Numbers 1:21
Numbers 1:21 in Multiple Translations
those registered to the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.
Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
Forty-six thousand, five hundred of the tribe of Reuben were numbered.
from the tribe of Reuben totaled 46,500.
The nomber of them, I say, of the tribe of Reuben, was sixe and fourtie thousande, and fiue hundreth.
their numbered ones, for the tribe of Reuben, are six and forty thousand and five hundred.
those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty-six thousand five hundred.
Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
Were forty-six thousand five hundred.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 1:21
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Numbers 1:21 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
פְּקֻדֵי/הֶ֖ם
לְ/מַטֵּ֣ה
רְאוּבֵ֑ן
שִׁשָּׁ֧ה
וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֛ים
אֶ֖לֶף
וַ/חֲמֵ֥שׁ
מֵאֽוֹת
פְּקֻדֵי/הֶ֖ם
pâqad
H6485
to reckon
V-Qal-Inf-c | Suff
לְ/מַטֵּ֣ה
maṭṭeh
H4294
tribe
Prep | N-ms
רְאוּבֵ֑ן
Rᵉʼûwbên
H7205
Reuben
N-proper
שִׁשָּׁ֧ה
shêsh
H8337
six
Adj
וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֛ים
ʼarbâʻîym
H705
forty
Conj | Adj
אֶ֖לֶף
ʼeleph
H505
thousand
Adj
וַ/חֲמֵ֥שׁ
châmêsh
H2568
five
Conj | Adj
מֵאֽוֹת
mêʼâh
H3967
hundred
Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 1:21
פְּקֻדֵי/הֶ֖ם
pâqad
H6485
"to reckon"
V-Qal-Inf-c | Suff
This word means to visit or oversee, and can imply a range of actions, from friendly to hostile. It is used in various contexts, including appointing, avenging, or delivering something into someone's care. The KJV translates it in many ways, including appoint, avenge, or commit.
Definition: : list/count 1) to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pay attention to, observe 1a2) to attend to 1a3) to seek, look about for 1a4) to seek in vain, need, miss, lack 1a5) to visit 1a6) to visit upon, punish 1a7) to pass in review, muster, number 1a8) to appoint, assign, lay upon as a charge, deposit 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be sought, be needed, be missed, be lacking 1b2) to be visited 1b3) to be visited upon 1b4) to be appointed 1b5) to be watched over 1c) (Piel) to muster, call up 1d) (Pual) to be passed in review, be caused to miss, be called, be called to account 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to set over, make overseer, appoint an overseer 1e2) to commit, entrust, commit for care, deposit 1f) (Hophal) 1f1) to be visited 1f2) to be deposited 1f3) to be made overseer, be entrusted 1g) (Hithpael) numbered 1h) (Hothpael) numbered
Usage: Occurs in 269 OT verses. KJV: appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want. See also: Genesis 21:1; Numbers 26:47; Psalms 8:5.
לְ/מַטֵּ֣ה
maṭṭeh
H4294
"tribe"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, this word can mean a tribe, like the 12 tribes of Israel, or a staff, like the one Moses used to lead his people in Exodus 4:2.
Definition: : tribe 1) staff, branch, tribe 1a) staff, rod, shaft 1b) branch (of vine) 1c) tribe 1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)
Usage: Occurs in 205 OT verses. KJV: rod, staff, tribe. See also: Genesis 38:18; Numbers 34:19; Psalms 105:16.
רְאוּבֵ֑ן
Rᵉʼûwbên
H7205
"Reuben"
N-proper
Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, and the ancestor of the tribe of Reuben. He is mentioned in Genesis as the brother of Simeon, Levi, and Judah, and the father of Hanoch and Pallu.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Reuben living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.32; son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812); brother of: Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); father of: Hanoch (H2585J), Pallu (H6396), Hezron (H2696) and Carmi (H3756) § Reuben = "behold a son" 1) the eldest son of Jacob by Leah 2) the tribe descended from Reuben 3) the territory inhabited by the tribe of Reuben
Usage: Occurs in 68 OT verses. KJV: Reuben. See also: Genesis 29:32; Deuteronomy 27:13; Ezekiel 48:31.
שִׁשָּׁ֧ה
shêsh
H8337
"six"
Adj
This Hebrew word means the number six, and is often used in the Bible to describe measurements, like the six days of creation in Genesis 1.
Definition: 1) six 1a) six (cardinal number) 1b) sixth (ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers Aramaic equivalent: shet (שֵׁת "six" H8353)
Usage: Occurs in 202 OT verses. KJV: six(-teen, -teenth), sixth. See also: Genesis 7:6; 1 Kings 6:6; Proverbs 6:16.
וְ/אַרְבָּעִ֛ים
ʼarbâʻîym
H705
"forty"
Conj | Adj
The number forty is what this Hebrew word represents, often used in the Bible to mark significant periods of time, like the 40 days of rain in Genesis or the 40 years of Israel's wilderness journey.
Definition: forty
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: -forty. See also: Genesis 5:13; Judges 13:1; Psalms 95:10.
אֶ֖לֶף
ʼeleph
H505
"thousand"
Adj
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Definition: : thousand 1) a thousand 1a) as numeral 2) a thousand, company 2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
Usage: Occurs in 390 OT verses. KJV: thousand. See also: Genesis 20:16; Joshua 3:4; 2 Kings 18:23.
וַ/חֲמֵ֥שׁ
châmêsh
H2568
"five"
Conj | Adj
This Hebrew word simply means the number five. It is used throughout the Bible to describe quantities of five, such as five loaves of bread in Matthew 14:17. It can also mean a multiple of five.
Definition: 1) five 1a) five (cardinal number) 1b) a multiple of five (with another number) 1c) fifth (ordinal number)
Usage: Occurs in 272 OT verses. KJV: fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece). See also: Genesis 5:6; Numbers 31:45; Ezra 2:66.
מֵאֽוֹת
mêʼâh
H3967
"hundred"
Adj
Means a hundred, used as a simple number or part of a larger number in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including fractions like one one-hundredth. Found in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: 1) hundred 1a) as simple number 1b) as part of larger number 1c) as a fraction-one one-hundredth (1/100) Aramaic equivalent: me.ah (מְאָה "hundred" H3969)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. See also: Genesis 5:3; Numbers 2:6; Judges 18:17.
Study Notes — Numbers 1:21
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Number of Every Tribe
19just as the LORD had commanded Moses. So Moses numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai:
20From the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,
21those registered to the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.
22From the sons of Simeon, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, 23those registered to the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 26:7 | These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730. |
| 2 | Numbers 2:10–11 | On the south side, the divisions of Reuben are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur son of Shedeur, and his division numbers 46,500. |
Numbers 1:21 Summary
This verse tells us that there were 46,500 men from the tribe of Reuben who were registered to serve in the army. This number shows us that God is faithful to His people and keeps His promises (Genesis 49:4). Just like the tribe of Reuben, we can trust in God's sovereignty and faithfulness, knowing that He has a plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). By obeying God's commands and trusting in His plan, we can experience His faithfulness and blessing in our own lives, just as the tribe of Reuben did.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the number 46,500 in Numbers 1:21?
The number 46,500 represents the total number of men from the tribe of Reuben who were registered to serve in the army, as commanded by the Lord (Numbers 1:20). This number is a demonstration of God's faithfulness to the tribe of Reuben, as promised in Genesis 49:4.
Why did Moses need to count the men of Reuben?
Moses was instructed by the Lord to count the men of Reuben, along with the other tribes, to determine the total number of men available for military service (Numbers 1:20, Deuteronomy 10:22). This census was a way for God to organize and prepare His people for their journey to the Promised Land.
How does this verse relate to the broader theme of Numbers 1?
Numbers 1:21 is part of a larger census taken by Moses, as commanded by the Lord, to determine the total number of men available for military service (Numbers 1:1-4, Numbers 26:1-4). This census is a demonstration of God's sovereignty and organization, as He prepares His people to conquer the Promised Land.
What can we learn from the tribe of Reuben's example in this verse?
The tribe of Reuben's example in Numbers 1:21 teaches us about the importance of obedience and faithfulness to God's commands (Numbers 1:20, Romans 11:1). We can learn from their example by being faithful to God's call on our lives and trusting in His sovereignty, just as the tribe of Reuben did (Psalm 119:1-2).
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about God's character and His relationship with the tribe of Reuben?
- How does the number 46,500 relate to the broader theme of God's faithfulness to His people?
- What can I learn from the example of the tribe of Reuben in this verse, and how can I apply it to my own life?
- How does this verse demonstrate God's sovereignty and organization, and what does it teach me about trusting in His plan?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 1:21
Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Reuben, [were] forty and six thousand and five hundred. 46,500 men. [See comments on Numbers 1:20].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 1:21
And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 1:21
17–46. The numbers ascertained by the census. There can be no doubt that the numbers given in chs. 1–3 and 26 are purely artificial. Gray (Numbers, pp. 10–15) shews that (1) they are impossible, (2) when compared with each other they yield absurd results, (3) they are inconsistent with numbers given in Hebrew literature earlier than P . (1) The number of male Israelites of fighting age is put at 603,550, which appears in round numbers as 600,000 in Numbers 11:21, Exodus 12:37. But the fighting men could form hardly more than a quarter of the whole; so that the population would reach a total of some 2¼ millions. The present population of the Sinaitic peninsula is estimated at from 4,000 to 6,000, and a body of over 2 million people could not find subsistence even if dispersed all over the peninsula. (2) The male first-born numbered 22,273 (Numbers 3:43); and it is fair to suppose that the number of families in which the first-born child was a female would be about the same, giving a total of some 44,546 families; in which case there was an average of about 50 children to a family. Again, from Numbers 3:12 we gather that the ‘first-born’ means the first-born of the mother, not the eldest son of a father who might have several wives. There were, therefore, 44,546 mothers.
But this number (assuming that the number of women over 20 years of age was the same as that of the men, i.e. 600,000) involves the extreme improbability that only 1 in 14 women over 20 years of age had any children. (3) According to Judges 5:8 the tribes of Benjamin, Ephraim. Manasseh, Naphtali, Zebulun and Issachar yielded only 40,000 persons, i.e. apparently fighting men. But in these six tribes the fighting men were 273,300 at the first census, and 301,000 at the second (Numbers 26). Again, in Judges 18 it is related that the Danites had no proper territory belonging to them; and therefore 600 armed men (obviously the greater part of the tribe) migrated to the north. But the fighting men of Dan numbered 62,700 at the first census, and 64,400 at the second. See, further, the additional note at the end of the chapter.
Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 1:21
21. Those that were numbered — That is, mustered or marshalled on the basis of the prior enumeration in Exodus 38:26, the total of which agrees with that here given.