Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.

1 CHRONICLES 23:3KJV
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1 Chronicles 23:3 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 23:3 mean?

1 Chronicles 23:3 records that the Levites—members of the Israelite tribe set apart for religious duties—were counted starting from those aged thirty and older, and the total number counted was thirty-eight thousand men. This verse establishes the age and the size of the group of Levites who were eligible to serve in their official roles at that time.

King David is organizing the Levites as part of preparations for temple service in Jerusalem. The verse highlights a careful census, focusing on mature men (thirty years and up) who could handle the responsibilities of temple work. This count sets the stage for how the Levites would be assigned their specific duties in the chapters that follow.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 23:3

  • לֵוִי (levi, H3881): This word refers specifically to the tribe of Levi, whose members were set apart for religious service. Not every Israelite could serve in the temple—only Levites had this special role.
  • פָּקַד (paqad, H5608): Translated as "numbered," this word often means to take a careful count or census, emphasizing the official and organized nature of this tally.
  • מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה (mi-ben sheloshim shanah va-ma‘lah, H1121, H7970, H8141, H4605): This phrase means "from the age of thirty years and upward," marking a clear threshold for service and maturity.
  • לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם (legulg’lotam, H1538): Translated as "by their polls," this literally means "by their skulls" or "heads," indicating an individual, head-by-head count, not just an estimate.

Why 1 Chronicles 23:3 matters

  • This verse clarifies that only Levites aged thirty and above were counted for temple service at this point, showing a concern for maturity and readiness for important duties.
  • The specific number—thirty-eight thousand—shows the scale of the Levite workforce and sets up the organization and division of labor described in the following verses.
  • By recording this census, the writer emphasizes the order and preparation involved in Israel’s worship life, especially as David prepares for the building of the temple.

Where else these words appear

“polls” Hebrew H1538 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 16:16 This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
  • Numbers 1:18 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.
  • Judges 9:53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.

“man” Hebrew H1397 · used in 64 verses

  • Exodus 10:11 Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.
  • Job 33:29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
  • Proverbs 30:1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

“eight” Hebrew H8083 · used in 105 verses

  • Genesis 5:4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
  • 1 Kings 7:10 And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
  • 2 Chronicles 35:19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.

“number” Hebrew H4557 · used in 129 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
  • Ezra 3:4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;