Numbers 4:47

From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,

From thirty {H7970} years {H8141} old {H1121} and upward {H4605} even unto fifty {H2572} years {H8141} old {H1121}, every one that came {H935} to do {H5647} the service of the ministry {H5656}, and the service {H5656} of the burden {H4853} in the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150},

all those between thirty and fifty years old who were part of those working to serve and working to carry loads in the tent of meeting,

from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting.

from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered in to do the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting,

Commentary

Context

Numbers chapter 4 meticulously outlines the specific duties and responsibilities assigned to the three Levitical families—the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites—who were tasked with the solemn duty of transporting and maintaining the Tabernacle during Israel's forty-year wilderness journey. This verse, Numbers 4:47, specifies the precise age range during which these Levites were to perform their active, physically demanding, and spiritually significant service. The detailed nature of these instructions underscores God's emphasis on order, reverence, and preparedness in all matters pertaining to His holy dwelling and the worship of His people.

Key Themes

  • Age of Prime Service: The requirement for Levites to serve between 30 and 50 years old highlights the need for physical strength, maturity, and wisdom. This age range typically represents the peak of a person's physical capabilities and accumulated experience, essential for the strenuous and precise work of dismantling, carrying, and reassembling the Tabernacle components. It ensured that those serving were capable and responsible.
  • Dedicated Ministry and Burden-Bearing: The verse distinguishes between "the service of the ministry" and "the service of the burden." This emphasizes the dual nature of their work: it was not merely manual labor but a sacred calling, requiring both spiritual devotion and significant physical exertion. The Levites literally bore the weight of God's dwelling place, symbolizing their dedicated commitment to His presence among His people.
  • Divine Order and Accountability: God's detailed instructions for the Levites' roles, including specific age requirements, demonstrate His emphasis on order and accountability in sacred service. Every individual had a defined role, ensuring the proper functioning of the community's worship and adherence to divine commands. This structured approach prevented chaos and maintained the sanctity of the Tabernacle.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "service of the ministry" is 'abodah (עֲבֹדָה), which broadly means "work," "labor," or "service," often implying worship or sacred duty in a religious context. The phrase "service of the burden" uses the Hebrew word masa' (מַשָּׂא), specifically referring to a "load," "burden," or "carrying." This distinction clarifies that the Levites' duties encompassed both general sacred service to God and the very specific, physically demanding task of transporting the heavy and holy components of the Tabernacle.

Practical Application

While the specific age requirements for Levitical service are tied to the Old Covenant Tabernacle, the principles found in Numbers 4:47 remain profoundly relevant for believers today:

  • Maturity in Service: God values maturity, experience, and readiness in those undertaking significant responsibilities, particularly in spiritual leadership or service. This doesn't exclude younger or older individuals from service, but highlights the importance of being prepared and capable for specific roles within the church or community.
  • Holistic Commitment: True service to God often involves both spiritual devotion ("ministry") and practical, sometimes physically demanding, effort ("burden"). Our service should be a holistic offering of our lives, talents, and physical abilities, recognizing that all our work for the Lord is sacred.
  • Order and Purpose: God continues to desire order and intentionality in His people's worship and collective work. Every believer has a unique role within the body of Christ, contributing to the overall mission and glory of God. Understanding our place and diligently fulfilling our responsibilities is crucial for effective ministry.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 12:4

    Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:31

    But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

  • Romans 12:6

    Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith;

  • Romans 12:8

    Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

  • Numbers 4:3

    From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Numbers 4:15

    And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear [it]: but they shall not touch [any] holy thing, lest they die. These [things are] the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • 1 Chronicles 23:3

    Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.
← Back