20 From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families.

Other Translations of Numbers 1:20

King James Version

20 And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

English Standard Version

20 The people of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:

The Message

20 The line of Reuben, Israel's firstborn: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by tribes according to their ancestral families.

New King James Version

20 Now the children of Reuben, Israel's oldest son, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers' house, according to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:

New Living Translation

20 This is the number of men twenty years old or older who were able to go to war, as their names were listed in the records of their clans and families :

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 1:20

Commentary on Numbers 1:1-43

(Read Numbers 1:1-43)

The people were numbered to show God's faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Jacob, that they might be the better trained for the wars and conquest of Canaan, and to ascertain their families in order to the division of the land. It is said of each tribe, that those were numbered who were able to go forth to war; they had wars before them, though now they met with no opposition. Let the believer be prepared to withstand the enemies of his soul, though all may appear to be peace.

21 The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.

Other Translations of Numbers 1:21

King James Version

21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

English Standard Version

21 those listed of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.

The Message

21 The tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.

New King James Version

21 those who were numbered of the tribe of Reuben were forty-six thousand five hundred.

New Living Translation

21 

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 1:21

Commentary on Numbers 1:1-43

(Read Numbers 1:1-43)

The people were numbered to show God's faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Jacob, that they might be the better trained for the wars and conquest of Canaan, and to ascertain their families in order to the division of the land. It is said of each tribe, that those were numbered who were able to go forth to war; they had wars before them, though now they met with no opposition. Let the believer be prepared to withstand the enemies of his soul, though all may appear to be peace.