Numbers 3:12

Numbers 3:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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;
• New International Version (NIV)“I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the people of Israel. The Levites shall be mine,
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine,

Context of Numbers 3:12

10But you must make a list of Aaron and his descendants. They will be the priests. If any other person comes near to the special Tent, they must die.’ 11The Lord also said to Moses, ‘I will not take the firstborn son of every woman in Israel to belong to me. I will take the Levites instead of them. 13I killed all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. But I kept the firstborn sons of every person and animal among the Israelites for myself. They belong to me. I am the Lord!’ 14The Lord said to Moses in the Sinai desert,

Numbers 3:12 word by word

וַאֲנִ֞י הִנֵּ֧ה לָקַ֣חְתִּי אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֗ם מִתּוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל תַּ֧חַת כָּל־בְּכ֛וֹר פֶּ֥טֶר רֶ֖חֶם מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהָ֥יוּ לִ֖י הַלְוִיִּֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And I, behold, I have takenלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
• from amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• instead of all the firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
• that openethפֶּ֫טֶרpeţer piţrâh · firstbornH6363
• the matrixרֶ֫חֶםrechem · wombH7358

Cross-references for Numbers 3:12

• Numbers 3:41The Israelites' firstborn sons belong to me. I am the Lord. But I will accept all the males among the Levites instead. The Israelites' firstborn animals also belong to me. But I will accept the animals of the Levites instead.’
• Numbers 8:16That is because all the Levites among the Israelites are mine. All the Israelites' firstborn sons are mine. But I have taken the Levites for myself instead.
• Numbers 18:6I have chosen your family, the Levites, from among the other Israelite tribes. They are the Lord's gift to you, to help you take care of the Tent of Meeting.

Commentaries on Numbers 3:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12I have taken the Levites - instead of all the first-born - The Levites are taken for the service of the sanctuary in place of the first-born. The first-born were dedicated to God in commemoration of his slaying the first-born of the Egyptians, and preserving those of the Israelites. Even the cattle of the Levites were taken in place of the first-born of the cattle of the rest of the tribes. See Numbers 3:45. Several reasons have been assigned why God…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-13every firstborn Israelite: These belonged to God because God spared them when the Egyptian firstborn sons died (3:13; see Exodus 11–12). I have taken the Levites: God chose the Levites to serve as substitutes for the firstborn sons.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1311-13. I have taken the Levites, &c.--The consecration of this tribe did not originate in the legislative wisdom of Moses, but in the special appointment of God, who chose them as substitutes for the first-born. By an appointment made in memory of the last solemn judgment on Egypt (from which the Israelitish households were miraculously exempt) all the first-born were consecrated to God (Ex 13:12; 22:29), who thus, under peculiar circumstances, seemed to…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 3:12

• Firstborn
• Levites
• Minister, Christian
• Substitution

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Birthright
• Chief
• Conclude
• Consecration
• Custody
• Encamp

Commentaries on Numbers 3

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings