Numbers 31:46
Numbers 31:46 in Multiple Translations
and 16,000 people.
And sixteen thousand persons;)
and sixteen thousand persons),
And sixteen thousand persons;)
and 16,000 people.
And sixteene thousande persons)
and of human beings sixteen thousand —
and sixteen thousand persons),
And sixteen thousand persons;)
And out of the sixteen thousand persons,
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 31:46
BAB
Word Study
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Numbers 31:46 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/נֶ֣פֶשׁ
אָדָ֔ם
שִׁשָּׁ֥ה
עָשָׂ֖ר
אָֽלֶף
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
אָֽלֶף
ʼeleph
H505
thousand
Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 31:46
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.
אָֽלֶף
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.
Study Notes — Numbers 31:46
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Division of the Spoils
4436,000 cattle,
4530,500 donkeys,
46and 16,000 people.
47From the Israelites’ half, Moses took one out of every fifty persons and animals and gave them to the Levites who kept charge of the tabernacle of the LORD, as the LORD had commanded him. 48Then the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and of hundreds—approached MosesNumbers 31:46 Summary
The verse Numbers 31:46 talks about 16,000 people who were part of the spoils of war that the Israelites took from the Midianites. This was a result of the Israelites following God's commands, as seen in Numbers 31:1-12, and it shows how God provided for them. Just like the Israelites gave some of what they had to the Levites (Numbers 31:47), we can also give to those who serve the Lord, as a way of showing our gratitude and obedience to Him (2 Corinthians 9:7). By following God's commands and giving to others, we can experience His blessing and provision in our lives, just like the Israelites did.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the 16,000 people mentioned in Numbers 31:46?
The 16,000 people mentioned in Numbers 31:46 are part of the spoils of war taken by the Israelites from the Midianites, as commanded by the Lord (Numbers 31:1-12).
How does this verse fit into the larger context of Numbers 31?
This verse is part of the inventory of the spoils of war, which includes cattle, donkeys, and people, as recorded in Numbers 31:36-46, and is a demonstration of God's provision and blessing on the Israelites, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:18.
What happens to the people mentioned in this verse?
Some of the people, along with animals, were given to the Levites as commanded by the Lord, as seen in Numbers 31:47, similar to the instructions given in Numbers 18:21-24 and Leviticus 27:30-32.
Why is it important to note the number of people in this verse?
The specific number of people, 16,000, emphasizes the meticulous nature of the biblical account and highlights God's attention to detail, as seen in other parts of Scripture, such as Exodus 12:37 and Numbers 1:46.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about God's character and His relationship with the Israelites?
- How does the concept of spoils of war in this verse relate to the idea of God's blessing and provision in our lives today?
- What can we learn from the Israelites' obedience to God's commands, even in difficult situations, as seen in Numbers 31?
- In what ways can we apply the principle of giving to those who serve the Lord, as seen in Numbers 31:47, to our own lives and communities?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 31:46
[See comments on Numbers 31:32].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 31:46
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 31:46
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).