Exodus 30:12

Exodus 30:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.
• New International Version (NIV)“When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.

Context of Exodus 30:12

10Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.” 11Then the LORD said to Moses, “When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered. 13Everyone 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. 14Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD.

Exodus 30:12 word by word

כִּ֣י תִשָּׂ֞א אֶת־רֹ֥אשׁ בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֘ל לִפְקֻדֵיהֶם֒ וְנָ֨תְנ֜וּ אִ֣ישׁ כֹּ֧פֶר נַפְשׁ֛וֹ לַיהוָ֖ה בִּפְקֹ֣ד אֹתָ֑ם וְלֹא־יִהְיֶ֥ה בָהֶ֛ם נֶ֖גֶף בִּפְקֹ֥ד אֹתָֽם׃Read the interlinear

• Whenכִּיkîy · forH3588
• you take a censusנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: countH5375
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• ·רֹאשׁrô'sh · head: countH7218
• of the Israelitesבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of the Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• to number themפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: listH6485
• each manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• must payנָתַןnâthan · to give: payH5414
• the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• a ransomכֹּפֶרkôpher · ransomH3724
• for his lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• Then noלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• plagueנֶ֫גֶףnegeph · plagueH5063
• will comeהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961

Cross-references for Exodus 30:12

• Exodus 38:25The silver from those numbered among the congregation totaled 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel—
• Numbers 1:2“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.
• Numbers 26:2“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”
• 2 Samuel 24:1Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”
• Numbers 31:50So we have brought to the LORD an offering of the gold articles each man acquired—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”
• 2 Chronicles 24:6So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?”
• Job 33:24to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
• Job 36:18Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
• Psalms 49:7No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
• Matthew 20:28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
• Mark 10:45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
• 1 Timothy 2:6who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.
• 1 Peter 1:18For 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,
• 2 Samuel 24:2So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”
• 1 Chronicles 21:12between three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies and overtaken by their swords, or three days of the sword of the LORD—days of plague upon the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”
• 1 Chronicles 27:24Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. For because of this census wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not entered in the Book of the Chronicles of King David.

Commentaries on Exodus 30:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul - This was a very important ordinance, and should be seriously considered. See Exodus 30:13; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 The Ransom of Souls. - Exodus 38:25-28. On comparing these words with those of Numbers 1:1-3, we may perhaps infer that the first passage relates to a mere counting of the adult Israelites at the time when the money was taken from each, and that what the latter passage enjoins was a formal enrolment of them according to their genealogies and their order of military service. A ransom for his soul - What the sincere worshipper thus paid was at…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 The tribute was half a shekel, about fifteen pence of our money. The rich were not to give more, nor the poor less; the souls of the rich and poor are alike precious, and God is no respecter of persons, Ac 10:34; Job 34:19. In other offerings men were to give according to their wordly ability; but this, which was the ransom of the soul, must be alike for all. The souls of all are of equal value, equally in danger, and all equally need a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12no plague: Compare 2 Samuel 24, where a plague followed King David’s unauthorized census. A king would often take a census for reasons of pride or control. Here the people are giving God a ransom for themselves. This standard payment would go into the tabernacle treasury and initially be used in the construction of the tabernacle (see Exodus 38:25–26).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1611-16. When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel, &c.--Moses did so twice, and doubtless observed the law here prescribed. The tax was not levied from women, minors, old men (Nu 1:42, 45), and the Levites (Nu 1:47), they being not numbered. Assuming the shekel of the sanctuary to be about half an ounce troy, though nothing certain is known about it, the sum payable by each individual was two and four pence. This was not a voluntary contribution…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 30:12

• Atonement
• Census
• Money
• Ransom
• Religion
• Tabernacle
• Tax

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Beat
• Compound
• Curious
• Onycha
• Perpetual
• Smell

Commentaries on Exodus 30

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings