Numbers 2:32
These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
Original Language Analysis
פְּקוּדֵ֤י
These are those which were numbered
H6485
פְּקוּדֵ֤י
These are those which were numbered
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
2 of 18
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
בְנֵֽי
of the children
H1121
בְנֵֽי
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
3 of 18
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
4 of 18
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לְבֵ֣ית
by the house
H1004
לְבֵ֣ית
by the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
5 of 18
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֲבֹתָ֑ם
of their fathers
H1
אֲבֹתָ֑ם
of their fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
6 of 18
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
7 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
פְּקוּדֵ֤י
These are those which were numbered
H6485
פְּקוּדֵ֤י
These are those which were numbered
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
8 of 18
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
הַֽמַּחֲנֹת֙
of the camps
H4264
הַֽמַּחֲנֹת֙
of the camps
Strong's:
H4264
Word #:
9 of 18
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
לְצִבְאֹתָ֔ם
throughout their hosts
H6635
לְצִבְאֹתָ֔ם
throughout their hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
10 of 18
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
שֵׁשׁ
were six
H8337
שֵׁשׁ
were six
Strong's:
H8337
Word #:
11 of 18
six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth
אֲלָפִ֔ים
thousand
H505
אֲלָפִ֔ים
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
13 of 18
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת
and three
H7969
וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת
and three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
14 of 18
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
אֲלָפִ֔ים
thousand
H505
אֲלָפִ֔ים
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
15 of 18
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
Cross References
Numbers 1:46Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.Exodus 38:26A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.
Historical Context
This number represented only fighting-age males (20+), suggesting total population of 2-2.5 million including women, children, elderly, and Levites. Critics question whether the wilderness could support such numbers, but God's miraculous provision (manna, quail, water) sustained them for forty years.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the dramatic fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham encourage faith in His ability to fulfill seemingly impossible promises?
- What does Israel's exponential growth teach us about God's power to multiply what we dedicate to Him?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The grand total (603,550) fulfills God's promise to Abraham of innumerable descendants 'as the stars of the heaven' (Genesis 15:5). From one man's faith grew a mighty nation in just four centuries, demonstrating God's power to multiply covenant blessings. This encourages faith that small beginnings—one believer, one family, one church—can grow mightily through God's blessing across generations.