Numbers 3:33
Numbers 3:33 in Multiple Translations
From Merari came the clans of the Mahlites and Mushites; these were the Merarite clans.
¶ Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
From Merari come the Mahlites and the Mushites; these are the families of Merari.
The family of Mahli and the family of Mushi came from Merari. These were the families of Merari.
Of Merari came the familie of the Mahlites, and the familie of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
Of Merari [is] the family of the Mahlite, and the family of the Mushite; these [are] the families of Merari.
Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari.
Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
And of Merari are the families of the Moholites, and Musites, reckoned up by their names:
The clans that were descended from Merari were those descended from his sons Mahli and Mushi.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 3:33
BAB
Word Study
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Numbers 3:33 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לִ/מְרָרִ֕י
מִשְׁפַּ֨חַת֙
הַ/מַּחְלִ֔י
וּ/מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת
הַ/מּוּשִׁ֑י
אֵ֥לֶּה
הֵ֖ם
מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת
מְרָרִֽי
לִ/מְרָרִ֕י
Mᵉrârîy
H4847
Merari
Prep | N-proper
מִשְׁפַּ֨חַת֙
mishpâchâh
H4940
family
N-fs
הַ/מַּחְלִ֔י
Machlîy
H4250
Mahlite
Art | Ngmsa
וּ/מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת
mishpâchâh
H4940
family
Conj | N-fs
הַ/מּוּשִׁ֑י
Mûwshîy
H4188
Mushite
Art | Ngmsa
אֵ֥לֶּה
ʼêl-leh
H428
these
Pron
הֵ֖ם
hêm
H1992
they(masc.)
Pron
מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת
mishpâchâh
H4940
family
N-fp
מְרָרִֽי
Mᵉrârîy
H4847
Merari
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 3:33
לִ/מְרָרִ֕י
Mᵉrârîy
H4847
"Merari"
Prep | N-proper
Merari was a man in the Bible, the third son of Levi and head of a family of Levites. His name means 'bitter' and he's mentioned in Genesis as an ancestor of the tribe of Levi.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.11; son of: Levi (H3878); brother of: Gershon (H1648), Kohath (H6955) and Jochebed (H3115); father of: Mahli (H4249), Mushi (H4187) and Jaaziah (H3269) Also named: me.ra.ri (מְרָרִי "Merari" H4848) § Merari = "bitter" the 3rd son of Levi and head of a Levitical family
Usage: Occurs in 38 OT verses. KJV: Merari. See also H4848 (מְרָרִי). See also: Genesis 46:11; 1 Chronicles 6:1; Ezra 8:19.
מִשְׁפַּ֨חַת֙
mishpâchâh
H4940
"family"
N-fs
This word refers to a family or clan, and can also mean a tribe or nation, such as the people of Israel, emphasizing the importance of family ties.
Definition: 1) clan, family 1a) clan 1a1) family 1a2) tribe 1a3) people, nation 1b) guild 1c) species, kind 1d) aristocrats
Usage: Occurs in 224 OT verses. KJV: family, kind(-red). See also: Genesis 8:19; Numbers 26:41; Esther 9:28.
הַ/מַּחְלִ֔י
Machlîy
H4250
"Mahlite"
Art | Ngmsa
A Mahlite is a descendant of Mahli, a Levite living during the time of Moses. Mahli was the son of Merari and the father of Libni, Eleazar, and Kish. The Mahlites are mentioned in Exodus 6:19 and Numbers 3:20.
Definition: Someone descended from Mahli who was a man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.19; son of: Merari (H4847); brother of: Mushi (H4187) and Jaaziah (H3269); father of: Libni (H3845H), Eleazar (H0499J) and Kish (H7027H) Group of mach.li (מַחְלִי "Mahli" H4249) § Mahlites, of Mahli "my sickness" descendants of Mahli, the grandson of Levi
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Mahlites. See also: Numbers 3:33; Numbers 26:58.
וּ/מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת
mishpâchâh
H4940
"family"
Conj | N-fs
This word refers to a family or clan, and can also mean a tribe or nation, such as the people of Israel, emphasizing the importance of family ties.
Definition: 1) clan, family 1a) clan 1a1) family 1a2) tribe 1a3) people, nation 1b) guild 1c) species, kind 1d) aristocrats
Usage: Occurs in 224 OT verses. KJV: family, kind(-red). See also: Genesis 8:19; Numbers 26:41; Esther 9:28.
הַ/מּוּשִׁ֑י
Mûwshîy
H4188
"Mushite"
Art | Ngmsa
A Mushite was a descendant of Mushi, a Levite who lived during the time of the Exodus. The term refers to the family line of Mushi, who was a great grandson of Levi. They were part of the tribe of Levi.
Definition: Someone descended from Mushi who was a man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.19; son of: Merari (H4847); brother of: Mahli (H4249) and Jaaziah (H3269); father of: Mahli (H4249H), Eder (H5740A) and Jerimoth (H3406K) Group of mu.shi (מוּשִׁי "Mushi" H4187) § Mushites, of Mushi "yielding" descendants of Mushi, the great grandson of Levi
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Mushites. See also: Numbers 3:33; Numbers 26:58.
אֵ֥לֶּה
ʼêl-leh
H428
"these"
Pron
This Hebrew word is used to point out specific people or things, like saying 'these' or 'those'. It appears in the book of Genesis, where God says 'let there be light' and separates the light from the darkness.
Definition: 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)
Usage: Occurs in 697 OT verses. KJV: an-(the) other; one sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those, thus, which, who(-m). See also: Genesis 2:4; Exodus 35:1; Deuteronomy 1:35.
הֵ֖ם
hêm
H1992
"they(masc.)"
Pron
This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.
Definition: they, these, the same, who
Usage: Occurs in 524 OT verses. KJV: it, like, [idiom] (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, [idiom] so, [idiom] such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye. See also: Genesis 3:7; Deuteronomy 19:17; 2 Kings 1:18.
מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת
mishpâchâh
H4940
"family"
N-fp
This word refers to a family or clan, and can also mean a tribe or nation, such as the people of Israel, emphasizing the importance of family ties.
Definition: 1) clan, family 1a) clan 1a1) family 1a2) tribe 1a3) people, nation 1b) guild 1c) species, kind 1d) aristocrats
Usage: Occurs in 224 OT verses. KJV: family, kind(-red). See also: Genesis 8:19; Numbers 26:41; Esther 9:28.
מְרָרִֽי
Mᵉrârîy
H4847
"Merari"
N-proper
Merari was a man in the Bible, the third son of Levi and head of a family of Levites. His name means 'bitter' and he's mentioned in Genesis as an ancestor of the tribe of Levi.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.11; son of: Levi (H3878); brother of: Gershon (H1648), Kohath (H6955) and Jochebed (H3115); father of: Mahli (H4249), Mushi (H4187) and Jaaziah (H3269) Also named: me.ra.ri (מְרָרִי "Merari" H4848) § Merari = "bitter" the 3rd son of Levi and head of a Levitical family
Usage: Occurs in 38 OT verses. KJV: Merari. See also H4848 (מְרָרִי). See also: Genesis 46:11; 1 Chronicles 6:1; Ezra 8:19.
Study Notes — Numbers 3:33
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Merarites
31Their duties were the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used with them, and the curtain—all the service for these items.
32The chief of the leaders of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; he oversaw those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.
33From Merari came the clans of the Mahlites and Mushites; these were the Merarite clans.
34The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200. 35The leader of the families of the Merarites was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 3:20 | And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families. |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 6:19 | The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers: |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 23:21 | The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. |
Numbers 3:33 Summary
The Merarite clans, which included the Mahlites and Mushites, were a part of the Levites who served God in the tabernacle. They had important responsibilities, just like other parts of the Levites, as mentioned in Numbers 3:31-32. This shows us that God values organization and teamwork, just like we see in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. By working together and using our unique gifts and talents, we can serve God and his people, just like the Merarite clans did in the tabernacle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the Merarite clans responsible for in the tabernacle?
The Merarite clans, which included the Mahlites and Mushites, were responsible for the duties of the sanctuary, as overseen by Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, as mentioned in Numbers 3:31-32 and Numbers 4:31-33.
How did the Merarite clans fit into the larger structure of the Levites?
The Merarite clans were one of the three main divisions of the Levites, along with the Kohathites and the Gershonites, as described in Numbers 3:17-20 and Numbers 3:33-35.
What can we learn from the organization of the Levites in the tabernacle?
The organization of the Levites in the tabernacle, including the Merarite clans, demonstrates the importance of order, structure, and division of labor in the service of God, as seen in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and Ephesians 4:11-13.
How does the mention of the Merarite clans in Numbers 3:33 relate to the broader theme of Numbers?
The mention of the Merarite clans in Numbers 3:33 is part of the larger theme of Numbers, which emphasizes the importance of obedience, faithfulness, and organization in the life of God's people, as seen in Numbers 1:1-4 and Deuteronomy 1:1-3.
Reflection Questions
- What does the organization of the Merarite clans reveal about God's character and his desire for order in our lives?
- How can I apply the principles of division of labor and teamwork, as seen in the Merarite clans, to my own life and ministry?
- What are some ways that I can serve God and his people, just as the Merarite clans served in the tabernacle?
- How does the mention of the Merarite clans in Numbers 3:33 remind me of my own place and role in the body of Christ?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 3:33
Of Merari [were] the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites,.... So called from his two sons Mahli and Mushi, Numbers 3:20; these [are] the families of Merari; the youngest son of Levi, Numbers 3:17.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 3:33
Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 3:33
21–39. The Levitical families and their duties. Notice that narrative in Numbers 3:21 f., 27 f., 33 f., 39 alternates with commands in Numbers 3:23-26; Numbers 3:29-32; Numbers 3:35-38. It is one of the many indications that the priestly portions of the book were the composite work of more than one writer.