Numbers 3 13

Numbers 3:13 kjv

Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.

Numbers 3:13 nkjv

because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the LORD."

Numbers 3:13 niv

for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD."

Numbers 3:13 esv

for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine: I am the LORD."

Numbers 3:13 nlt

for all the firstborn males are mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the LORD."

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 13 Meaning

Numbers 3:13 declares God's ultimate claim over all firstborn, both human and animal, in Israel. This divine ownership is rooted in the pivotal event of the tenth plague in Egypt, where God struck down all Egyptian firstborn while sparing Israel's. This act of judgment and salvation established God's right to set apart Israel's firstborn as holy to Himself, symbolizing His ownership and the foundational requirement of dedicating the first of everything to Him.

Numbers 3 13 Context

Numbers 3:13 stands as the theological bedrock explaining why the Levites are appointed for service instead of the firstborn of Israel, a principle introduced in the preceding verse (Num 3:12). The immediate context of Numbers chapter 3 is the census and commissioning of the tribe of Levi. God meticulously delineates the duties and organization of the Levites, establishing their unique role in ministering at the Tabernacle. This verse anchors their selection not in arbitrary choice, but in a historic act of divine power and redemption.

Historically and culturally, the firstborn held significant status in the ancient Near East, symbolizing strength, inheritance, and familial continuation. Pharaoh himself, often considered divine or the firstborn of the sun god Ra, embodied this concept for Egyptians. God's strike on the Egyptian firstborn was a direct judgment not only on the people but specifically on the gods associated with creation, life, fertility, and dynastic power. By destroying the "first of their strength" (Psa 78:51), YHWH decisively demonstrated His supremacy over all Egyptian deities. Consequently, YHWH established His ownership over Israel's firstborn, saving them from the same fate. This act was a powerful polemic, asserting that YHWH, the God of Israel, not any false god, possessed the ultimate power over life and death, and therefore, rightful claim to the "first" and "best" of His people. The dedication of the firstborn was a constant reminder of their deliverance and God's covenantal authority.

Numbers 3 13 Word analysis

• For: This introductory word connects verse 13 to verse 12, providing the reason and theological foundation for God's taking of the Levites instead of the firstborn of Israel. It emphasizes the causal link.
• all the firstborn: The Hebrew kol-bekhor (כָּל־ בְּכוֹר) signifies a comprehensive and universal claim. Bekhor refers to the one who "opens the womb," representing the primary strength and beginning of a family line or a flock. This term underlines their significance in ancient cultures, making God's claim especially profound.
• are Mine: The Hebrew li hem (לִי הֵם) literally means "to me they are," emphasizing divine possession and exclusive right. This declaration signifies God's absolute ownership over those He saved. It is a sovereign statement of belonging.
• on the day that I struck down: The phrase b'yom hakkoti (בְּיוֹם הַכֹּתִי) points to a specific, historical moment of direct divine action. Nakah (נָכָה), "to strike down," refers to God's powerful judgment, specifically the Tenth Plague in Exodus 12. This past act of power established the basis for the present claim.
• all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: This clarifies the object and location of God's decisive judgment. It includes both human and animal firstborn, demonstrating the totality of God's punitive power against Pharaoh and the Egyptian pantheon. This judgment was targeted at the very essence of Egyptian strength and deities, such as their gods of fertility, their reigning Pharaoh, and their firstborn heir.
• I sanctified to Myself: The Hebrew va'aqdish li (וָאַקְדִּשׁ לִי) uses the verb qadash (קָדַשׁ), meaning "to make holy," "to set apart for a sacred purpose," or "to consecrate." This is a divine initiative, signifying God's active role in choosing and making distinct what belongs to Him. The phrase "to Myself" (לִי) again highlights the exclusive, dedicated nature of this setting apart.
• all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: This establishes a direct parallel with the Egyptian firstborn, highlighting the contrast: while judgment fell upon Egypt's firstborn, salvation and consecration fell upon Israel's. This universal inclusion shows God's encompassing claim over every firstborn life that He delivered.
• Mine they shall be: The Hebrew li yihyu (לִי יִהְיוּ) is a strong reassertion and affirmation of God's perpetual ownership. It indicates an unchangeable decree, reinforcing the earlier declaration of "are Mine" and cementing the future status of the firstborn.
• I am the LORD: The Hebrew ani YHWH (אֲנִי יְהוָה) is God's covenant name and a supreme declaration of His absolute authority, sovereignty, and faithfulness. This powerful statement seals the divine decree, rendering it undeniable and eternally binding. It underscores that the one who saved, owns; the one who owns, commands.

Numbers 3 13 Bonus section

The concept of the firstborn being "Mine" foreshadows a deeper theological truth revealed in the New Testament: Christ is called the "firstborn over all creation" and "firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:15, 18), embodying preeminence and new life. As the ultimate firstborn, Jesus fulfilled the requirement of sacrifice, thereby redeeming humanity. Consequently, through Him, believers are adopted as God's "firstborn" in a spiritual sense, part of "the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" (Heb 12:23), highlighting God's continuous salvific work and His ownership of all who are redeemed by His grace. This verse emphasizes that God's claim is tied to His sovereign power and His act of bringing forth new life from judgment or death, making them His chosen vessels.

Numbers 3 13 Commentary

Numbers 3:13 articulates a fundamental principle of divine ownership and redemption in the biblical narrative. It posits that God's right to consecrate the firstborn stems directly from His definitive act of judgment and salvation during the Passover. The tenth plague in Egypt, where God demonstrated His unique power by sparing Israel's firstborn while striking down Egypt's, created an eternal claim. This was not merely an act of rescue but an assertion of proprietorship: God saved them to be His own.

This verse clarifies that the initial command in Exodus to dedicate the firstborn was not an arbitrary religious rite but a perpetual memorial and theological consequence of God's redemptive work. The physical death of Egyptian firstborn symbolized the defeat of their gods and Pharaoh, while the spared firstborn of Israel became a living sign of God's protection and a people set apart for His exclusive service. This ultimately led to the substitution of the Levites for the firstborn (as described in the surrounding verses), allowing for a practical means of consecrated service within the covenant community. The spiritual implication extends beyond Israel, demonstrating God's consistent principle of redeeming His people from bondage to bring them into His possession for His purposes.