Numbers 3:47
New International Version
collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.

New Living Translation
collect five pieces of silver for each of them (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs).

English Standard Version
you shall take five shekels per head; you shall take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs),

Berean Standard Bible
you are to collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs.

King James Bible
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:)

New King James Version
you shall take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs.

New American Standard Bible
you shall take five shekels apiece, per head; you shall take them in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs),

NASB 1995
you shall take five shekels apiece, per head; you shall take them in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs),

NASB 1977
you shall take five shekels apiece, per head; you shall take them in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs),

Legacy Standard Bible
you shall take five shekels apiece, per head; you shall take them in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs),

Amplified Bible
you shall take five shekels apiece, per head, you shall take them in terms of the sanctuary shekel (the shekel is twenty gerahs),

Christian Standard Bible
collect five shekels for each person, according to the standard sanctuary shekel—twenty gerahs to the shekel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
collect five shekels for each person, according to the standard sanctuary shekel—20 gerahs to the shekel.

American Standard Version
thou shalt take five shekels apiece by the poll; after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):

Contemporary English Version
For each one, you are to collect five pieces of silver, weighed according to the official standards.

English Revised Version
thou shalt take five shekels apiece by the poll; after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It will cost you two ounces of silver per person (using the standard weight of the holy place) to buy them back.

Good News Translation
For each one pay five pieces of silver, according to the official standard,

International Standard Version
so collect five shekels for each individual, denominated in shekels of the sanctuary, that is, the shekel that weighs 20 gerahs.

Majority Standard Bible
you are to collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs.

NET Bible
collect five shekels for each one individually; you are to collect this amount in the currency of the sanctuary shekel (this shekel is twenty gerahs).

New Heart English Bible
you shall take five shekels apiece for each one; after the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
you shall take five shekels apiece for each one; according to the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs);
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
you have even taken five shekels apiece by the counted head—you take by the shekel of the holy place; the shekel [is] twenty gerahs;

Young's Literal Translation
thou hast even taken five shekels a-piece by the poll -- by the shekel of the sanctuary thou takest; twenty gerahs the shekel is;

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou shalt take five shekels by the heads, according to the holy shekel thou shalt take: twenty gerahs the shekel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou shalt take five sides for every head, according to the weight of the sanctuary. A sicle hath twenty obols.

Catholic Public Domain Version
you shall take five shekels for each head, by the measure of the Sanctuary. A shekel has twenty obols.

New American Bible
you shall take five shekels for each individual, according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel.

New Revised Standard Version
you shall accept five shekels apiece, reckoning by the shekel of the sanctuary, a shekel of twenty gerahs.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
You shall take five shekels apiece by the poll, by the shekel of the sanctuary shall you take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs).

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Take five shekels for a head in the shekel of Holiness; take twenty mayn to a shekel.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
thou shalt take five shekels apiece by the poll; after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them--the shekel is twenty gerahs.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
thou shalt even take five shekels a head; thou shalt take them according to the holy didrachm, twenty oboli to the shekel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Redemption of the Firstborn
46To 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. 48Give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the excess among the Israelites.”…

Cross References
Exodus 30:13
Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.

Leviticus 27:3-7
if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. / Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. / And if the person is from five to twenty years of age, then your valuation for the male shall be twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. ...

Exodus 38:26
a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.

1 Samuel 2:13-14
or for the custom of the priests with the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling / and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh.

2 Kings 12:4
Then Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money brought as sacred gifts into the house of the LORD—the census money, the money from vows, and the money brought voluntarily into the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 24:9
And a proclamation was issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they were to bring to the LORD the tax imposed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness.

Nehemiah 10:32
We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God:

Matthew 17:24-27
After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” / “Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” / “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ...

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.

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 21:32
If the ox gores a manservant or maidservant, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of that servant, and the ox must be stoned.

Leviticus 5:15
“If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.

Leviticus 27:2-8
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons, / if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. / Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. ...

2 Kings 23:35
So Jehoiakim paid the silver and gold to Pharaoh Neco, but to meet Pharaoh’s demand he taxed the land and exacted the silver and the gold from the people, each according to his wealth.

Nehemiah 5:11
Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.”


Treasury of Scripture

You shall even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shall you take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)

five shekels

Numbers 18:16
And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.

Leviticus 27:6
And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver.

the shekel

Numbers 3:50
Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

Exodus 30:13
This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.

Leviticus 27:25
And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.

Jump to Previous
Apiece Collect Five Gerahs Head Holy Poll Reckoning Sanctuary Scale Shekel Shekels Terms Twenty Weighs
Jump to Next
Apiece Collect Five Gerahs Head Holy Poll Reckoning Sanctuary Scale Shekel Shekels Terms Twenty Weighs
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














you are to collect five shekels for each one
In this passage, God commands Moses to collect a redemption price for the firstborn males of Israel. The five shekels represent a specific value set for the redemption of the firstborn, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. This redemption price is rooted in the Exodus narrative, where God spared the firstborn of Israel during the Passover (Exodus 12:12-13). The concept of redemption is significant throughout Scripture, symbolizing deliverance and pointing to the ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). The number five in biblical numerology often signifies grace, which is fitting for a redemption price.

according to the sanctuary shekel
The sanctuary shekel was a standard weight used in the tabernacle and later the temple, ensuring uniformity and fairness in religious transactions. This standardization reflects the importance of integrity and honesty in worship and offerings to God. The sanctuary shekel was likely heavier than the common shekel, emphasizing the sacredness of the transaction. This standard is mentioned in other parts of the Pentateuch, such as Exodus 30:13, where it is used for the census tax. The use of a sanctuary shekel underscores the divine authority and holiness associated with the tabernacle.

of twenty gerahs
A gerah is a small unit of weight, and twenty gerahs make up one shekel. This precise measurement highlights the meticulous nature of the law and the importance of exactness in following God's commands. The use of gerahs as a subunit of the shekel indicates a well-developed system of weights and measures in ancient Israel, which is supported by archaeological findings of weights from this period. This precision in measurement can be seen as a reflection of God's order and justice, themes that are prevalent throughout the Bible.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who received instructions from God regarding the census and redemption of the firstborn.

2. Aaron
The brother of Moses and the first high priest, involved in the priestly duties and the redemption process.

3. Levites
The tribe set apart for priestly duties, replacing the firstborn sons of Israel in service to God.

4. Israelites
The people of God, whose firstborn sons were to be redeemed.

5. Sanctuary Shekel
The standard unit of currency used in the tabernacle, emphasizing the sacredness of the transaction.
Teaching Points
The Principle of Redemption
The redemption of the firstborn underscores the principle that all life belongs to God. This principle is fulfilled in Christ, who redeems us from sin.

The Value of Obedience
The specific amount of five shekels highlights the importance of precise obedience to God's commands. Our obedience should reflect our reverence for God's holiness.

The Role of Substitution
The Levites' substitution for the firstborn points to the greater substitution of Christ for humanity. Reflect on how Christ's sacrifice fulfills this Old Testament type.

The Sanctity of Offerings
The use of the sanctuary shekel emphasizes the sacredness of offerings to God. Our giving should be done with a heart of worship and reverence.

God's Provision and Order
God's provision of the Levites for service demonstrates His order and care for His people. Trust in God's provision and His perfect plan for your life.(47) Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll.--It is not stated in what manner the 273 families of whom the redemption money was exacted were determined. Inasmuch, however, as the law of the redemption of the firstborn by the payment of five shekels came into operation from this time (Numbers 18:16), it seems probable that the money was exacted in the case of those who had been most recently born; or it may be that the matter was decided by lot.

After the shekel of the sanctuary.--See Exodus 30:13, where the expression occurs for the first time, and the value of the shekel is stated, as in this verse.

Verse 47. - Five shekels apiece. This amount had already been fixed (Leviticus 27:6, if indeed this chapter does not belong to a later period as the commutation value of a male child under five years old who had been vowed unto the Lord. If the redeeming of the first-born by the Levites began with the eldest, those that were left over would all be within this age. A shekel. See Exodus 30:13.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
you are to collect
וְלָקַחְתָּ֗ (wə·lā·qaḥ·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

five
חֲמֵ֧שֶׁת (ḥă·mê·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2568: Five

shekels
שְׁקָלִ֖ים (šə·qā·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8255: A weight, a commercial standard

for each one,
לַגֻּלְגֹּ֑לֶת (lag·gul·gō·leṯ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1538: A skull, head, poll (of persons)

according to the sanctuary
הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ (haq·qō·ḏeš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

shekel
בְּשֶׁ֤קֶל (bə·še·qel)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8255: A weight, a commercial standard

of twenty
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים (‘eś·rîm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 6242: Twenty, twentieth

gerahs.
גֵּרָ֖ה (gê·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1626: A gerah (one-twentieth of a shekel)


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OT Law: Numbers 3:47 You shall take five shekels apiece (Nu Num.)
Numbers 3:46
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