Keraia
Numbers 3

Numbers 3:45

The Redemption of the Firstborn · Numbers 3:40–51
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Translations

Modern
“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD.
Traditional
Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord.
Literal
“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be Mine; I am YHWH.
Latin
Tolle Levitas pro primogenitis filiorum Israël, et pecora Levitarum pro pecoribus eorum, eruntque Levitæ mei. Ego sum Dominus.

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD.

Notes

Numbers 3:40–51

There were 273 more firstborn sons in Israel from the non-Levite tribes than there were Levite males (compare Leviticus 3:39). The Levites acted as substitutes for Israel's firstborn sons (3:41; see study note on 3:11–13). The law required a redemption price of five pieces of silver for each extra firstborn son (Numbers 3:46–48; compare Leviticus 27:6).

It is unclear who paid this cost. This arrangement for special substitutes points to Christ’s role as a substitute. Through his death, Christ paid the redemption price for all humanity (see Mark 10:45; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:15).

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.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Cattle Deuteronomy, Book of Numbers, Book of Priests and Levites Ransom

Topics

Firstborn: Levites Taken Instead of Firstborn of the Families of Israel Firstborn: Redemption of Levites: Substituted in the Place of the Firstborn Children Substitution: The Levites for the Firstborn of the Israelites The Levites: Taken Instead of the First-Born of Israel