Numbers 3:13

Translations

Modern

…for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.”

Traditional

Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord.

Literal

…because all the firstborn are unto Me. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to beast. Unto Me they shall be; I am YHWH.”

Latin

Meum est enim omne primogenitum: ex quo percussi primogenitos in terra Ægypti, sanctificavi mihi quidquid primum nascitur in Israël: ab homine usque ad pecus, mei sunt. Ego Dominus.

Original

Hebrew

English

…for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.”

Notes

Numbers 3:11–13

every firstborn Israelite: These belonged to God because God spared them when the Egyptian firstborn sons died (3:13; see Exodus 11–12).
I have taken the Levites: God chose the Levites to serve as substitutes for the firstborn sons.

Numbers 3:5–13

God chose the Levites to be assistants for the priests, represented by Aaron. They had a number of holy duties in their ministry service. They performed holy tasks to maintain the Tent of Meeting and its items (3:7 ,8; explained more in 4:1–33).

Numbers 3:1–4:49

Israel's priests and Levites had duties like moving, assembling, protecting, and maintaining the Tent of Meeting. The way God organized the tribes highlighted his concern for these priestly tasks.

Related verses

Exodus 13:12
…you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD.
Luke 2:23
…(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),
Exodus 13:2
“Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast.”
Exodus 13:15
And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’
Leviticus 27:26
But no one may consecrate a firstborn of the livestock, because a firstborn belongs to the LORD. Whether it is an ox or a sheep, it is the LORD’s.
Exodus 22:29
You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
Ezekiel 44:30
The best of all the firstfruits and of every contribution from all your offerings will belong to the priests. You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest, so that a blessing may rest upon your homes.
Exodus 12:29–30
Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.
Exodus 34:19
The first offspring of every womb belongs to Me, including all the firstborn males among your livestock, whether cattle or sheep.
Numbers 18:15
The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.
Numbers 8:16–17
For the Levites have been wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself in place of all who come first from the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel.
Hebrews 12:23
…in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Beast Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Firstborn Genealogy Numbers, Book of Priests and Levites Tribe of Levi

Topics

Christian Minister: Call of Firstborn of Man and Beast, Reserved to Himself by God Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Tribe of Levi Taken Instead of the First-Born Levites: Set Apart As Ministers of Religion The First Born: Dedicated to Commemorate the Sparing of the First Born of The Levites: Taken Instead of the First-Born of Israel

Numbers 3:13

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