Numbers 3:46
New International Version
To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites,

New Living Translation
There are 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there are Levites. To redeem these extra firstborn sons,

English Standard Version
And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites,

Berean Standard Bible
To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

King James Bible
And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;

New King James Version
And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites,

New American Standard Bible
And as a redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess of the number of the Levites,

NASB 1995
“For the ransom of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites,

NASB 1977
“And for the ransom of the 273 of the first-born of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites,

Legacy Standard Bible
For the redemption price of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites,

Amplified Bible
For the ransom (redemption price) of the 273 of the firstborn of the Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

Christian Standard Bible
As the redemption price for the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As the redemption price for the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

American Standard Version
And for the redemption of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel, that are over and above the number of the Levites,

Contemporary English Version
But since there are more first-born sons than Levites, the extra 273 men and boys must be bought back from me.

English Revised Version
And for the redemption of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are over and above the number of the Levites,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
There are 273 more firstborn male Israelites than there are Levites.

Good News Translation
Since the first-born Israelite sons outnumber the Levites by 273, you must buy back the extra sons.

International Standard Version
You are to pay a ransom for the 273 first-born Israelis who exceed the census number of the descendants of Levi,

Majority Standard Bible
To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

NET Bible
And for the redemption of the 273 firstborn males of the Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites,

New Heart English Bible
For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who exceed the number of the Levites,

Webster's Bible Translation
And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and seventy and three, of the first-born of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites:

World English Bible
For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel who exceed the number of the Levites,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And [from] those ransomed of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the sons of Israel, who are more than the Levites,

Young's Literal Translation
And from those ransomed of the two hundred and seventy and three (who are more than the Levites) of the first-born of the sons of Israel,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the price of redemption of the three and seventy and two hundred, of those remaining over the Levites, from the first-born of the sons of Israel:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But for the price of the two hundred and seventy-three, of the firstborn of the children of Israel, that exceed the number of the Levites,

Catholic Public Domain Version
But for the price of the two hundred and seventy-three, which exceed the number of the Levites compared to the number of firstborn of the sons of Israel,

New American Bible
As a redemption-price for the two hundred and seventy-three firstborn of the Israelites over and above the number of the Levites,

New Revised Standard Version
As the price of redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the Israelites, over and above the number of the Levites,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the first-born of the children of Israel, that are above the number of the Levites,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the redemption of the two hundred and seventy and three more than the Levites, the firstborn of the children Israel:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And as for the redemption of the two hundred and three score and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel, that are over and above the number of the Levites,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And for the ransoms of the two hundred and seventy-three which exceed the Levites in number of the first-born of the sons of Israel;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Redemption of the Firstborn
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. 46 To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, 47you are to collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs.…

Cross References
Exodus 13:13
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.

Exodus 34:20
You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed.

Leviticus 27:26-27
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. / But if it is among the unclean animals, then he may redeem it according to your valuation and add a fifth of its value. If it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation.

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.

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

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. / And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. / “Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. ...

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.

Nehemiah 10:36
And we will bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.

Matthew 1:25
But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.

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.

Colossians 1:15
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. / For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. / For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ...

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and three score and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;

redeemed

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.

Exodus 13:13
And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

the two hundred.

Numbers 3:47
Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)

Numbers 1:18,19
And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls…

which are

Numbers 3:39-43
All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand…

Jump to Previous
Children Exceed Excess First Firstborn First-Born Hundred Israel Israelites Levites Male Price Ransom Ransomed Redeem Redeemed Redemption Score Seventy Seventy-Three Thirteen Three Threescore
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Children Exceed Excess First Firstborn First-Born Hundred Israel Israelites Levites Male Price Ransom Ransomed Redeem Redeemed Redemption Score Seventy Seventy-Three Thirteen Three Threescore
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














To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites
The concept of redemption in the Old Testament often involves a price paid to secure the release or freedom of someone or something. In this context, the redemption of the firstborn Israelites is a continuation of the principle established during the Passover in Egypt, where the firstborn of Israel were spared from death by the blood of the lamb (Exodus 12:12-13). This act of redemption foreshadows the ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who redeems humanity from sin (John 1:29). The specific number, 273, indicates the exact count of firstborn Israelites who exceeded the number of Levites, emphasizing God's attention to detail and order.

who outnumber the Levites
The Levites were set apart by God to serve in the tabernacle, taking the place of the firstborn sons of Israel as a special possession to the Lord (Numbers 3:12-13). This substitution highlights the Levites' unique role and the concept of substitutionary atonement, which is a key theme in Christian theology. The fact that the firstborn Israelites outnumbered the Levites by 273 necessitated a redemption price, underscoring the principle that God requires a specific and adequate provision for redemption. This mirrors the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, which fully satisfies the requirements for humanity's redemption (Hebrews 10:10-14).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel, who were chosen by God as His people. In this context, they are in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt.

2. The Levites
A tribe set apart by God to serve in the tabernacle and later in the temple. They were not given a portion of land like the other tribes but were dedicated to religious duties.

3. The Firstborn
In Israelite culture, the firstborn held a special place and were considered to belong to God. This passage deals with the redemption of the firstborn sons of Israel.

4. Redemption
A key concept in the Bible, referring to the act of being saved from sin, error, or evil. Here, it involves a literal redemption of the firstborn through a substitutionary payment.

5. The Wilderness
The setting for much of the book of Numbers, where the Israelites wandered for 40 years after leaving Egypt and before entering the Promised Land.
Teaching Points
The Principle of Substitution
The Levites were taken in place of the firstborn of Israel, illustrating the principle of substitution, which is foundational to the Christian understanding of Christ's atonement.

God's Sovereignty and Order
God’s command to redeem the firstborn shows His sovereign choice and the order He establishes among His people. It reminds us of the importance of obedience to God's instructions.

The Value of Redemption
The redemption of the firstborn underscores the value God places on life and His provision for His people. It points to the ultimate redemption through Christ.

The Role of the Levites
The Levites' role as substitutes for the firstborn highlights the importance of service and dedication to God’s work, encouraging believers to consider their own roles in God’s kingdom.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
To redeem
פְּדוּיֵ֣י (pə·ḏū·yê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6302: That are to be that were redeemed

the 273
הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֔ה (haš·šə·lō·šāh)
Article | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

firstborn
מִבְּכ֖וֹר (mib·bə·ḵō·wr)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

Israelites
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

who outnumber
הָעֹֽדְפִים֙ (hā·‘ō·ḏə·p̄îm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5736: To remain over, be in excess

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


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OT Law: Numbers 3:46 For the redemption of the two hundred (Nu Num.)
Numbers 3:45
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