Numbers 3:45
New International Version
“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine. I am the LORD.

New Living Translation
“Take the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. And take the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me; I am the LORD.

English Standard Version
“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
“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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites in place of their cattle. And the Levites shall be Mine; I am the LORD.

NASB 1995
“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel and the cattle of the Levites. And the Levites shall be Mine; I am the LORD.

NASB 1977
“Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the sons of Israel and the cattle of the Levites. And the Levites shall be Mine; I am the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel and the cattle of the Levites. And the Levites shall be Mine; I am Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
“Take the Levites [for Me] instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. And the Levites shall be Mine. I am the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
“Take the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of their cattle. The Levites belong to me; I am the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Take the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of their cattle. The Levites belong to Me; I am Yahweh.

American Standard Version
Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
"The Levites will belong to me and will take the place of the first-born sons; their livestock will take the place of the Israelites' first-born livestock.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Take the Levites to be substitutes for all the firstborn Israelites and the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for their animals. The Levites will be mine. I am the LORD.

Good News Translation
"Now dedicate the Levites as mine in place of all the first-born Israelite sons, and dedicate the livestock of the Levites in place of the first-born of the Israelites' livestock.

International Standard Version
"Separate the descendants of Levi in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel and the livestock of the descendants of Levi in place of their livestock. The descendants of Levi belong to me, since I am the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
“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.

NET Bible
"Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. And the Levites will be mine. I am the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
"Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Take the Levites instead of all the first-born 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.

World English Bible
“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Take the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites have been Mine; I [am] YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
Take the Levites instead of every first-born among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites have been Mine; I am Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
Take the Levites instead of all the first-born of the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be to me: I Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Take the Levites for the firstborn of the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites for their cattle, and the Levites shall be mine. I am the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Take the Levites, in place of the firstborn of the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites, in place of their cattle, and so the Levites shall be mine. I am the Lord.

New American Bible
Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of their cattle, that the Levites may belong to me. I am the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
Accept the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Present the Levites instead of all the first-born 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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Bring the Levites in the place of every firstborn of the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites in the place of their cattle, and the Levites shall be mine; I AM LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be Mine, even the LORD'S.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Take the Levites instead of all the first-born of the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle, and the Levites shall be mine; I am the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Redemption of the Firstborn
44Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45“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. 46To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,…

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 18:6
Behold, I Myself have selected your fellow Levites from the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD to perform the service for the Tent of Meeting.

Deuteronomy 10:8
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.

Deuteronomy 18:1-5
The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the food offerings to the LORD; that is their inheritance. / Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them. / This shall be the priests’ share from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether a bull or a sheep: the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jowls, and the stomach. ...

1 Chronicles 23:13
The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.

1 Chronicles 23:32
So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, the service of the house of the LORD.

Hebrews 7:11-12
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? / For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

Hebrews 7:27
Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

Hebrews 8:3-6
And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer. / Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law. / The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” ...

Hebrews 9:6-7
When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. / But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Hebrews 9:23
So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Hebrews 10:11-12
Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. / But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.

Luke 2:23
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Numbers 3:12,40,41
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; …

Jump to Previous
Cattle Children First Firstborn First-Born Instead Israel Levites
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Cattle Children First Firstborn First-Born Instead Israel Levites
Numbers 3
1. The sons of Aaron
5. 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














Take the Levites
The phrase "Take the Levites" signifies a divine command given to Moses. The Hebrew root for "take" is "laqach," which implies a deliberate action of selection or choosing. Historically, the Levites were set apart for service to God, replacing the firstborn of Israel as dedicated servants. This selection underscores God's sovereign choice and the special role of the Levites in the religious life of Israel. The Levites were chosen not by merit but by divine decree, illustrating God's grace and purpose in His selection.

in place of all the firstborn
The phrase "in place of all the firstborn" highlights the substitutionary role of the Levites. In ancient Israel, the firstborn held a special status, often associated with inheritance and leadership. However, after the Exodus, God claimed all firstborns as His own, as a reminder of the deliverance from Egypt. The Levites were appointed to serve in the tabernacle, symbolizing the redemption and dedication of the firstborn to God. This substitution points to the broader biblical theme of redemption and foreshadows the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice of Christ.

of the sons of Israel
The term "of the sons of Israel" refers to the entire nation of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. This phrase emphasizes the collective identity and covenant relationship between God and His people. The Levites' role was not just for their own tribe but for the benefit of all Israel, serving as mediators and ministers in the tabernacle. This reflects the communal aspect of worship and service in the biblical narrative, where the actions of one group can have implications for the whole community.

and the livestock of the Levites
The inclusion of "and the livestock of the Levites" indicates that not only the people but also their possessions were dedicated to God. In the ancient Near Eastern context, livestock was a significant measure of wealth and sustenance. By dedicating their livestock, the Levites demonstrated total commitment and reliance on God's provision. This act of dedication serves as a reminder of the holistic nature of worship, where every aspect of life is consecrated to God.

in place of all the firstborn of the livestock
This phrase reiterates the substitutionary principle, extending it to the livestock. Just as the Levites were taken in place of the firstborn sons, their livestock was taken in place of the firstborn animals. This reflects the comprehensive nature of God's claim over Israel, encompassing both human and material resources. It underscores the idea that everything belongs to God and is to be used for His glory, a principle that resonates throughout Scripture and challenges believers to consider their own dedication to God.

(45) And the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle.--There appears to have been no numbering of the cattle. Had it been otherwise, an argument might have been used in support of the prospective reference of the command to number the firstborn, derived from the fact that it would have been impossible to ascertain the number of firstborn among the cattle. It appears, however, that the whole of the cattle of the Levites was given in redemption of the firstborn of all the cattle of the other tribes.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Take
קַ֣ח (qaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

the Levites
הַלְוִיִּ֗ם (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

in place
תַּ֤חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

of all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the firstborn
בְּכוֹר֙ (bə·ḵō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

and the cattle
בֶּהֱמַ֥ת (be·hĕ·maṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal

of the Levites
הַלְוִיִּ֖ם (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

their cattle.
בְּהֶמְתָּ֑ם (bə·hem·tām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal

The Levites
הַלְוִיִּ֖ם (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

belong to Me;
וְהָיוּ־ (wə·hā·yū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

I
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Law: Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all (Nu Num.)
Numbers 3:44
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