Numbers 3:43

Authorized King James Version

And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיְהִי֩
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
כָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#3
בְּכ֨וֹר
And all the firstborn
first-born; hence, chief
#4
זָכָ֜ר
males
properly, remembered, i.e., a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex)
#5
בְּמִסְפַּ֥ר
by the number
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
#6
שֵׁמֹ֛ת
of names
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
#7
מִבֶּן
old
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#8
חֹ֥דֶשׁ
from a month
the new moon; by implication, a month
#9
וָמַ֖עְלָה
and upward
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
#10
לִפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם
of those that were numbered
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
#11
שְׁנַ֤יִם
and two
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
#12
וְעֶשְׂרִים֙
of them were twenty
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
#13
אֶ֔לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#14
שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
#15
וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים
and threescore and thirteen
seventy
#16
וּמָאתָֽיִם׃
two hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Numbers Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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