The Meaning of Exodus 38:21 Explained

Exodus 38:21

KJV: This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

YLT: These are the numberings of the tabernacle (the tabernacle of testimony), which hath been numbered by the command of Moses, the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

Darby: These are the things numbered of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, which were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, by the service of the Levites, under the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.

ASV: This is the sum of the things for the tabernacle, even the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

This  is the sum  of the tabernacle,  [even] of the tabernacle  of testimony,  as it was counted,  according to the commandment  of Moses,  [for] the service  of the Levites,  by the hand  of Ithamar,  son  to Aaron  the priest. 

What does Exodus 38:21 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Exodus 38

1  The altar of burnt offering
8  The laver of brass
9  The court, and its hangings
21  The sum of what the people offered, and the use to which it was applied

What do the individual words in Exodus 38:21 mean?

These [are] the inventory items of the tabernacle the tabernacle of the Testimony which counted according to the commandment of Moses for the service of the Levites by the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest
אֵ֣לֶּה פְקוּדֵ֤י הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן הָעֵדֻ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר פֻּקַּ֖ד עַל־ פִּ֣י מֹשֶׁ֑ה עֲבֹדַת֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם בְּיַד֙ אִֽיתָמָ֔ר בֶּֽן־ אַהֲרֹ֖ן הַכֹּהֵֽן

אֵ֣לֶּה  These  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
פְקוּדֵ֤י  the  inventory  items 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural construct
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙  of  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
מִשְׁכַּ֣ן  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
הָעֵדֻ֔ת  of  the  Testimony 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדוּת  
Sense: testimony.
פֻּקַּ֖ד  counted 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
עַל־  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
פִּ֣י  the  commandment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
מֹשֶׁ֑ה  of  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
עֲבֹדַת֙  for  the  service 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
הַלְוִיִּ֔ם  of  the  Levites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
בְּיַד֙  by  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
אִֽיתָמָ֔ר  of  Ithamar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִיתָמָר  
Sense: fourth and youngest son of Aaron.
בֶּֽן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אַהֲרֹ֖ן  of  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
הַכֹּהֵֽן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.