Numbers 4:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Moses must count the Kohathites by family clans within the larger Levite tribe.
The Context of Numbers 4:2
First of three Levite families to be numbered; Kohathites handle the most sacred items.
What Does Numbers 4:2 Mean?
The Kohathites are one of three main Levite families (Kohath, Gershon, Merari). God orders a census of this family, organized by ancestral households, to determine how many are available for sacred service at the tabernacle.
This census serves a practical purpose: to allocate specific duties based on available workers. The phrase 'by their families, by the house of their fathers' emphasizes the importance of kinship structure in Israel's social and religious organization.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 4:2
What does Numbers 4:2 mean?
Moses must count the Kohathites by family clans within the larger Levite tribe.
What is the context of Numbers 4:2?
First of three Levite families to be numbered; Kohathites handle the most sacred items.