New International VersionMoses and Eleazar the priest accepted from them the gold—all the crafted articles.
New Living TranslationSo Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from all the military commanders—all kinds of jewelry and crafted objects.
English Standard VersionAnd Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them the gold, all crafted articles.
Berean Standard BibleSo Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them all the articles made out of gold.
King James BibleAnd Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.
New King James VersionSo Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from them, all the fashioned ornaments.
New American Standard BibleMoses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all kinds of crafted articles.
NASB 1995Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all kinds of wrought articles.
NASB 1977And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all kinds of wrought articles.
Legacy Standard BibleAnd Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all kinds of crafted articles.
Amplified BibleMoses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all the handmade articles.
Christian Standard BibleMoses and the priest Eleazar received from them all the articles made out of gold.
Holman Christian Standard BibleMoses and Eleazar the priest received from them all the articles made out of gold.
American Standard VersionAnd Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.
Contemporary English VersionMoses and Eleazar accepted the jewelry from the commanders,
English Revised VersionAnd Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationMoses and the priest Eleazar took all the hand-crafted gold articles from them.
Good News TranslationMoses and Eleazar received the gold, all of which was in the form of ornaments.
International Standard VersionThen Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them and everything that was fashioned into jewels.
NET BibleMoses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all of it in the form of ornaments.
New Heart English BibleMoses and Eleazar the priest took their gold, even all worked jewels.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them all the articles made out of gold.
World English BibleMoses and Eleazar the priest took their gold, even all worked jewels. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Moses receives—Eleazar the priest also—the gold from them, every vessel of workmanship;
Young's Literal Translation And Moses receiveth -- Eleazar the priest also -- the gold from them, every made vessel,
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Moses will take, and Eleazar the priest, all the gold from them, all the vessels of work. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Moses and Eleazar the priest received all the gold in divers kinds,
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd Moses and Eleazar the priest received all the gold in its various kinds,
New American BibleMoses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from them, all fashioned pieces.
New Revised Standard VersionMoses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from them, all in the form of crafted articles. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all wrought jewels.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd Moshe and Eliazar the Priest took the gold from them, all articles that are made. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, even every wrought article.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Voluntary Offering… 50So we have brought to the LORD an offering of the gold articles each man acquired—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.” 51So Mosesand Eleazarthe priestreceivedfrom themallthe articlesmadeout of gold.52All the gold that the commanders of thousands and of hundreds presented as an offering to the LORD weighed 16,750 shekels.…
Cross References Exodus 25:2-3“Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive My offering from every man whose heart compels him. / This is the offering you are to accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze;
Leviticus 5:15-16“If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering. / Regarding any holy thing he has harmed, he must make restitution by adding a fifth of its value to it and giving it to the priest, who will make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.
Deuteronomy 20:14But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.
Joshua 6:19For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.”
1 Chronicles 26:26-28This Shelomith and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and by the army commanders. / They had dedicated some of the plunder from their battles to the repair of the house of the LORD. / Everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, along with everything else that was dedicated, was under the care of Shelomith and his brothers.
2 Chronicles 24:9-11And a proclamation was issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they were to bring to the LORD the tax imposed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness. / All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought their contributions, and they dropped them in the chest until it was full. / Whenever the chest was brought by the Levites to the king’s overseers and they saw that there was a large amount of money, the royal scribe and the officer of the high priest would come and empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this daily and gathered the money in abundance.
Ezra 8:25-30and I weighed out to them the contribution of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites there had offered for the house of our God. / I weighed out into their hands 650 talents of silver, articles of silver weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, / 20 gold bowls valued at 1,000 darics, and two articles of fine polished bronze, as precious as gold. ...
Nehemiah 10:32-39We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God: / for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God. / We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law. ...
Psalm 68:18You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
Isaiah 60:9Surely the islands will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
Matthew 5:23-24So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, / leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Mark 12:41-44As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. / Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. / Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. ...
Luke 21:1-4Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, / and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. / “Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ...
Acts 4:34-37There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, / and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need. / Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), ...
Acts 5:1-4Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. / With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. / Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? ...
Treasury of Scripture And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all worked jewels. Numbers 7:2-6 That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, whowere the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: … Jump to Previous AcceptedArticlesEleazarElea'zarJewelsKindsMannerOrnamentsPriestReceivedReceivethVesselWorkedWroughtJump to Next AcceptedArticlesEleazarElea'zarJewelsKindsMannerOrnamentsPriestReceivedReceivethVesselWorkedWroughtNumbers 31 1.The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain13.Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive19.How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified25.The proportion in which the prey is to be divided48.The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the LordSo Moses and Eleazar the priest received from themMoses, the leader of Israel, and Eleazar, the high priest, are central figures in this passage. Moses represents the lawgiver and leader, while Eleazar, the son of Aaron, represents the priestly line. Their joint action signifies the unity of civil and religious authority in Israel. This collaboration underscores the importance of both leadership and priesthood in the community's spiritual and social life. The act of receiving indicates a formal and recognized transfer of goods, which is significant in the context of offerings and dedications to God. This reflects the broader biblical principle of stewardship and accountability before God. all the articles made out of gold.
The articles made of gold refer to the spoils of war taken from the Midianites, as described earlier in the chapter. Gold, a precious metal, often symbolizes purity, value, and divinity in the Bible. The collection of gold articles can be seen as a form of tribute or offering to God, acknowledging His role in their victory. This act of dedicating spoils to God is consistent with the practice of giving the firstfruits or a portion of one's gains to the Lord, as seen in other parts of Scripture. The use of gold in the tabernacle and later in the temple also points to its significance in worship and the presence of God. This foreshadows the ultimate offering of Jesus Christ, who is described as more precious than gold, and whose sacrifice fulfills the law and the prophets. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In this context, Moses is overseeing the distribution and purification of the spoils of war. 2. Eleazar the PriestThe son of Aaron, serving as the high priest after Aaron's death. Eleazar plays a crucial role in the religious and ceremonial aspects of Israelite life, including the handling of sacred items. 3. The IsraelitesGod's chosen people, who have just returned from a victorious battle against the Midianites. They are responsible for bringing the spoils of war, including gold, to Moses and Eleazar. 4. The MidianitesA nomadic people who were adversaries of Israel. The Israelites were commanded by God to take vengeance on the Midianites, resulting in this collection of spoils. 5. The Gold and Crafted ArticlesThese are the spoils of war, which include various crafted items made of gold. They are brought to Moses and Eleazar as part of the purification and dedication process. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandsThe Israelites' actions in bringing the gold to Moses and Eleazar demonstrate obedience to God's instructions. This obedience is crucial for maintaining a right relationship with God. The Role of Leadership in WorshipMoses and Eleazar's roles highlight the importance of godly leadership in guiding the people in worship and dedication to God. Leaders are responsible for ensuring that the community's actions align with God's will. The Significance of PurificationThe act of bringing the gold for purification underscores the need for spiritual and physical purity in offerings to God. This principle applies to our lives as we seek to offer ourselves as living sacrifices. The Importance of Community in WorshipThe collective action of the Israelites in bringing the spoils reflects the communal aspect of worship. Our faith journey is not solitary but involves the support and accountability of the community. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Numbers 31:51?
2.How does Numbers 31:51 illustrate the importance of obedience in worship practices?
3.What can we learn about accountability from the leaders' actions in Numbers 31:51?
4.How does Numbers 31:51 connect to New Testament teachings on offerings?
5.How can we apply the principles of stewardship found in Numbers 31:51 today?
6.What does Numbers 31:51 teach about the role of leaders in spiritual matters?
7.Why did Moses and Eleazar accept the gold in Numbers 31:51?
8.How does Numbers 31:51 align with God's justice and mercy?
9.What is the historical context of the events in Numbers 31:51?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 31?
11.Who was Eleazar in the Bible?
12.What did the Ark of the Covenant contain?
13.Who was Ithamar in the Bible?
14.What is the biblical significance of the lampstand?What Does Numbers 31:51 Mean SoThe little word “so” links this verse to everything that just happened. The troops had returned from victory over Midian (Numbers 31:1–12). Under God’s command, Moses oversaw a distribution of the spoils, making sure every detail matched divine instruction (Numbers 31:25-31). • “So” tells us the narrative is reaching its orderly conclusion, just as God designed (1 Corinthians 14:40). • The obedience of the people flows naturally from the prior commands, echoing how Israel earlier “did everything the LORD commanded Moses” (Exodus 39:32). Cross reference:Deuteronomy 6:24 shows that obedience brings blessing; “so” signals that connection here.
MosesMoses stands again as the mediator of God’s will. From the burning bush to this moment, he consistently acts on divine directives (Exodus 3:10). • Leader: He ensures every item is handled according to God’s justice (Numbers 31:15-16). • Steward: Not one ounce of spoil is for personal gain; all belongs to the LORD (Hebrews 3:5). Cross reference:Psalm 99:6 lists Moses among those who “called on His name,” underlining his intercessory role.
and Eleazar the priestEleazar, Aaron’s son, now High Priest (Numbers 20:25-29), joins Moses, highlighting that both civil and spiritual authority cooperate in sacred matters. • Guardianship: Priests safeguard holy things (Numbers 4:15-16). • Accountability: Having both leaders receive the gold prevents any hint of corruption, echoing2 Corinthians 8:20-21 about handling offerings honorably. Cross reference:Joshua 22:31 shows Eleazar’s family later verifying faithfulness, a pattern begun here.
received from themThe soldiers bring a freewill offering beyond what the LORD required (Numbers 31:50). Their voluntary generosity reflects grateful hearts for God’s protection—no man was missing (Numbers 31:49). • Community participation: Warriors and leaders alike recognize God’s hand (Psalm 115:1). • Safe transfer: “Received” underscores proper documentation and transparency (2 Kings 12:15). Cross reference:1 Samuel 30:26, where David likewise shares spoil, portrays the same principle of communal gratitude.
all the articles made out of goldGold, the most precious metal, often symbolizes purity and divine glory (Exodus 25:11). Every piece is counted and consecrated. • Comprehensive surrender: “All” means nothing is withheld (Acts 5:1-11 serves as a sobering contrast). • Future use: This gold likely supplemented tabernacle service, foreshadowing later temple treasures (1 Kings 7:51). • Worship over wealth: Value is measured not by market price but by its dedication to God (Proverbs 3:9). Cross reference:Exodus 35:22 shows earlier occasions when Israel freely offered gold for worship.
summaryNumbers 31:51 captures a beautiful moment of obedient, transparent worship. Moses and Eleazar jointly accept every piece of gold, ensuring it is set apart for the LORD. The verse reminds us that victories, possessions, and even life itself come from God, and our grateful response should be complete, accountable, and offered into His hands for His glory.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜ה(mō·šeh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872:Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiverand Eleazarוְאֶלְעָזָ֧ר(wə·’el·‘ā·zār)Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 499:Eleazar -- 'God has helped', six Israelitesthe priestהַכֹּהֵ֛ן(hak·kō·hên)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548:Priestreceivedוַיִּקַּ֨ח(way·yiq·qaḥ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947:To takefrom themאֶת־(’eṯ-)Direct object marker
Strong's 853:Untranslatable mark of the accusative caseallכֹּ֖ל(kōl)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everythe articlesכְּלִ֥י(kə·lî)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3627:Something prepared, any apparatusmadeמַעֲשֶֽׂה׃(ma·‘ă·śeh)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4639:An action, a transaction, activity, a product, propertyof gold.הַזָּהָ֖ב(haz·zā·hāḇ)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091:Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky
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OT Law: Numbers 31:51 Moses and Eleazar the priest took (Nu Num.) |
