Numbers 26:50 (KJV)

What does Numbers 26:50 mean?

Numbers 26:50 reports the total number of men from the tribe of Naphtali who were counted in a census: forty-five thousand four hundred. This verse lists the families within Naphtali and gives their combined number as part of a larger record of Israel’s tribes.

Moses is recording the results of a census God commanded as the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land. This verse marks the end of the tally for Naphtali, one of Jacob’s sons, showing the tribe’s size and organization by family groups. The count is only of men able to go to war, reflecting the practical needs of the nation at this moment.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 26:50

• "families" (מִשְׁפָּחוֹת, mishpachot): This word refers to extended family groups or clans within the tribe, highlighting the structure of Israelite society.
• "numbered" (פָּקַד, paqad): This verb often means to count or take account of, but it can also carry the sense of being appointed or assigned, showing the census was an official and purposeful act.
• The numbers ("forty" אַרְבָּעִים, arba‘im; "five" חָמֵשׁ, chamesh; "thousand" אֶלֶף, eleph; "four" אַרְבַּע, arba‘; "hundred" מֵאָה, me’ah): The specific Hebrew terms for numbers reinforce the exactness and care taken in the census.

Why Numbers 26:50 matters

• This verse shows the careful organization and record-keeping of the Israelite community as they prepared for a major transition into a new land.
• The mention of families (mishpachot) emphasizes the importance of kinship and identity within each tribe, which affected inheritance and leadership.
• The census connects to the broader narrative of Numbers 26, which contrasts the new generation with the one that left Egypt, highlighting continuity and change in Israel’s story.