King James Version

What Does Numbers 31:54 Mean?

Numbers 31:54 in the King James Version says “And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tab... — study this verse from Numbers chapter 31 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.

Numbers 31:54 · KJV


Context

52

And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the LORD, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels. offering: Heb. heave offering

53

( For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

54

And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD—The gold's destination—tabernacle of the congregation (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד ohel mo'ed, tent of meeting)—designated it as sacred treasury rather than personal use. The purpose: for a memorial (לְזִכָּרוֹן lezikaron) before the LORD (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה lifnei YHWH), creating permanent testimony to God's miraculous zero-casualty deliverance.

Memorial objects in Israel's worship (Aaron's rod, manna jar, memorial stones) testified to divine interventions for future generations. Jesus instituted communion as memorial: 'This do in remembrance of me' (Luke 22:19). Physical objects and practices anchor spiritual truth in tangible reality, preventing abstract theology from disconnecting from historical acts. The Church needs memorials reminding us that God acts in space-time history, not merely inspiring subjective religious experience.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The tabernacle treasury stored sacred objects with memorial significance: Aaron's budded rod (Numbers 17:10), golden pot of manna (Exodus 16:32-34), memorial stones, and now Midianite war gold. These memorials taught successive generations that God's character revealed through past faithfulness predicts future reliability—memorial stones prompt children's questions, creating teaching opportunities (Joshua 4:6-7,21-24).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does storing memorial gold 'before the LORD' in the tabernacle teach that testimonies of divine faithfulness belong in corporate worship, not privatized spirituality?
  2. What 'memorial objects' or practices could your church establish to remind future generations of God's specific interventions and faithfulness?
  3. How can you cultivate spiritual disciplines of remembering and testifying to God's past faithfulness as foundation for present trust?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וַיִּקַּ֨ח1 of 20

took

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

מֹשֶׁ֜ה2 of 20

And Moses

H4872

mosheh, the israelite lawgiver

וְאֶלְעָזָ֤ר3 of 20

and Eleazar

H499

elazar, the name of seven israelites

הַכֹּהֵן֙4 of 20

the priest

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

אֶת5 of 20
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַזָּהָ֔ב6 of 20

the gold

H2091

gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky

מֵאֵ֛ת7 of 20
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שָׂרֵ֥י8 of 20

of the captains

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

הָֽאֲלָפִ֖ים9 of 20

of thousands

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

וְהַמֵּא֑וֹת10 of 20

and of hundreds

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

וַיָּבִ֤אוּ11 of 20

and brought

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֹתוֹ֙12 of 20
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֶל13 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֹ֣הֶל14 of 20

it into the tabernacle

H168

a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)

מוֹעֵ֔ד15 of 20

of the congregation

H4150

properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for

זִכָּר֥וֹן16 of 20

for a memorial

H2146

a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing)

לִבְנֵֽי17 of 20

for 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

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל18 of 20

of Israel

H3478

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

לִפְנֵ֥י19 of 20

before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

יְהוָֽה׃20 of 20

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god


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 31:54 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 31:54 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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