Catholic Public Domain Version
Numbers 26:14
“These are the families of the stock of Simeon, whose entire number was twenty-two thousand two hundred.”
Verse Explanation
A saved explanation for Numbers 26:14.
Plain-language explanation
Numbers 26:14 lists the clans (families) within the tribe of Simeon. It also gives a headcount for Simeon’s total population: 22,200.
Catholic context
In Catholic reading, these genealogies and census lists are not “just statistics.” Many Catholics understand them as showing God’s providence and care for real people—families, communities, and their place in God’s plan—rather than only abstract ideas.
Historical background
This verse comes from a census taken as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land (after the wilderness period). Recording the families and totals helped organize inheritance, responsibilities, and worship life according to the tribes.
Reflection
It can be easy to skip verses that count names and numbers, but this verse reminds us that God sees and remembers each community—each “family”—and that His promises are carried through ordinary lives.
Practical takeaway
Offer a simple prayer for your own family and community by name, and look for a concrete way to “belong well” today—through faithful work, kindness, and support of others in your household or parish.
Prayer
Lord God, thank You for knowing us by name and for caring about our families. Help me to value my place in Your Church and to live with faithfulness today. Bless my loved ones and strengthen our unity. Amen.