Exodus 30:12

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.

When thou takest {H5375} the sum {H7218} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} after their number {H6485}, then shall they give {H5414} every man {H376} a ransom {H3724} for his soul {H5315} unto the LORD {H3068}, when thou numberest {H6485} them; that there be no plague {H5063} among them, when thou numberest {H6485} them.

"When you take a census of the people of Isra'el and register them, each, upon registration, is to pay a ransom for his life to ADONAI, to avoid any breakout of plague among them during the time of the census.

โ€œWhen 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.

When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel, according to those that are numbered of them, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto Jehovah, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

Commentary

Context

Exodus 30:12 is part of a detailed section in the book of Exodus, following instructions for building the Tabernacle and its furnishings (chapters 25-29). This verse introduces a specific command related to a census of the Israelite population. In ancient Israel, a census was often conducted for military purposes, taxation, or tribal organization, as seen later in books like Numbers 1:2. However, this particular census carried a unique spiritual requirement: a "ransom for his soul" for each individual counted. This stipulation highlights God's sovereignty over His people and the sacred nature of their numbering.

Key Themes

  • Divine Ownership and Atonement: The primary theme is God's absolute ownership of every Israelite life. The "ransom" (Hebrew: kofer) was not a tax on wealth but a symbolic payment acknowledging that each life belonged to the Lord and was preserved by His grace. It served as a form of atonement for the soul, covering or propitiating divine judgment.
  • Equality Before God: The command specifies that "every man" (regardless of wealth or status) was to give the same amount. This principle of equality before God in matters of salvation and spiritual standing is a foundational biblical truth, echoed much later in passages like Galatians 3:28. The specific amount, a half-shekel, is detailed in Exodus 30:13.
  • Holiness and Consequence: The verse explicitly warns against a "plague" if the ransom is not paid. This demonstrates the seriousness with which God viewed the numbering of His people. A census, if not conducted according to divine command and with proper acknowledgment of God's rights, could incur divine wrath. A stark warning against unauthorized or improper numbering is illustrated by King David's census in 2 Samuel 24, which brought a severe plague upon Israel because it was done out of pride and without the required ransom.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Ransom for his soul" (ื›ึนึผืคึถืจ ื ึทืคึฐืฉืื•ึน, kofer nafsho): The Hebrew word kofer (ransom) implies a covering, a price paid to avert a penalty or to redeem something. It's related to the concept of atonement. Nephesh (soul) here refers to the individual's life or person. Thus, it signifies a payment to cover or preserve one's life in the sight of God.
  • "Plague" (ื ึถื’ึถืฃ, negeph): This term denotes a blow, a smiting, or a divine judgment, often resulting in death or disease. It emphasizes the direct, calamitous consequence of failing to obey God's command regarding the census and the ransom.

Practical Application

Exodus 30:12 offers profound theological insights relevant for believers today:

  1. God's Ownership: It reminds us that all life belongs to God. Our existence is a gift, and we are accountable to Him. This fosters humility and reverence.
  2. The Need for Redemption: The concept of a "ransom for his soul" foreshadows the ultimate redemption offered through Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament ransom was a symbolic payment of silver, the New Testament teaches that we are not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). He paid the ultimate price for our souls.
  3. Equality in Salvation: Just as every Israelite, rich or poor, paid the same half-shekel, so too is salvation freely available to all who believe in Christ, regardless of their background, status, or merit. All stand equally in need of God's grace.
  4. Reverence for God's Commands: The severe consequence of a "plague" for disobedience underscores the importance of taking God's commands seriously and approaching Him with reverence.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 31:50

    We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.

  • 1 Peter 1:18

    Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;

  • 1 Peter 1:19

    But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

  • 1 Chronicles 27:24

    Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.

  • Exodus 38:25

    And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation [was] an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

  • Exodus 38:26

    A bekah for every man, [that is], half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty [men].

  • Psalms 49:7

    None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
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