Numbers 3 40

Numbers 3:40 kjv

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 3:40 nkjv

Then the LORD said to Moses: "Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and above, and take the number of their names.

Numbers 3:40 niv

The LORD said to Moses, "Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more and make a list of their names.

Numbers 3:40 esv

And the LORD said to Moses, "List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names.

Numbers 3:40 nlt

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now count all the firstborn sons in Israel who are one month old or older, and make a list of their names.

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 40 Meaning

The verse commands Moses to undertake a census of all firstborn Israelite males, specifically those who are one month old or older, by registering their names. This census was a direct divine instruction, critical for God's plan to formally dedicate the Levites for service to Him, substituting them for the firstborn of all Israel, which had been consecrated to God since the Passover event in Egypt. It underscores God's precise and ordered arrangements for His people.

Numbers 3 40 Context

Numbers chapter 3 is dedicated to the role and responsibilities of the Levites within the Israelite camp and their specific designation for the service of the tabernacle. Following the general census of fighting men in chapter 1, this chapter focuses on the Levites, who were chosen by God as substitutes for the firstborn of all Israel. Verses 1-4 detail the lineage of Aaron's sons, setting the stage for the priestly line. Verses 5-10 assign the Levites to assist Aaron and his sons. The core theological reasoning appears in verses 11-13, where the LORD explicitly declares His taking of the Levites in place of all firstborn, emphasizing His claim from the Passover. Verses 14-39 describe the Levite census, organizing them by clan (Gershonites, Kohathites, Merarites) and their specific duties, indicating their total number. Verse 40 marks a crucial pivot, setting up the direct comparison and subsequent redemption of the firstborn who outnumber the Levites. The census of the firstborn here directly enables the fulfillment of God's command regarding substitution and redemption, establishing a divinely appointed system for priestly and tabernacle service.

Numbers 3 40 Word analysis

• And the LORD said to Moses,

  • "LORD": Hebrew YHWH (Yahweh), the covenant name of God, indicating His personal relationship and sovereign authority over Israel. This highlights a direct divine revelation and command, not a human initiative.
  • "said": Hebrew va-yomer, indicating direct verbal communication, signifying an authoritative instruction from God to His chosen leader.
  • "Moses": God's designated mediator and leader of Israel, underscoring his role in receiving and implementing divine commands.

• "Number all the firstborn males of the people of Israel,"

  • "Number": Hebrew peqod (a form of paqad), meaning to visit, muster, take an account of, or enroll. This is not just a head-count but an act of divine appointment or reckoning, often implying a purpose for service or judgment. In this context, it's for separation and dedication.
  • "all the firstborn males": Hebrew kol bekhor zakhar.
    • "bekhor" (firstborn): Holds a special legal and spiritual significance in ancient Near Eastern culture and especially in Israelite law, carrying rights and responsibilities. The "firstborn" here are specifically claimed by God due to their being spared during the tenth plague in Egypt (Exo 13:2, 13:12-13). They belong to God and were destined for a form of service before the Levites were appointed.
    • "males" (zakhar): Specifically identifies the gender.
  • "of the people of Israel": Refers to the entire nation, emphasizing the comprehensive scope of this specific divine census within the whole community.

• "from a month old and upward,"

  • "from a month old": Hebrew mibben chodesh. This extremely low age threshold is significant. It implies that from the earliest stages of life, every Israelite firstborn male child was considered part of the covenant and thus subject to God's claim. It contrasts with general censuses that count those capable of military service (20 years and older), showing this census has a distinct religious purpose, applying even to infants.
  • "and upward": (vama'lah): Includes all older firstborn males, regardless of age beyond infancy.

• "and take the number of their names."

  • "take the number": Literally "number their name." Similar to "number" (paqad), reinforcing the action of counting.
  • "of their names": Hebrew mispar shmotham. This means recording individuals by name, indicating a personal, individual accounting, rather than just a total count. Each firstborn was personally registered and known to God, highlighting God's meticulous care and the solemnity of their redemption.

Numbers 3 40 Bonus section

The concept of "firstborn" in scripture has significant layers. While Num 3:40 deals with biological firstborns claimed by God, the principle evolves to spiritual preeminence. Christ is described as the "firstborn over all creation" (Col 1:15) and "firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:18), signifying His unique authority, supremacy, and initiating role in new creation and resurrection. Similarly, believers are called the "church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven" (Heb 12:23), illustrating that through Christ, they receive a similar redeemed and consecrated status, marked by God's personal knowledge and a right to the inheritance. This census therefore has a foundational typology, preparing Israel for the structured worship and illustrating God's redemptive precision that would later culminate in Christ's ultimate substitutionary sacrifice. The very act of numbering and identifying the firstborn, down to infants, indicates a divine valuation of every life from its earliest stages, destined for purpose or redemption within His greater plan.

Numbers 3 40 Commentary

Numbers 3:40 represents a crucial stage in God's ordered establishment of His sanctuary service in Israel. Following the general census of the other tribes, this verse initiates the specific counting of firstborn males, setting the stage for their direct comparison with the already enumerated Levites (Num 3:22, 28, 34). This isn't merely a demographic count but a divine mandate tied to the covenant God made with Israel at the Passover, where He claimed all firstborn as His own. By commanding the census of firstborn "from a month old and upward," God emphasized that His claim extended to even the youngest, highlighting the pervasive reach of His sovereign right. The meticulous recording of "their names" further stressed the personal nature of this divine claim and the individual accountability for their substitution or redemption, ultimately pointing to God's precision in maintaining His covenant order and the profound concept of substitutionary atonement at the heart of His dealings with humanity.