The Meaning of Numbers 1:53 Explained

Numbers 1:53

KJV: But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

YLT: and the Levites encamp round about the tabernacle of the testimony; and there is no wrath on the company of the sons of Israel, and the Levites have kept the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.

Darby: but the Levites shall encamp round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there come not wrath upon the assembly of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

ASV: But the Levites shall encamp round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the Levites  shall pitch  round about  the tabernacle  of testimony,  that there be no wrath  upon the congregation  of the children  of Israel:  and the Levites  shall keep  the charge  of the tabernacle  of testimony. 

What does Numbers 1:53 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Numbers 1

1  God commands Moses to number the people
5  The princes of the tribes
17  The number of every tribe
47  The Levites are exempted for the service of the Lord

What do the individual words in Numbers 1:53 mean?

But the Levites shall camp around tabernacle of the Testimony that no there may be wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel And shall keep the Levites - the charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony
וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם יַחֲנ֤וּ סָבִיב֙ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ן הָעֵדֻ֔ת וְלֹֽא־ יִהְיֶ֣ה קֶ֔צֶף עַל־ עֲדַ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשָׁמְרוּ֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶת־ מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת מִשְׁכַּ֥ן הָעֵדֽוּת

וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם  But  the  Levites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
יַחֲנ֤וּ  shall  camp 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָנָה  
Sense: to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against.
סָבִיב֙  around 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ן  tabernacle 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
הָעֵדֻ֔ת  of  the  Testimony 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדוּת  
Sense: testimony.
וְלֹֽא־  that  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִהְיֶ֣ה  there  may  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
קֶ֔צֶף  wrath 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶצֶף 
Sense: wrath, anger.
עֲדַ֖ת  the  congregation 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
בְּנֵ֣י  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וְשָׁמְרוּ֙  And  shall  keep 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
הַלְוִיִּ֔ם  the  Levites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת  the  charge 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁמֶרֶת  
Sense: guard, charge, function, obligation, service, watch.
מִשְׁכַּ֥ן  of  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
הָעֵדֽוּת  of  the  Testimony 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדוּת  
Sense: testimony.