The Meaning of Numbers 4:24 Explained

Numbers 4:24

KJV: This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens:

YLT: This is the service of the families of the Gershonite, to serve -- and for burden,

Darby: This shall be the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving, and in carrying:

ASV: This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

This [is] the service  of the families  of the Gershonites,  to serve,  and for burdens: 

What does Numbers 4:24 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Numbers 4

1  The age at which the Levites were to serve, and the duration of the service
4  The duty of the Kohathites
16  The charge of Eleazar
17  The office of the priests
21  The duty of the Gershonites
29  Of the Merarites
34  The number of the Kohathites
38  Of the Gershonites
42  And of the Merarites

What do the individual words in Numbers 4:24 mean?

This [is] the service of the families of the Gershonite in serving and carrying
זֹ֣את עֲבֹדַ֔ת מִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֑י לַעֲבֹ֖ד : וּלְמַשָּֽׂא

זֹ֣את  This 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
עֲבֹדַ֔ת  [is]  the  service 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
מִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת  of  the  families 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מִשְׁפָּחָה  
Sense: clan, family.
הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֑י  of  the  Gershonite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֵּרְשֻׁנִּי  
Sense: a descendant of Gershon, firstborn son of Levi.
לַעֲבֹ֖ד  in  serving 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
: וּלְמַשָּֽׂא  and  carrying 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַשָּׂא 
Sense: load, bearing, tribute, burden, lifting.