The Meaning of Numbers 3:40 Explained

Numbers 3:40

KJV: And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

YLT: And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Number every first-born male of the sons of Israel from a son of a month and upward, and take up the number of their names;

Darby: And Jehovah said to Moses, Number all the first-born males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

ASV: And Jehovah said unto Moses, Number all the first-born males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  said  unto Moses,  Number  all the firstborn  of the males  of the children  of Israel  from a month  old  and upward,  and take  the number  of their names. 

What does Numbers 3:40 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 3:40 mean?

And said Yahweh to Moses Number all firstborn the males of the sons of Israel from old a month and above and take - the number of their names
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֗ה פְּקֹ֨ד כָּל־ בְּכֹ֤ר זָכָר֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִבֶּן־ חֹ֖דֶשׁ וָמָ֑עְלָה וְשָׂ֕א אֵ֖ת מִסְפַּ֥ר שְׁמֹתָֽם

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֜ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֹשֶׁ֗ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
פְּקֹ֨ד  Number 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
בְּכֹ֤ר  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
זָכָר֙  the  males 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָכָר  
Sense: male (of humans and animals) adj.
לִבְנֵ֣י  of  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
מִבֶּן־  from  old 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
חֹ֖דֶשׁ  a  month 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
וָמָ֑עְלָה  and  above 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.
וְשָׂ֕א  and  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֵ֖ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִסְפַּ֥ר  the  number 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִסְפָּר  
Sense: number, tale.
שְׁמֹתָֽם  of  their  names 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.