Numbers 4:42
New International Version
The Merarites were counted by their clans and families.

New Living Translation
The Merarite division was also listed by its clans and families.

English Standard Version
Those listed of the clans of the sons of Merari, by their clans and their fathers’ houses,

Berean Standard Bible
And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families,

King James Bible
And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers,

New King James Version
Those of the families of the sons of Merari who were numbered, by their families, by their fathers’ house,

New American Standard Bible
And the numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari by their families, by their fathers’ households,

NASB 1995
The numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari by their families, by their fathers’ households,

NASB 1977
And the numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari by their families, by their fathers’ households,

Legacy Standard Bible
The numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari by their families, by their fathers’ households,

Amplified Bible
The men who were numbered of the sons of Merari, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households,

Christian Standard Bible
The men of the Merarite clans were registered by their clans and their ancestral families,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The men of the Merarite clans were registered by their clans and their ancestral houses,

American Standard Version
And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers' houses,

English Revised Version
And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers' houses,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Merarites were registered by families and households.

International Standard Version
The tribes and ancestral house of Merari were numbered

Majority Standard Bible
And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families,

NET Bible
Those numbered from the families of the Merarites, by their families, by their clans,

New Heart English Bible
Those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers' houses,

Webster's Bible Translation
And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers,

World English Bible
Those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers’ houses,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And those numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by the house of their fathers,

Young's Literal Translation
And those numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by the house of their fathers,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they being reviewed of the families of the sons of Merari, according to their families, according to the house of their fathers,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sons of Merari also were numbered by the kindreds and houses of their fathers,

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sons of Merari also were numbered by the kinships and houses of their fathers,

New American Bible
As for the enrollment of the clans of the Merarites, by clans and ancestral houses,

New Revised Standard Version
The enrollment of the clans of the Merarites, by their clans and their ancestral houses,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the number of the families of the sons of Merari by their families, by the house of their fathers,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the number of the family of the sons of Marari for their families for the house of their fathers.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers' houses,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And also the family of the sons of Merari were numbered according to their divisions, according to the house of their fathers;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Numbering of the Levite Clans
41These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command. 42 And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families, 43everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.…

Cross References
Numbers 3:27-32
From Kohath came the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites. / The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. They were responsible for the duties of the sanctuary. / The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle, ...

Numbers 7:6-8
So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. / He gave the Gershonites two carts and four oxen, as their service required, / and he gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

Numbers 10:17
Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting it.

1 Chronicles 23:12-13
The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—four in all. / The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.

1 Chronicles 23:26-32
So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.” / For according to the final instructions of David, the Levites twenty years of age or older were counted, / but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God, ...

1 Chronicles 6:48
Their fellow Levites were assigned to every kind of service of the tabernacle, the house of God.

1 Chronicles 9:28-32
Some of them were in charge of the articles used in worship, to count them whenever they were brought in or taken out. / Others were put in charge of the furnishings and other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices. / And some of the sons of the priests mixed the spices. ...

1 Chronicles 15:2
Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”

1 Chronicles 15:12-15
And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. / It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.” / So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. ...

2 Chronicles 29:11
Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”

2 Chronicles 31:2
Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.

Ezra 8:24-30
Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers, / and I weighed out to them the contribution of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites there had offered for the house of our God. / I weighed out into their hands 650 talents of silver, articles of silver weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, ...

Nehemiah 12:44-47
And on that same day men were appointed over the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. The portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites were gathered into these storerooms from the fields of the villages, because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who were serving. / They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. / For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. ...

Matthew 23:23-24
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. / You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

Luke 1:8-9
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, / he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.


Treasury of Scripture

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

no reference

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Clans Counted Families Fathers House Households Houses Merari Merar'i Merarites Numbered Order Throughout
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Clans Counted Families Fathers House Households Houses Merari Merar'i Merarites Numbered Order 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














And the Merarites
The Merarites were one of the three main divisions of the Levites, the others being the Kohathites and the Gershonites. The Levites were set apart for the service of the Tabernacle, and each division had specific duties. The Merarites were responsible for the more structural elements of the Tabernacle, such as the frames, bars, pillars, and bases. This division of labor highlights the organized and communal nature of Israelite worship, where each group had a role to play in maintaining the sacred space.

were numbered
The act of numbering or taking a census was significant in the Israelite community. It was a way to organize and prepare for the tasks assigned by God. In the context of the wilderness journey, numbering the Levites was crucial for ensuring that the Tabernacle could be properly assembled, disassembled, and transported. This census also reflects God's orderliness and the importance of each individual's contribution to the community's spiritual life.

by their clans and families
The mention of clans and families underscores the importance of family and tribal identity in ancient Israel. The Levites were divided into smaller family units, which helped maintain order and ensure that responsibilities were clearly defined. This structure also emphasizes the continuity of service, as duties were passed down through generations. The family-based organization of the Levites can be seen as a precursor to the New Testament concept of the church as a family of believers, each with unique gifts and roles.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Sons of Merari
Merari was one of the sons of Levi, and his descendants were responsible for the care and transportation of the tabernacle's structural components, such as the frames, bars, pillars, and bases. This verse specifically refers to the census of the Merarites, who were assigned specific duties in the service of the tabernacle.

2. Levitical Census
This event is part of a larger census of the Levites, which was conducted to organize the duties and responsibilities of the different Levitical families in the service of the tabernacle.

3. Tabernacle
The central place of worship for the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. The tabernacle was a portable sanctuary that housed the Ark of the Covenant and was the focal point of Israelite worship.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Order and Structure
God values order and structure in worship and service. The detailed organization of the Levites' duties reflects God's desire for orderly worship and service, which can be applied to how we organize our own spiritual lives and church activities.

Every Role is Significant
The Merarites' responsibilities, though seemingly mundane, were crucial for the functioning of the tabernacle. This teaches us that every role in the body of Christ is important, and we should perform our duties faithfully, no matter how small they may seem.

Faithfulness in Service
The Merarites were tasked with specific duties that required diligence and faithfulness. Similarly, we are called to be faithful stewards of the responsibilities God has given us, whether in our personal lives, workplaces, or church communities.

Community and Cooperation
The Levites worked together as a community to fulfill their roles. This highlights the importance of cooperation and unity within the church, as each member contributes to the overall mission and purpose.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the Merarites
מְרָרִ֑י (mə·rā·rî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4847: Merari -- a son of Levi

were counted
וּפְקוּדֵ֕י (ū·p̄ə·qū·ḏê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

by their clans
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם (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

and their families,
אֲבֹתָֽם׃ (’ă·ḇō·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father


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OT Law: Numbers 4:42 Those who were numbered of the families (Nu Num.)
Numbers 4:41
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