Numbers 4:33
in Numbers 4This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
KJV
This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
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This verse in Numbers 4
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
As for the sons of Merari
on Numbers 4:29-33
Merari carries the frame of the tent: the frames, crossbars, posts, bases, tent pegs and ropes. It is the heaviest load, with bases of a hundred talents of silver at Exodus 38:27.
This site's exposition
the service of the Merarite clans
Verse 33 closes the Merarite charge with the formula verse 28 used for Gershon, both clans under Ithamar. Matthew Henry observes that thousands were assigned where far fewer could have lifted the loads, so the tent could come down and go up quickly. Many hands made quick work.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
It was a useful lesson, showing that God disregards nothing pertaining to His service, and that even in the least and most trivial matters, He requires the duty of faithful obedience.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| זֹ֣את | zot | this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| עֲבֹדַ֗ת | ʾavodat | [is] [the] service of | H5656 → | 145 times |
| מִשְׁפְּחֹת֙ | mishpechot | [the] clans of | H4940 → | 303 times |
| בְּנֵ֣י | benei | [the] descendants of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| מְרָרִ֔י | merari | Merari | H4847 → | 36 times |
| לְכָל־ | lekhol | to all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| עֲבֹדָתָ֖ם | ʾavodatam | service their | H5656 → | 145 times |
| בְּאֹ֣הֶל | beohel | in [the] tent of | H168 → | 345 times |
| מוֹעֵ֑ד | moed | meeting | H4150 → | 223 times |
| בְּיַד֙ | beyad | in [the] hand of | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| אִֽיתָמָ֔ר | ʾitamar | Ithamar | H385 → | 21 times |
| בֶּֽן־ | ben- | [the] son of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| אַהֲרֹ֖ן | ʾaharon | Aaron | H175 → | 347 times |
| הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ | hakohen | the priest | H3548 → | 750 times |
זֹ֣אתthis
zotH2063 →603 times
עֲבֹדַ֗ת[is] [the] service of
ʾavodatH5656 →145 times
מִשְׁפְּחֹת֙[the] clans of
mishpechotH4940 →303 times
בְּנֵ֣י[the] descendants of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
מְרָרִ֔יMerari
merariH4847 →36 times
לְכָל־to all
lekholH3605 →5413 times
עֲבֹדָתָ֖םservice their
ʾavodatamH5656 →145 times
בְּאֹ֣הֶלin [the] tent of
beohelH168 →345 times
מוֹעֵ֑דmeeting
moedH4150 →223 times
בְּיַד֙in [the] hand of
beyadH3027 →1618 times
אִֽיתָמָ֔רIthamar
ʾitamarH385 →21 times
בֶּֽן־[the] son of
ben-H1121 →4930 times
אַהֲרֹ֖ןAaron
ʾaharonH175 →347 times
הַכֹּהֵֽן׃the priest
hakohenH3548 →750 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 3:6A man will seize his brother within his father’s house: “You have a cloak—you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of rubble.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 4:1
In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own bread and provide our own clothes. Just let us be called by your name. Take away…
- Judges 11:6–8
“Come,” they said, “be our commander, so that we can fight against the Ammonites.”
- John 6:15
Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.
- Isaiah 4:1
Through
Joshua 3:6And he said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.
it leads to
- Numbers 10:33
So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a…
- John 14:2–3
In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
- Joshua 3:3
and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.
- Micah 2:13
One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate, and go out by it. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD as their leader.
- Numbers 10:33
Through
Numbers 4:28This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 12:5–6
There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 12:5–6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Numbers
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonExodus eraAaronBrother of Moses and Israel's first high priest; his rod budded, his garments were for glory and beauty, and his line carried the…
- PersonWildernessIthamarAaron's fourth son, ordained priest in Leviticus 8; overseer of the tabernacle's accounts and the Gershonite and Merarite service.
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.