The Meaning of Numbers 3:16 Explained

Numbers 3:16

KJV: And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.

YLT: And Moses numbereth them according to the command of Jehovah, as he hath been commanded.

Darby: And Moses numbered them, according to the commandment of Jehovah, as he had been commanded.

ASV: And Moses numbered them according to the word of Jehovah, as he was commanded.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  numbered  them according to the word  of the LORD,  as he was commanded. 

What does Numbers 3:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Numbers 3

1  The sons of Aaron
5  The Levites are given to the priests instead of the firstborn
14  Are numbered by their families
21  The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites
27  Of the Kohathites
33  Of the Merarites
38  The place and charge of Moses and Aaron
40  The firstborn are freed by the Levites
44  The balances are refunded

What do the individual words in Numbers 3:16 mean?

So numbered them Moses according to the word of Yahweh as he was commanded
וַיִּפְקֹ֥ד אֹתָ֛ם מֹשֶׁ֖ה עַל־ פִּ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צֻוָּֽה

וַיִּפְקֹ֥ד  So  numbered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
מֹשֶׁ֖ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
עַל־  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
פִּ֣י  the  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צֻוָּֽה  he  was  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.