Numbers 4:40
Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙
H1961
וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 9
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
פְּקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔ם
Even those that were numbered
H6485
פְּקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔ם
Even those that were numbered
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
2 of 9
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם
of them throughout their families
H4940
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם
of them throughout their families
Strong's:
H4940
Word #:
3 of 9
a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
לְבֵ֣ית
by the house
H1004
לְבֵ֣ית
by the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
4 of 9
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֲבֹתָ֑ם
of their fathers
H1
אֲבֹתָ֑ם
of their fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
5 of 9
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
אַלְפַּ֕יִם
were two thousand
H505
אַלְפַּ֕יִם
were two thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
6 of 9
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
וְשֵׁ֥שׁ
and six
H8337
וְשֵׁ֥שׁ
and six
Strong's:
H8337
Word #:
7 of 9
six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth
Historical Context
The Gershonites transported their fabric loads on two wagons pulled by four oxen (7:7), while Kohathites carried sacred objects on their shoulders without wagons (7:9). This distinction honored the sanctity of holy objects while acknowledging practical needs for fabric transport.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the indispensability of 'lesser' Gershonite service (curtains) illustrate Paul's body-of-Christ metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12:21-25?
- What comfort and challenge do you find in God's precise knowledge of your service contributions?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Two thousand and six hundred and thirty—The Gershonites numbered 2,630 qualified servants from a total clan of 7,500 males (3:22), yielding a 35% service ratio, slightly higher than Kohathites (32%). Despite being Levi's firstborn line, Gershonites had the smallest serving workforce among the three Levitical clans, yet their role was indispensable—without curtains and coverings, the holy objects would be exposed to profanation.
The precise enumeration (not 'about 2,600') reflects God's comprehensive knowledge of His servants. Jesus later affirmed this principle: 'The very hairs of your head are all numbered' (Matthew 10:30). Divine omniscience extends beyond crowd counts to individual accountability, a truth both comforting (God knows me) and sobering (God will judge me).