Numbers 31:40

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Numbers 31:40 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

and 16,000 people, including a tribute to the LORD of 32.

King James Version KJV

And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD’s tribute was thirty and two persons.

American Standard Version ASV

And the persons were sixteen thousand; of whom Jehovah’s tribute was thirty and two persons.

Bible in Basic English BBE

And the number of persons was sixteen thousand, of which the Lord's part was thirty-two persons.

Free Bible Version FBV

and 16,000 people, with a Lord's contribution of 32.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

And of persons sixtene thousand, whereof the Lordes tribute was two and thirtie persons.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

and the human beings [are] sixteen thousand, and their tribute to Jehovah [is] two and thirty persons.

World English Bible WEB

The persons were sixteen thousand, of whom the LORD’s tribute was thirty-two persons.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

And the persons were sixteen thousand, of which the LORD'S tribute was thirty and two persons.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

Out of the sixteen thousand persons, there fell to the portion of the Lord, thirty-two souls.

Translation for Translators T4T

They took 16,000 virgins, and they dedicated 32 of them to Yahweh.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 31:40

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 31:40 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB וְ/נֶ֣פֶשׁ אָדָ֔ם שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר אָ֑לֶף וּ/מִכְסָ/ם֙ לַֽ/יהוָ֔ה שְׁנַ֥יִם וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים נָֽפֶשׁ

וְ/נֶ֣פֶשׁ nephesh H5315 soul Conj | N-cs

אָדָ֔ם ʼâdâm H120 the man (Adam) N-ms

שִׁשָּׁ֥ה shêsh H8337 six Adj

עָשָׂ֖ר ʻâsâr H6240 ten Adj

אָ֑לֶף ʼeleph H505 thousand Adj

וּ/מִכְסָ/ם֙ mekeç H4371 tribute Conj | N-ms | Suff

לַֽ/יהוָ֔ה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 The Lord Prep | N-proper

שְׁנַ֥יִם shᵉnayim H8147 two Adj

וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים shᵉlôwshîym H7970 thirty Conj | Adj

נָֽפֶשׁ nephesh H5315 soul N-cs

Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 31:40

וְ/נֶ֣פֶשׁ nephesh H5315 "soul" Conj | N-cs

The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.

Definition: 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain

Usage: Occurs in 683 OT verses. KJV: any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it. See also: Genesis 1:20; Leviticus 26:43; Judges 18:25.

אָדָ֔ם ʼâdâm H120 "the man (Adam)" N-ms

Adam was the first human, created by God and mentioned in Genesis 2:19, who married Eve and had sons including Cain, Abel, and Seth.

Definition: The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19; married to Eve (H2332); father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33; Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121) man, human being

Usage: Occurs in 526 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. See also: Genesis 1:26; Judges 18:7; Psalms 8:5.

שִׁשָּׁ֥ה 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.

עָשָׂ֖ר ʻâsâr H6240 "ten" Adj

In Hebrew, this word means ten, and is used to form numbers like eleven or thirteen, as seen in Genesis 31:41. It is always used in combination with other numbers.

Definition: 1) ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers) 1a) used only in combination to make the numbers 11-19

Usage: Occurs in 292 OT verses. KJV: (eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-, six-, thir-) teen(-th), [phrase] eleven(-th), [phrase] sixscore thousand, [phrase] twelve(-th). See also: Genesis 5:8; Joshua 21:7; 1 Chronicles 25:27.

אָ֑לֶף 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.

וּ/מִכְסָ/ם֙ mekeç H4371 "tribute" Conj | N-ms | Suff

This Hebrew word means a tax or tribute, often based on a census, and is used in the Bible to describe the payments made to kings and governments. It appears in books like Kings and Chronicles. The concept is still relevant today.

Definition: computation, proportion to be paid, tribute, tax

Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: tribute. See also: Numbers 31:28; Numbers 31:39; Numbers 31:41.

לַֽ/יהוָ֔ה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 "The Lord" Prep | N-proper

Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.

Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.

שְׁנַ֥יִם shᵉnayim H8147 "two" Adj

The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.

Definition: 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)

Usage: Occurs in 646 OT verses. KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. See also: Genesis 1:16; Exodus 30:4; Numbers 13:23.

וּ/שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים shᵉlôwshîym H7970 "thirty" Conj | Adj

Thirty is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also be used as an ordinal to describe something as thirtieth. It is used to count quantities in the Bible.

Definition: thirty, thirtieth Aramaic equivalent: te.la.tin (תְּלָתִין "thirty" H8533)

Usage: Occurs in 163 OT verses. KJV: thirty, thirtieth. Compare H7991 (שָׁלִישׁ). See also: Genesis 5:3; 1 Samuel 11:8; Jeremiah 38:10.

נָֽפֶשׁ nephesh H5315 "soul" N-cs

Study Notes — Numbers 31:40

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Numbers 31:40 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 31:40
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 31:40
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 31:40

Context — Division of the Spoils

3836,000 cattle, including a tribute to the LORD of 72, 3930,500 donkeys, including a tribute to the LORD of 61,

40and 16,000 people, including a tribute to the LORD of 32.

41Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as an offering for the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 42From the Israelites’ half, which Moses had set apart from the men who had gone to war,

Numbers 31:40 Summary

Numbers 31:40 talks about the Israelites giving a tribute to the LORD from the people they had taken captive. This was a way for them to show their gratitude and worship to God, recognizing that everything they had came from Him (Psalms 24:1). Just like the Israelites, we can give to God as an act of worship, whether through our time, talents, or resources, and trust that He will provide for us (Matthew 6:33). By giving to God, we acknowledge His sovereignty and provision in our lives, and express our love and appreciation for all He has done for us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of the number of people mentioned in Numbers 31:40?

The 16,000 people mentioned in Numbers 31:40 were likely prisoners of war or spoils of war, and the tribute to the LORD of 32 people was an offering to God as an act of worship and gratitude, similar to the tithe mentioned in Leviticus 27:30-32 and the concept of firstfruits in Deuteronomy 26:1-11.

How does this verse relate to the concept of giving to God?

This verse illustrates the principle of giving to God as an act of worship, as seen in other passages such as Malachi 3:10 and Matthew 6:2-4, where believers are encouraged to give generously and cheerfully to support God's work and kingdom.

What can we learn from the Israelites' practice of giving a tribute to the LORD?

The Israelites' practice of giving a tribute to the LORD, as seen in Numbers 31:40, demonstrates their recognition of God's sovereignty and provision, and serves as a reminder for believers today to acknowledge and honor God as the source of all blessings, as expressed in Psalms 24:1 and 1 Corinthians 4:7.

How does this verse fit into the broader context of Numbers 31?

Numbers 31:40 is part of a larger narrative where the Israelites are instructed to take vengeance on the Midianites and then divide the spoils of war, with a portion given to the LORD as an offering, as commanded in Numbers 31:25-47, highlighting God's concern for justice, holiness, and worship.

Reflection Questions

What are some ways I can practically give to God as an act of worship, similar to the Israelites' tribute in Numbers 31:40?
How can I cultivate a sense of gratitude and recognition of God's provision in my life, like the Israelites did through their offerings?
What are some areas in my life where I can apply the principle of giving to God, whether through time, talent, or treasure?
How can I ensure that my giving is done with the right heart and motives, as encouraged in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 and Matthew 6:2-4?

Gill's Exposition on Numbers 31:40

[See comments on Numbers 31:32].

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 31:40

And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep: No JFB commentary on these verses.

Cambridge Bible on Numbers 31:40

25–54. The apportionment of the spoil. Those who fought and those who remained behind were to receive equal shares. This was an ancient custom, which was traced to the action of David (1 Samuel 30:24 f.). But before the appropriation by individuals, a religious tax was to be paid. The fighters were to pay from their share 1/500th to the priests, and the others 1/50th to the Levites. Such a tax is not mentioned elsewhere in the O.T., but perhaps, like the foregoing regulation, it had an ancient custom behind it. Mohammed, whose religion was ultimately based on the O.T., enjoined a similar tax of 1/5th (Koran viii. 42, cited by Gray).