Numbers 8:16

They will belong to me. They will work for me as substitutes for the firstborn males of all the Israelis, who also belong to me.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.

In Context

15“After the descendants of Levi have been made acceptable to me, and presented to me like a special offering, they may start to work at the Sacred Tent.

17All the firstborn males in Israel, both the people and the animals, are mine. When I caused all the firstborn sons of the people of Egypt to die, I ◄spared/did not kill► the firstborn males of the Israelis. I set them apart to belong to me. I said that the firstborn males of all their domestic animals would also belong to me.

Read all of Numbers 8

Cross References

Numbers 3:9Appoint them to help Aaron and his two sons. I have chosen them from all the Israeli people to do that.

Numbers 3:13because truly all the firstborn males belong to me. That is because on the day that I killed all the firstborn sons of the people of Egypt, I spared all the firstborn sons of the Israelis and set them apart for myself. I also set apart the firstborn males of your domestic animals. They belong to me, Yahweh.”

Matthew Henry on Numbers 8:6-26

The Consecration of the Levites. ( b. c. 1490.) 5 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. 7 And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. 8 Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. 9 And thou… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Numbers 8:16