Numbers 4:22
New International Version
“Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans.

New Living Translation
“Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Gershonite division of the tribe of Levi.

English Standard Version
“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses and by their clans.

Berean Standard Bible
“Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans,

King James Bible
Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;

New King James Version
“Also take a census of the sons of Gershon, by their fathers’ house, by their families.

New American Standard Bible
“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families;

NASB 1995
“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families;

NASB 1977
“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families;

Legacy Standard Bible
“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families;

Amplified Bible
“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families.

Christian Standard Bible
“Take a census of the Gershonites also, by their ancestral families and their clans.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Take a census of the Gershonites also, by their ancestral houses and their clans.

American Standard Version
Take the sum of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' houses, by their families;

English Revised Version
Take the sum of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' houses, by their families;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Also take a census of the Gershonites. List them by households and families.

Good News Translation
to take a census of the Levite clan of Gershon by subclans and families,

International Standard Version
"Take a census of the descendants of Gershon according to their ancestral house and tribes.

Majority Standard Bible
“Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans,

NET Bible
"Also take a census of the Gershonites, by their clans and by their families.

New Heart English Bible
"Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' houses, by their families;

Webster's Bible Translation
Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the house of their fathers, by their families;

World English Bible
“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses, by their families;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Also take a census of the sons of Gershon by the house of their fathers, by their families;

Young's Literal Translation
'Take up the sum of the sons of Gershon also by the house of their fathers, by their families;

Smith's Literal Translation
Take the head of the sons of Gershon, them also according to the house of their fathers, according to their families;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Take the sum of the soils of Gerson also by their houses and families and kindreds.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Now also take a total of the sons of Gershon, by their houses and families and kinships,

New American Bible
Take a census of the Gershonites also, by ancestral houses and clans,

New Revised Standard Version
Take a census of the Gershonites also, by their ancestral houses and by their clans;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families:

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Take an accounting of the sons of Gershun, also of the house of their fathers for their tribes.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Take the sum of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' houses, by their families;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Take the sum of the children of Gedson, and these according to the houses of their lineage, according to their families.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Duties of the Gershonites
21And the LORD said to Moses, 22“Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans, 23from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.…

Cross References
Numbers 1:2-3
“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. / You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.

Numbers 3:15
“Number the Levites by their families and clans. You are to count every male a month old or more.”

Numbers 8:24-26
“This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years of age or older shall enter to perform the service in the work at the Tent of Meeting. / But at the age of fifty, they must retire from performing the work and no longer serve. / After that, they may assist their brothers in fulfilling their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves are not to do the work. This is how you are to assign responsibilities to the Levites.”

Numbers 26:2
“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

1 Chronicles 23:3-24
The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000. / “Of these,” said David, “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, 6,000 are to be officers and judges, / 4,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.” ...

Exodus 30:12-14
“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered. / Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD. / Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD.

Leviticus 27:3
if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.

2 Chronicles 31:17
and to the priests enrolled according to their families in the genealogy, as well as to the Levites twenty years of age or older, according to their responsibilities and divisions.

Ezra 3:8
In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the construction of the house of the LORD.

Nehemiah 7:5
Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. I found the genealogical register of those who had first returned, and I found the following written in it:

Luke 2:36-37
There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, / and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Acts 4:4
But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

Acts 5:14
Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.

Acts 6:7
So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 21:20
When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.


Treasury of Scripture

Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;

Numbers 3:18,21,24
And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei…

Jump to Previous
Census Clans Families Fathers Gershon Gershonites House Households Houses Numbered Order Sum Throughout
Jump to Next
Census Clans Families Fathers Gershon Gershonites House Households Houses Numbered Order Sum Throughout
Numbers 4
1. The age at which the Levites were to serve, and the duration of the service
4. The duty of the Kohathites
16. The charge of Eleazar
17. The office of the priests
21. The duty of the Gershonites
29. Of the Merarites
34. The number of the Kohathites
38. Of the Gershonites
42. And of the Merarites














Take a census
The phrase "Take a census" in Numbers 4:22 is a directive from God to Moses. The Hebrew root for "census" is "nasa," which means to lift, carry, or take. In the context of the Israelites, taking a census was not merely about counting people; it was about recognizing each individual's role and responsibility within the community. This act of counting was a way to acknowledge the worth and contribution of each person to the collective mission of the Israelites. Historically, censuses were crucial for organizing tribes for military and religious duties, reflecting God's order and structure for His people.

of the Gershonites
The Gershonites were one of the Levitical families, descendants of Levi through his son Gershon. The name "Gershon" is believed to mean "exile" or "sojourner," which is fitting given the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. The Gershonites had specific duties related to the tabernacle, including the care of its curtains and coverings. This highlights the importance of each family and individual in God's plan, as even the seemingly mundane tasks were vital for the worship and spiritual life of the community. The Gershonites' role underscores the theme of service and dedication to God's dwelling place.

also
The word "also" indicates that the census of the Gershonites is part of a larger directive that includes other Levitical families. This inclusion emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's instructions and the interconnectedness of the tribes. Each family had its unique responsibilities, yet all were essential to the functioning of the tabernacle and the spiritual life of Israel. The use of "also" serves as a reminder that in God's kingdom, every person and task is significant, and all are called to contribute to the greater good.

by their families
The phrase "by their families" highlights the importance of family units in the organization of the Israelite community. In ancient Israel, family lineage was crucial for identity, inheritance, and social structure. The census by families ensured that each clan's responsibilities and contributions were recognized and honored. This reflects the biblical principle that God values both the individual and the family, and He works through these units to accomplish His purposes. It also serves as a reminder of the legacy and heritage that families pass down through generations.

and clans
The term "clans" refers to larger family groups within the tribes of Israel. In Hebrew, the word is "mishpachah," which denotes a broader kinship group. Clans were essential for maintaining social order and providing support and protection for their members. In the context of the census, identifying individuals by their clans ensured that the responsibilities for the tabernacle were distributed fairly and efficiently. This organization reflects God's design for community, where each clan plays a vital role in the spiritual and practical life of the nation. It underscores the biblical theme of unity and cooperation among God's people.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Take a census
נָשֹׂ֗א (nā·śō)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

of the Gershonites
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

as well,
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

by their families
אֲבֹתָ֖ם (’ă·ḇō·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

and their clans,
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃ (lə·miš·pə·ḥō·ṯām)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people


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OT Law: Numbers 4:22 Take a census of the sons (Nu Num.)
Numbers 4:21
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