What Does Numbers 31:39 Mean in the King James?

And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the LORD’s tribute was threescore and one.

Numbers 31:39 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The LORD’s tribute is a precise fraction here: one animal from every five hundred is set apart.

THE MEANING

The count stays concrete: 61 asses are assigned to the LORD from a total of 30,500. The exact fraction makes visible the share claimed from this counted whole.

THE ROOT

מִכְסָם

mikhsām

GROWS FROM

מ־כ־ס

To assess or levy a measured share.

“tribute” in this verse is mikhsām. The Hebrew form means “their assessed levy,” naming a share related to the whole rather than an undefined gift. A related form can mean a counted quota; here, 61 is exactly one five-hundredth of 30,500.

ALSO GROWS

mekes: Levy, tribute, or assessment.

מֶכֶס

This is the same word family naming the assigned share that the verse totals.

mikhsah: A number or assessed quota.

מִכְסָה

Used for a household’s counted number in Exodus 12:4, this related form links the word family to a share determined by counting.

THE PATTERN

A portion assigned from a whole is made visible through counting.

And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:

Numbers 31:28 · KJVThe verse gives the precise one-in-five-hundred rule behind the 61 asses counted here.

And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

Leviticus 27:32 · KJVThe counted animals yield a specific portion set apart to the LORD.

To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Hebrews 7:2 · KJVA share from the whole is named as a definite fraction.

THE THREAD

And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:

Numbers 31:28 · KJV

This verse uses ⁨מֶכֶס⁩ (mekes, “levy” or “tribute”) and states the one-in-five-hundred rule. That makes the count here exact: 61 is one five-hundredth of 30,500.

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