Numbers 18 16

Numbers 18:16 kjv

And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.

Numbers 18:16 nkjv

And those redeemed of the devoted things you shall redeem when one month old, according to your valuation, for five shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.

Numbers 18:16 niv

When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.

Numbers 18:16 esv

And their redemption price (at a month old you shall redeem them) you shall fix at five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.

Numbers 18:16 nlt

Redeem them when they are one month old. The redemption price is five pieces of silver (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs).

Numbers 18 verses

Numbers 18 16 Meaning

Numbers 18:16 establishes the specific regulation for redeeming the firstborn male child in Israel. It mandates that from one month of age, the firstborn must be redeemed by a payment of five shekels of silver, precisely measured according to the standard "shekel of the sanctuary," which is specified as twenty gerahs. This payment affirmed God's sovereign claim over all firstborn, particularly in light of His deliverance during the Exodus when He spared Israel's firstborn while striking Egypt's. The redemption fee then allowed the parents to keep their child while still acknowledging divine ownership.

Numbers 18 16 Context

Numbers chapter 18 details the duties and provisions for the Aaronic priests and the Levites, following the challenges to their authority (as seen in chapter 16-17). This chapter serves to firmly establish the distinct roles and responsibilities within the tabernacle service, alongside the precise means of financial support for those ministering before God. Verses 8-20 specifically delineate the "sacred dues" – various offerings and payments that belong to the priests. This includes firstfruits, special gifts, and, as in this verse, the redemption money for firstborn. The historical context roots back to the Exodus, where God, having struck Egypt's firstborn, claimed Israel's firstborn for Himself (Exod 13). Though the Levites were subsequently chosen as substitutes for temple service, the principle of divine ownership and the requirement for monetary redemption of firstborn Israelite males persisted, reinforcing their dedication to God.

Numbers 18 16 Word analysis

• וּפְדוּיָו (uphduyav) / "And those that are to be redeemed" or "Its redeemed ones": From the Hebrew root פדה (padah), meaning "to ransom," "to redeem," or "to deliver by payment." It implies setting something or someone free by paying a price, acknowledging a prior claim or bondage. Here, it signifies God's prior claim on all firstborn, requiring a "ransom" to return them to their families.
• מִבֶּן חֹדֶשׁ (mibben chodesh) / "from a month old": This phrase specifies the earliest age at which the redemption payment was required. It is understood as a practical timeframe, allowing the child to pass through the vulnerable first month of life, after which its survival was more certain. It ensures that payment is made for a living child dedicated to God.
• תִּפְדֶּה (tifdeh) / "you shall redeem them": This verb is second person masculine singular, directing the action to the father or legal guardian of the firstborn child. It highlights the direct responsibility of the household head to fulfill this divine command.
• בְּעֶרְכְּךָ (b'erkha) / "according to your valuation": While seemingly suggesting a subjective appraisal, in this context, it refers to the divinely established and fixed valuation or assessment. It indicates adherence to the specific standard that God has set, not an arbitrary human decision. This contrasts with more flexible "valuations" (erekh) found in Lev 27 for dedicated persons.
• חֲמֵשֶׁת שְׁקָלִים (chamishet sh'kalim) / "five shekels of silver": This is the fixed price for redemption. The number "five" is a recurring number in biblical law, often associated with responsibility or grace. Silver, as the metal of redemption, appears in various contexts for payments and ransoms. This fixed amount highlights the sanctity and uniformity of the required payment.
• בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ (b'shekel ha'kodesh) / "according to the shekel of the sanctuary": This phrase is crucial. It designates a specific, accurate, and immutable standard of weight for the shekel, maintained within the tabernacle/temple for all sacred transactions. This prevents fraudulent or fluctuating market weights (often debased) from being used for holy purposes, ensuring integrity in dealings with God.
• עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה (esrim gerah) / "which is twenty gerahs": This further defines and clarifies the "shekel of the sanctuary" by breaking it down into its constituent smaller unit, the gerah. One shekel was equal to twenty gerahs. This provides absolute precision for the required payment, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding the exact amount.

• "And those that are to be redeemed, from a month old you shall redeem them": This phrase encapsulates God's prerogative over the firstborn (who are consecrated to Him by right of rescue in Egypt) and the commanded action to transfer ownership back to the parents through payment, timed after the first precarious month of an infant's life.
• "according to your valuation, five shekels of silver": This specifies the monetary sum for the redemption. The "valuation" is not arbitrary but a prescribed divine standard, making the cost consistent for every firstborn male, regardless of social status or perceived worth, thus valuing every life equally before God.
• "according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs": This stipulative clause ensures accuracy, integrity, and uniformity in the sacred transaction. It establishes a divine standard of measurement, separating sacred dealings from potentially deceitful secular commerce, emphasizing God's demand for absolute honesty in matters relating to Him.

Numbers 18 16 Bonus section

The sum of five shekels for redeeming a firstborn male appears consistently throughout the Mosaic Law (e.g., Num 3:47). This specific, non-negotiable price, applied universally regardless of the family's wealth or status, underscores that human life is of equal value in the eyes of God when it comes to the legal act of redemption in this context. It wasn't about the worth of the individual child as much as it was about adhering to a standard divine protocol acknowledging divine claim. The concept of God 'claiming' the firstborn demonstrates His absolute sovereignty and their special dedication to Him, emphasizing the sanctity of life as His gift. This law, including its meticulous financial details, helped solidify the practical operation of the covenant community and the economic support for the priesthood, vital for maintaining proper worship and social order in ancient Israel.

Numbers 18 16 Commentary

Numbers 18:16 articulates a precise command for the redemption of the firstborn male child. This law is deeply rooted in the foundational event of the Exodus, where God preserved Israel's firstborn while judging Egypt's, thereby consecrating every firstborn male of Israel to Himself. While the Levites were chosen for the specific service of the tabernacle, God maintained His claim on all firstborn, necessitating a monetary ransom. This payment of five shekels of silver was a symbolic act, acknowledging divine ownership and providing the means for the parents to retain their child, not for service in the tabernacle, but for raising him within the Israelite family. The specification of the "shekel of the sanctuary" and "twenty gerahs" underscores the divine demand for exactness, integrity, and purity in all sacred transactions, guarding against dishonesty. This law also ensured a regular income for the priests, who relied on these contributions for their livelihood, thus enabling their dedicated service without distraction. Ultimately, it foreshadows a greater redemption, where humanity, consecrated by creation but enslaved by sin, would require a perfect, infinitely valuable payment – not silver, but the precious blood of Christ – to be truly ransomed and restored to God.