Translations
Modern
So all the Israelites twenty years of age or older who could serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families.
Traditional
So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;
Literal
And all who were numbered of the sons of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from a son of twenty years and above, everyone going out to the host in Israel,
Latin
Fueruntque omnis numerus filiorum Israël per domos et familias suas a vigesimo anno et supra, qui poterant ad bella procedere,
Original
Hebrew
English
So all the Israelites twenty years of age or older who could serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families.
Notes
The count of 603,550 shows the same number of qualified men as mentioned in Exodus 38:26. Exodus 12:37 and Numbers 11:21 give an approximate number of 600,000.
People have interpreted these numbers in different ways:
The numbers might show the actual size of this army (see Exodus 1:9–10).
The numbers might be symbolic. A later editor might have estimated, or might have misunderstood while translating.
See also study note on Exodus 12:37.
People
Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes
Glossary
Topics
Israel: Number of, at Sinai, by Tribes Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Second Numbering of the People The Tribes of Israel: Total Strength of, on Leaving Egypt