declaration of God's sovereignty over His nation, preparing them for their covenantal responsibilities and the challenges of establishing His kingdom on earth. It reveals that God is intimately involved in the practical details of His people's lives, organizing them for both their protection and their mission, demonstrating His commitment to their well-being and success.

1 Corinthians 14:33 Matthew 10:30 Ephesians 2:10

Reflection and Application

The precise counting of Issachar's men in Numbers 1:29, alongside the entire census, offers profound insights for contemporary believers, reminding us that God is a God of intentionality and order, who knows each of His children intimately and has a specific purpose for their lives. Just as every tribe was essential to ancient Israel's collective strength and mission, so too is every individual believer vital to the body of Christ today. We are not random or overlooked; rather, we are "numbered" and uniquely gifted for God's kingdom work. This passage calls us to embrace our individual identity and contribution within the larger community of faith, recognizing that our readiness, discipline, and willingness to be organized for God's purposes are crucial. It encourages us to live with intentionality, understanding that God equips us for specific callings, whether in spiritual warfare, service, or simply living out our faith with integrity and purpose.

Questions for Reflection

How does the meticulous nature of God's census in Numbers 1 challenge or affirm your understanding of God's attention to detail in your own life?
In what ways might God be calling you to be "numbered" or prepared for a specific purpose in His kingdom today, and how are you responding?
How can you apply the principle of divine order and readiness to your personal spiritual disciplines or involvement in your faith community?

FAQ

Why was the tribe of Issachar specifically mentioned with its number?

Numbers 1:29 is an integral part of a comprehensive census commanded by God to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. Every tribe's fighting-age men (those twenty years and older) were meticulously counted and recorded. Issachar's inclusion, like all other tribes enumerated in Numbers 1, was essential for several strategic and theological reasons. It was crucial for understanding the collective military strength of the nation, for organizing the Israelite camp for their journey through the wilderness, and for preparing them for the eventual conquest and inheritance of the Promised Land. This precise accounting underscored God's divine order and His purposeful preparation of His people for their specific mission, ensuring that every part of the nation was recognized, accounted for, and ready for its unique role in God's unfolding plan for Israel.

Christ-Centered Fulfillment

While Numbers 1:29 details a physical census for military readiness and national organization, it points forward to the spiritual numbering and perfect ordering of God's people under the ultimate Commander, Jesus Christ. The meticulous counting of Israel's tribes foreshadows Christ's intimate knowledge of His flock; He declares, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me" (John 10:14). The preparation of Israel for earthly battles and the establishment of an earthly kingdom finds its profound spiritual fulfillment in the Church, the body of Christ, which is equipped and organized not for physical warfare but for spiritual combat against "the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12). Just as each tribe had a unique place and contribution in ancient Israel, so too does every believer have a distinct gift, calling, and vital role within the Church, united under Christ's headship, as Paul beautifully illustrates in 1 Corinthians 12:27. The ultimate purpose of Israel's numbering was to establish God's kingdom on earth, a kingdom that finds its eternal, universal, and perfectly ordered reality in the reign of Christ, who gathers a countless multitude from "every nation, tribe, people and language" (Revelation 7:9) into His glorious, perfectly ordered, and spiritually numbered assembly.

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Public-domain commentary

Matthew Henry

From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Numbers 1:17–43.

1662–1714 · 27 verses

Passage under commentNumbers 1:17–43

17¶ And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:

18And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.

19As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

21Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

22Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

23Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

24Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

25Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.

26Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

27Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

28Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

29Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

30Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

31Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

32Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

33Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.

34Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

35Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

36Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

37Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

38Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

39Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

40Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

41Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

42Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

43Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

We have here the speedy execution of the orders given for the numbering of the people. It was begun the same day that the orders were given, The first day of the second month; compare Num 1:18 with Num 1:1. Note, When any work is to be done for God it is good to set about it quickly, while the sense of duty is strong and pressing. And, for aught that appears, it was but one day's work, for many other things were done between this and the twentieth day of this month, when they removed their camp, Num 10:11. Joab was almost ten months numbering the people in David's time (Sa2 24:8); but then they were dispersed, now they lived closely together; then Satan proposed the doing of it, now God commanded it. It was the sooner and more easily done now because it had been done but a little while ago, and they needed but review the old books, with the alterations since made, which probably they had kept an account of as they occurred.

In the particulars here left upon record, we may observe, 1. That the numbers are registered in words at length (as I may say), and not in figures; to every one of the twelve tribes it is repeated, for the greater ceremony and solemnity of the account, that they were numbered by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, to show that every tribe took and gave in the account by the same rule and in the same method, though so many hands were employed in it, setting down the genealogy first, to show that their family descended from Israel, then the families themselves in their order, then dividing each family into the houses, or subordinate families, that branched from it, and under these the names of the particular persons, according to the rules of heraldry. Thus every man might know who were his relations or next of kin, on which some laws we have already met with did depend: besides that the nearer any are to us in relation the more ready we should be to do them good. 2. That they all end with hundreds, only Gad with fifty (Num 1:25), but none of the numbers descend to units or tens. Some think it was a special providence that ordered all the tribes just at this time to be even numbers, and no odd or broken numbers among them, to show them that there was something more than ordinary designed in their increase, there being this uncommon in the circumstance of it. It is rather probable that Moses having some time before appointed rulers of hundreds, and rulers of fifties (Exo 18:25), they numbered the people by their respective rulers, which would bring the numbers to even hundreds or fifties. 3. That Judah is the must numerous of them all, more than double to Benjamin and Manasseh, and almost 12,000 more than any other tribe, v. 27. It was Judah whom his brethren must praise because from him Messiah the Prince was to descend; but, because that was a thing at a distance, God did in many ways honour that tribe in the mean time, particularly by the great increase of it, for his sake who was to spring out of Judah (Heb 7:14) in the fulness of time. Judah was to lead the van through the wilderness, and therefore was furnished accordingly with greater strength than any other tribe. 4. Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, are numbered as distinct tribes, and both together made up almost as many as Judah; this was in pursuance of Jacob's adoption of them, by which they were equalled with their uncles Reuben and Simeon, Gen 48:5. It was also the effect of the blessing of Joseph, who was to be a fruitful bough, Gen 49:22. And Ephraim the younger is put first, and is more numerous than Manasseh, for Jacob had crossed hands, and foreseen ten thousands of Ephraim and thousands of Manasseh. The fulfilling of this confirms our faith in the spirit of prophecy with which the patriarchs were endued. 5. When they came down into Egypt Dan had but one son (Gen 46:23), and so his tribe was but one family, Num 26:42. Benjamin had then ten sons (Gen 46:21), yet now the tribe of Dan is almost double in number to that of Benjamin. Note, The increasing and diminishing of families do not always go by probabilities. Some are multiplied greatly, and again are diminished, while others that were poor have families made them like a flock, Psa 107:38, Psa 107:39, Psa 107:41; and see Job 12:23. 6. It is said of each of the tribes that those were numbered who were able to go forth to war, to remind them that they had wars before them, though now they were in peace and met with no opposition. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as though he had put it off.

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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.

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