Numbers 26:4

Verse

“Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:

American Standard Version (1901)

Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as Jehovah commanded Moses and the children of Israel, that came forth out of the land of Egypt.

Bible in Basic English

Let all the people of twenty years old and over be numbered, as the Lord has given orders to Moses and the children of Israel who have come out of Egypt.

Free Bible Version

“Census the men twenty years of age or older, following the instructions the Lord gave to Moses.” The following is the genealogical record of those who left the land of Egypt.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

One Unity Resource Bible

“Take a census, from twenty years old and upward; as Adonai enjoined Moses [Drawn out] and the children of Israel [God prevails].” These are those that came out of the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery]. (2)

Translation for Translators

“Write down the names of all the Israeli men who are at least 20 years old, as Yahweh has commanded us.” So they did that, and this is a record of all the descendants of Jacob who came out of Egypt who were still alive.

Unlocked Literal Bible

“Count the people, from twenty years old and up, as Yahweh commanded Moses and the people of Israel, who came out of the land of Egypt.”

Noah Webster Bible

Take the sum of the people , from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, who went forth from the land of Egypt.

World English Bible

“Take a census, from twenty years old and upward, as Yahweh commanded Moses and the children of Israel.” These are those who came out of the land of Egypt.

Young's Literal Translation

'From a son of twenty years and upward,' as Jehovah hath commanded Moses and the sons of Israel who are coming out from the land of Egypt.

Context

The Second Census of Israel

³So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction, ⁴“Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:

Summary

In Numbers 26:4, Moses is instructed by God to take a census of the Israelites after the plague that resulted from the incident with Baal of Peor. This census was important for organizing the tribes and preparing for the distribution of the Promised Land. It reflects God's faithfulness in preserving His people despite their disobedience and serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin. The numbering of the Israelites also symbolizes God's continued care and plan for His chosen nation, even amidst challenges and judgment.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward,.... At the same age at which the sum was taken before, Num 1:3 so that there could not be one that was more than sixty years of age, of all those that went into the land of Canaan, except Joshua and Caleb, and besides some few in the tribe of Levi, which did not come into either of these musters: and the Lord commanded Moses, and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt; as Moses had a command to number the people before, so he had now. The sin of David was, that he numbered the people when he had no command for it; Moses, when he brought the people out of Egypt, had them committed to him by number; and now being about to die, he delivers them up as it were by number again, as Jarchi observes.