King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"Take the L'vi'im in place of all the firstborn among the people of Isra'el, and the cattle of the L'vi'im in place of their cattle; the L'vi'im are to belong to me, ADONAI.
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.
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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Take{H3947} the Levites{H3881} instead of all the firstborn{H1060} among the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, and the cattle{H929} of the Levites{H3881} instead of their cattle{H929}; and the Levites{H3881} shall be mine: I am the LORD{H3068}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 3:12
- 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;
Numbers 3:40
- ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
Numbers 3:41
- And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I [am] the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.
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Commentary for Numbers 3:45
Numbers 3:45 is a verse from the Old Testament that falls within the context of the instructions given to Moses regarding the Levites, who were one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The historical context of this verse is set during the time when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The book of Numbers is largely concerned with the organization and census of the Israelite community as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
In this verse, God commands Moses to take the Levites as a substitute for the firstborn males of the Israelites. This command is rooted in the events of the Passover in Egypt, where the firstborn of the Israelites were spared from the tenth plague that struck the Egyptians. As a result, the firstborn males of Israel were considered to be consecrated or set apart for God's service. However, God here designates the entire tribe of Levi to serve in the Tabernacle in place of the firstborn from all the tribes.
The Levites were to perform the duties of the Tabernacle, which included caring for the sanctuary, its furnishings, and the sacred objects within it. They were also responsible for assisting the priests (who were also Levites, specifically from the line of Aaron) in their priestly duties. In return for their service, the Levites were to receive no inheritance of land like the other tribes; instead, they were to live off the offerings and contributions made by the other Israelites.
The themes present in Numbers 3:45 include divine election, substitutionary service, and the sanctification of a particular group for religious duties. This verse underscores the special relationship between God and the Levites, emphasizing God's sovereignty and the importance of the priesthood and religious service in ancient Israelite society. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of God setting apart individuals or groups for specific purposes within His divine plan.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H3881
There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵוִיִּי
Transliteration: Lêvîyîy
Pronunciation: lay-vee-ee'
Description: or לֵוִי; patronymically from לֵוִי; a Levite or descendant of Levi; Leviite. - Strong's Number: H1060
There are 96 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּכוֹר
Transliteration: bᵉkôwr
Pronunciation: bek-ore'
Description: from בָּכַר; firstborn; hence, chief; eldest (son), firstborn(-ling). - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H929
There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּהֵמָה
Transliteration: bᵉhêmâh
Pronunciation: be-hay-maw'
Description: from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective); beast, cattle. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.