Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the LORD.” New Living Translation The Levites must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel; I am the LORD. And the Levites’ livestock must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the whole nation of Israel.” English Standard Version And you shall take the Levites for me—I am the LORD—instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel.” Berean Standard Bible You are to take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.” King James Bible And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. New King James Version And you shall take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.” New American Standard Bible And you shall take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the cattle of the sons of Israel.” NASB 1995 “You shall take the Levites for Me, I am the LORD, instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the sons of Israel.” NASB 1977 “And you shall take the Levites for Me, I am the LORD, instead of all the first-born among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the first-born among the cattle of the sons of Israel.” Legacy Standard Bible And you shall take the Levites for Me, I am Yahweh, instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the sons of Israel.” Amplified Bible You shall take the Levites for Me instead of and as a substitute for all the firstborn among the Israelites. I am the LORD; and you shall take the cattle of the Levites instead of and as a substitute for all the firstborn among the cattle of the Israelites.” Christian Standard Bible You are to take the Levites for me—I am the LORD—in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of every firstborn among the Israelites’ cattle.” Holman Christian Standard Bible You are to take the Levites for Me—I am Yahweh—in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of every firstborn among the Israelites’ cattle.” American Standard Version And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am Jehovah) instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. Contemporary English Version They belong to me, but I will accept the Levites as substitutes for them, and I will accept the Levites' livestock as substitutes for the Israelites' first-born livestock." English Revised Version And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. GOD'S WORD® Translation I am the LORD. Take the Levites for me to be substitutes for all firstborn Israelites. Also take the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for all firstborn animals of the Israelites." International Standard Version Separate the descendants of Levi for me—since I am the LORD—in place of all the first-born sons of Israel. Also separate the livestock of the descendants of Levi in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of Israel." Majority Standard Bible You are to take the Levites for Me?I am the LORD?in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.? NET Bible And take the Levites for me--I am the LORD--instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites." New Heart English Bible You shall take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel." Webster's Bible Translation And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites, instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. World English Bible You shall take the Levites for me—I am Yahweh—instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand you have taken the Levites for Me (I [am] YHWH), instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of every firstling among the livestock of the sons of Israel.” Young's Literal Translation and thou hast taken the Levites for Me (I am Jehovah), instead of every first-born among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of every firstling among the cattle of the sons of Israel.' Smith's Literal Translation And take the Levites for me (I Jehovah) instead of all the first-born of the sons of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the first-born among the cattle of the sons of Israel. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd thou shalt take the Levites to me for all the firstborn of the children of Israel, I am the Lord: and their cattle for all the firstborn of the cattle of the children of Israel: Catholic Public Domain Version And you shall bring the Levites to me, in place of all the firstborn of the sons of Israel, and you shall bring their cattle to me, in place of all the firstborn of the cattle of the sons of Israel. I am the Lord.” New American Bible Then take the Levites for me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, as well as the Levites’ cattle, in place of all the firstborn among the cattle of the Israelites. New Revised Standard Version But you shall accept the Levites for me—I am the LORD—as substitutes for all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn among the livestock of the Israelites. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd you shall present the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you shall bring the Levites to me (I AM LORD JEHOVAH), in the place of all of the firstborn ones of the children of Israel, and the domestic animals of Levi in the place of all firstborn ones of the domestic animals of the children of Israel.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And thou shalt take the Levites for Me, even the LORD, instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And thou shalt take the Levites for me - I am the Lord - instead of all the first-born of the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the first-born among the cattle of the children of Israel. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Redemption of the Firstborn40Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names. 41You are to take the Levites for Me— I am the LORD— in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.” 42So Moses numbered all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him.… Cross References 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 13:12-15 you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. / You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem. / In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... Numbers 8:16-18 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. / For every firstborn male in Israel is Mine, both man and beast. I set them apart for Myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. / But I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel. Numbers 18:15-16 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. / You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your valuation: five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs. Deuteronomy 15:19 You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herds and flocks. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work, nor are you to shear the firstborn of your flock. 1 Samuel 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” 1 Samuel 1:28 I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there. Luke 2:23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”), 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, Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 1 Corinthians 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. 1 Corinthians 7:23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. Revelation 14:4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. Exodus 32:26-29 So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. / He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’” / The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead. ... Treasury of Scripture And you shall take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the children of Israel. Numbers 3:12,45 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; … Numbers 8:16 For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. Numbers 18:15 Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. Jump to Previous Births Cattle Children First Firstborn First-Born Firstlings Instead Israel LevitesJump to Next Births Cattle Children First Firstborn First-Born Firstlings Instead Israel LevitesNumbers 3 1. The sons of Aaron5. The Levites are given to the priests instead of the firstborn 14. Are numbered by their families 21. The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites 27. Of the Kohathites 33. Of the Merarites 38. The place and charge of Moses and Aaron 40. The firstborn are freed by the Levites 44. The balances are refunded You are to take the Levites for Me The Levites were chosen by God to serve Him in a special capacity, set apart from the other tribes of Israel. This selection is rooted in the events of the Golden Calf incident (Exodus 32), where the Levites stood with Moses and against idolatry. Their role was to assist the priests, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of the Tabernacle, which included duties such as transporting the Tabernacle and its furnishings, and later, maintaining the Temple. This phrase emphasizes God's sovereign choice and the Levites' consecration to His service. I am the LORD in place of all the firstborn of Israel and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites Connections to Other Scripture Historical and Cultural Context Persons / Places / Events 1. The LevitesA tribe set apart for religious duties and service to God, replacing the firstborn sons of Israel in their dedication to the Lord. 2. The Israelites The chosen people of God, from whom the firstborn were initially consecrated to the Lord following the Passover event in Egypt. 3. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who commands the substitution of the Levites for the firstborn. 4. Firstborn of the Israelites Originally consecrated to God as a remembrance of the Passover, when God spared the firstborn of Israel. 5. Livestock of the Levites Substituted for the firstborn livestock of the Israelites, signifying the complete dedication of the Levites to God. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in ChoiceGod chooses whom He wills for His purposes, as seen in His selection of the Levites. This reminds us of His sovereign will in our lives. Substitution and Redemption The Levites' substitution for the firstborn prefigures the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice of Christ. Reflect on how Christ's sacrifice redeems us. Dedication to Service The Levites were wholly dedicated to God's service. Consider how we can dedicate our lives and resources to serving God today. Remembrance of Deliverance The consecration of the firstborn was a reminder of God's deliverance from Egypt. Regularly remember and give thanks for God's deliverance in your life. Community and Responsibility The Levites served on behalf of the entire community. Reflect on how we can serve and support our faith community.(41) And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the Lord) . . . --Or, And thou shalt take the Levites for Me--for Me, Jehovah. The assertions which have been frequently made respecting the transference of the priesthood of the firstborn to the Levites appear to be altogether without foundation. For (1) the priesthood which was exercised in patriarchal times was not restricted to the firstborn, but appears to have been common to the head of every family. (2) This priesthood was exercised previously to the exodus, and consequently previously to the command given to Moses to sanctify the firstborn. And (3) the priesthood, which belonged not to the firstborn exclusively, but to the Israelites at large, was thenceforth strictly confined to the family of Aaron, who inherited it not as the substitutes of the firstborn, but in the place of the whole nation. Hebrew You are to takeוְלָקַחְתָּ֨ (wə·lā·qaḥ·tā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 3947: To take the Levites הַלְוִיִּ֥ם (hal·wî·yim) Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi for Me— לִי֙ (lî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew I אֲנִ֣י (’ă·nî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I am the LORD— יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel in place of תַּ֥חַת (ta·ḥaṯ) Preposition Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the firstborn בְּכֹ֖ר (bə·ḵōr) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief of Israel, יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc and the livestock בֶּהֱמַ֣ת (be·hĕ·maṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal of the Levites הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (hal·wî·yim) Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi in place of תַּ֣חַת (ta·ḥaṯ) Preposition Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the firstborn בְּכ֔וֹר (bə·ḵō·wr) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief of the livestock בְּבֶהֱמַ֖ת (bə·ḇe·hĕ·maṯ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal of the Israelites.” בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son Links Numbers 3:41 NIVNumbers 3:41 NLT Numbers 3:41 ESV Numbers 3:41 NASB Numbers 3:41 KJV Numbers 3:41 BibleApps.com Numbers 3:41 Biblia Paralela Numbers 3:41 Chinese Bible Numbers 3:41 French Bible Numbers 3:41 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 3:41 You shall take the Levites for me (Nu Num.) |
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