Numbers 26:4
Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.
Original Language Analysis
וּבְנֵ֣י
and the children
H1121
וּבְנֵ֣י
and the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 14
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
Take the sum of the people from twenty
H6242
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
Take the sum of the people from twenty
Strong's:
H6242
Word #:
2 of 14
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
וָמָ֑עְלָה
and upward
H4605
וָמָ֑עְלָה
and upward
Strong's:
H4605
Word #:
4 of 14
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֩
H834
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְהוָ֤ה
as the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֤ה
as the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 14
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וּבְנֵ֣י
and the children
H1121
וּבְנֵ֣י
and the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
10 of 14
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
11 of 14
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
הַיֹּֽצְאִ֖ים
which went forth
H3318
הַיֹּֽצְאִ֖ים
which went forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
12 of 14
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
Historical Context
The first census (Numbers 1) counted 603,550 fighting men; the second census (Numbers 26:51) counted 601,730—a slight decrease reflecting divine judgment on the wilderness generation. The twenty-year threshold marked the age of military conscription and legal accountability in ancient Israel. This census would determine land allotment proportions in Canaan.
Questions for Reflection
- How does inheriting spiritual identity from previous generations ('which went forth out of Egypt') shape your understanding of covenant community?
- What does it mean that God counts and knows His people individually, even as they number in the hundreds of thousands?
- In what ways does God prepare His people practically (military census) for the spiritual battles they must fight?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward (מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמָעְלָה)—the census counts military-age men capable of warfare, the same criterion used in Numbers 1:3. The phrase as the LORD commanded Moses emphasizes divine initiative: God orders the census for His purposes.
The reference to the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt is ironic—this new generation never experienced Egyptian bondage firsthand. Yet they inherit the identity and calling of the Exodus generation. The census serves multiple purposes: military preparation for conquest (Joshua's campaigns), tribal organization for land distribution (Numbers 26:52-56), and theological testimony to God's covenant faithfulness despite a generation's unbelief.