Every one who is numbered in the census repeats the same idiom used in verse 13, literally “every passer-over to the counted ones.” From twenty years old and upward is literally “from the son of twenty years and higher.” This can refer to both male and female, and most translations prefer to remain neutral. But the same expression is used in Num 1.3 for a census of those old enough for war. So Good News Translation makes it explicit: “Everyone … that is, every man twenty years old or older.”

Shall give the LORD’s offering is literally “he shall give a lifted-up [gift] of Yahweh,” using the same word for offering as verse 13.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .