King James Version

What Does Numbers 1:20 Mean?

Numbers 1:20 in the King James Version says “And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathe... — study this verse from Numbers chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Numbers 1:20 · KJV


Context

18

And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.

19

As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20

And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

21

Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

22

Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Reuben's census, despite losing the birthright through sin (Genesis 35:22; 49:3-4), demonstrates both divine justice and mercy. The tribe lost preeminence but not inclusion in Israel, showing that while sin has consequences, God's covenant faithfulness preserves His people. The genealogical record 'by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers' emphasizes that covenant identity passes through families, anticipating the principle that believers and their children are in covenant with God.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, forfeited the birthright to Joseph's sons due to defiling his father's bed. Though numbered here as Israel's 'eldest son,' the tribe never regained preeminence, settling east of the Jordan and later falling into apostasy.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Reuben's loss of birthright yet continued inclusion in Israel illustrate both the seriousness of sin and the persistence of grace?
  2. What does this teach us about God's covenant faithfulness to His people despite their failures?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וַיִּֽהְי֤וּ1 of 21
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

מִבֶּ֨ן2 of 21

And the children

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

רְאוּבֵן֙3 of 21

of Reuben

H7205

reuben, a son of jacob

בְּכֹ֣ר4 of 21

eldest son

H1060

first-born; hence, chief

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל5 of 21

Israel's

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם6 of 21

by their generations

H8435

(plural only) descent, i.e., family; (figuratively) history

לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם7 of 21

after their families

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

לְבֵ֣ית8 of 21

by the house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

אֲבֹתָ֑ם9 of 21

of their fathers

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר10 of 21

according to the number

H4557

a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration

שֵׁמוֹת֙11 of 21

of the names

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם12 of 21

by their polls

H1538

a skull (as round); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons)

כָּל13 of 21
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

זָכָ֗ר14 of 21

every male

H2145

properly, remembered, i.e., a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex)

מִבֶּ֨ן15 of 21

And the children

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

עֶשְׂרִ֤ים16 of 21

from twenty

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

שָׁנָה֙17 of 21

years

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

וָמַ֔עְלָה18 of 21

and upward

H4605

properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc

כֹּ֖ל19 of 21
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

יֹצֵ֥א20 of 21

all that were able to go forth

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

צָבָֽא׃21 of 21

to war

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 1:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Numbers 1:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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