Numbers 3 46

Numbers 3:46 kjv

And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;

Numbers 3:46 nkjv

And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites,

Numbers 3:46 niv

To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites,

Numbers 3:46 esv

And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites,

Numbers 3:46 nlt

There are 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there are Levites. To redeem these extra firstborn sons,

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 46 Meaning

Numbers 3:46 specifies that there were 273 firstborn males among the Israelites whose numbers exceeded the total number of the Levites designated to stand in their stead. For these individuals, a redemption price was required, affirming God's ownership of all firstborn and demonstrating the principle of substitutionary redemption.

Numbers 3 46 Context

Numbers chapter 3 details the enumeration of the Levites and their assigned duties within the tabernacle service. Crucially, it establishes that the tribe of Levi is set apart by God to serve as a substitute for the firstborn males of all the other Israelite tribes. This divine ordinance stems from the Passover event in Egypt, where God spared the firstborn of Israel while striking down Egypt's firstborn, thus claiming all Israelite firstborn as His own (Ex 13:2, 12-15). In this context, Numbers 3:46 addresses the practical matter of how to deal with the specific number of firstborn who were not covered by a Levite substitution—namely, the 273 firstborn whose total count exceeded the total number of Levites. Their redemption by a monetary payment underscored God's precise governance, His ownership of life, and the cost associated with redemption from His just claim.

Numbers 3 46 Word analysis

• And for those redeemed: (וְאֵת פְּדוּיֵי v'et p'duyei). The term "redeemed ones" is derived from the Hebrew root padah (פדה), meaning to ransom, buy back, or deliver, usually through a payment or substitute. It signifies a liberation from obligation or bondage achieved by a specific price, not just a free release. Here, it refers to those who required a payment to be freed from their dedication to God's direct service or His claim.
• of the two hundred and seventy-three: (הַמֶּיּוֹת שָׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת וּשְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה ha-meyyot shalosh me'ot u-shettei `esrei which means two hundred and seventy three). This precise numerical value is the result of a divine calculation: the total number of firstborn Israelites (22,273, as given in Num 3:43) minus the total number of Levites (22,000, as stated in Num 3:39). The meticulous exactitude of the number highlights God's perfect accounting and administration, leaving nothing to chance or generalization concerning His holy claims and the process of redemption.
• of the firstborn of the people of Israel: (מִבְּכוֹר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל mi'bekhor b'nei Yisrael). The "firstborn" in ancient Israel held a special status. After the Passover plague, all firstborn Israelite males (human and animal) were dedicated to the Lord as a memorial of His deliverance. They represented the covenant nation's consecration to God. Their number included all firstborn males from one month old and upward.
• who exceed the number of the Levites: (הַיֹּתְרִים עַל לְוִיִּם hayyotrim `al levim). This phrase clarifies the reason for the monetary redemption. God had ordained the Levites as a substitute for the firstborn (Num 3:12). However, since there were more firstborn than Levites, a direct one-for-one substitution was not possible for every individual firstborn. This excess required an alternative form of redemption—a financial payment—to underscore the cost and sacred nature of release from God's claim.

Numbers 3 46 Bonus section

The specific count of "two hundred and seventy-three" highlights the profound divine exactitude throughout the book of Numbers. While some textual analyses might note a slight numerical discrepancy if adding the individual Levitical clan totals (7,500 Gershonites + 8,600 Kohathites + 6,200 Merarites = 22,300, whereas Num 3:39 gives 22,000 as the total), the Bible explicitly presents the calculation for redemption based on the 22,000 Levites set against the 22,273 firstborn. This suggests the theological and practical point, namely the necessary payment for the "excess" 273, is paramount. The meticulous precision in these numbers speaks to the God who is orderly, intentional, and just in all His dealings, accounting for every individual. This also reinforces the idea of God's perfect plan of redemption, where every aspect of the divine transaction is meticulously handled and accounted for. The money collected for these 273 firstborn, at five shekels per head, was given to Aaron and his sons, further emphasizing the priestly role in mediating God's covenant with Israel and reinforcing their means of sustenance through divine decree (Num 3:47-48). This system prefigured the New Testament concept of stewardship and financial support for those ministering the Gospel.

Numbers 3 46 Commentary

Numbers 3:46 articulates a practical aspect of divine redemption and order within Israel. After counting all the firstborn Israelite males and all the Levite males, it was found that the number of firstborn exceeded the number of Levites by exactly 273. God had taken the Levites as a substitute for the firstborn of Israel to perform the holy duties related to the tabernacle. However, for those firstborn individuals for whom there was no direct Levite replacement, a redemption price was mandated. This verse underscores several profound truths: God's meticulous attention to detail and precise numbering of His people, the reality that divine service and holy claims come with a cost, and the foundational concept of substitutionary atonement. Every life belonged to God; therefore, release from His direct claim required either a specific substitute (the Levite) or a paid ransom. This established pattern foreshadows the ultimate redemption achieved through Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the role of the ultimate "firstborn" (Col 1:15) and paid the definitive ransom (1 Pet 1:18-19) for all who were under the bondage of sin and owed to God. It highlights that true liberation comes at a divine cost, pointing to the sacrifice of the sinless Lamb.