Numbers 3:48 kjv
And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.
Numbers 3:48 nkjv
And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons."
Numbers 3:48 niv
Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons."
Numbers 3:48 esv
and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over."
Numbers 3:48 nlt
Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn sons."
Numbers 3 48 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 13:2 | "Sanctify unto me all the firstborn... it is mine." | God claims all firstborn as His own. |
| Exod 13:13 | "Every firstborn of an ass thou shalt redeem... and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem." | Principle of redeeming non-human firstborn and humans. |
| Exod 13:15 | "Pharaoh would hardly let us go... therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix..." | Recalls Passover context for firstborn dedication. |
| Exod 22:29 | "The firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me." | Reiteration of God's right to the firstborn. |
| Exod 34:20 | "All the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou redeem." | Command to redeem all firstborn sons. |
| Lev 27:6 | "From five years old...fifty shekels of silver...as thy estimation." | General redemption value for a male, 50 shekels. |
| Lev 27:26 | "Only the firstborn... no man shall sanctify it..." | Firstborn animals cannot be redeemed (already God's). |
| Num 3:12 | "I have taken the Levites... instead of all the firstborn..." | The divine substitution of Levites for firstborn. |
| Num 3:13 | "All the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified unto me all the firstborn in Israel..." | God's historical basis for firstborn claim (Passover). |
| Num 3:39 | "All that were numbered of the Levites...twenty and two thousand." | Total number of Levites, leading to the surplus calculation. |
| Num 3:40 | "Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel..." | Command to count all firstborn males. |
| Num 3:43 | "All the firstborn males...twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen." | Total number of firstborn, identifying the 273 surplus. |
| Num 3:45 | "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn... and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle." | Emphasizes the substitution. |
| Num 3:46 | "For those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen..." | Directly refers to the surplus requiring redemption. |
| Num 3:47 | "Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece..." | Specifies the exact redemption price per person. |
| Num 18:6 | "I have given your brethren the Levites unto you..." | God provides Levites to assist priests. |
| Num 18:15 | "Every thing that openeth the matrix...thou shalt surely redeem." | Confirmation that firstborn must be redeemed. |
| Num 18:16 | "And those that are to be redeemed...even a month old shalt thou redeem...five shekels of silver..." | Reiterates redemption price and age from Num 3. |
| Heb 9:12 | "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." | Christ as the ultimate, unrepeatable redemption. |
| Tit 2:14 | "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people..." | Christ's redemption cleanses from sin. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things...but with the precious blood of Christ..." | Christ's blood as the true and costly redemption. |
| Rev 5:9 | "Thou art worthy...for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred..." | Christ's redemption is universal and sacrificial. |
Numbers 3 verses
Numbers 3 48 Meaning
Numbers 3:48 commands Moses to deliver the redemption money, collected from the Israelite firstborn males who exceeded the number of Levites, directly to Aaron and his sons. This specific instruction provides for the sustenance of the priestly family, funded by the divinely mandated redemption of those not covered by the Levitical substitution. It underscores God's ownership of the firstborn and His detailed provision for the tabernacle service through sacred contributions.
Numbers 3 48 Context
Numbers chapter 3 details the census and organization of the Levites, who were specifically designated by God to serve in the tabernacle in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel. This substitution stems from the Passover event, where God spared Israel's firstborn while judging Egypt's (Num 3:13). The chapter meticulously assigns each Levitical family (Gershonites, Kohathites, Merarites) their specific duties and encampment around the tabernacle. Following the count of the Levites (22,000 males one month old and upward), a separate census of the firstborn males of all Israel was conducted, totaling 22,273. This verse arises from the difference of 273 firstborn males who were "surplus" beyond the total number of Levites available for substitution. For these remaining 273 firstborn, a redemption price of five shekels per head was commanded (Num 3:47), and Numbers 3:48 specifically instructs Moses on the destination of this collected money, reinforcing the practical and spiritual sustenance of the priesthood.
Numbers 3 48 Word analysis
- And thou shalt give: A direct imperative from God to Moses, indicating a divine command to be executed precisely. It emphasizes Moses' role as the mediator of God's will to the people.
- the money: Hebrew: כֶּסֶף ( kesef ). This refers specifically to silver. Silver served as the primary currency and medium of exchange in ancient Israel. Its payment signifies a tangible and valuable act of redemption, acknowledging a literal cost. The specific amount of 5 shekels per person (totaling 1365 shekels) demonstrates divine precision in valuing human life under covenant law.
- wherewith: Connects the money directly to its purpose – that which enables the redemption. It clarifies that the payment is specifically for releasing the obligation.
- the odd number of them: Hebrew: הָעֹדְפִים ( ha'odefim ). Literally "the excess ones" or "those remaining over." This phrase refers to the 273 firstborn males who exceeded the count of the Levites available for substitution (22,273 firstborn - 22,000 Levites = 273 excess). It highlights God's meticulous accounting and His absolute claim over every individual life.
- is to be redeemed: Hebrew: פְּדוּיִם ( p'duyim ), from the root פדה ( padah ), meaning "to ransom," "to redeem," "to release by payment." This term is foundational to biblical theology, representing deliverance through a costly payment. Here, it signifies releasing the firstborn from their specific consecrated status by divine arrangement, demonstrating that something valuable (the Levites' lives) or a precious payment (silver) is required. This act of redemption points forward to the ultimate redemption through Christ.
- unto Aaron and to his sons: Specifies the beneficiaries of the collected redemption money – the priestly family. This revenue was a designated provision for their upkeep, as they were set apart for God's service and did not inherit land among the tribes. This highlights God's detailed system for sustaining His appointed ministers and underscores the priesthood's essential role in the divine economy and religious life of Israel. Their reception of this money also emphasizes their role in administering sacred funds for the Tabernacle's operation.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And thou shalt give the money...is to be redeemed": This phrase directly links the financial transaction (giving money) to the theological concept of redemption. It establishes a divine command for a tangible payment to effect a release from a consecrated status, underscoring the idea that redemption requires a cost.
- "the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons": This group clarifies the precise purpose of the payment and its direct beneficiaries. The "odd number" refers to the specific individuals requiring redemption, and the "unto Aaron and to his sons" clarifies that this particular revenue source was sacredly designated for the priesthood, integrating the concept of human redemption into the economic support system of the temple worship.
Numbers 3 48 Bonus section
The specific value of "five shekels apiece" (mentioned in the preceding verse, Num 3:47) for redeeming a firstborn male one month old and upward aligns with the redemption estimation set out in Lev 27:6, where it's the price for a male between one month and five years old. This consistency across different legal sections of the Pentateuch indicates a coherent, unified system of divine valuation. The careful counting of 22,273 firstborn males and 22,000 Levites down to the last person (with only 273 requiring individual redemption) showcases God's remarkable precision and attention to detail in ordering His covenant people and their sacred duties. This passage highlights not just an abstract principle but a tangible system of divine governance, ownership, and gracious provision, reinforcing that every detail within Israel's covenant life had specific meaning and purpose as part of God's larger redemptive plan.
Numbers 3 48 Commentary
Numbers 3:48 provides a concise yet profound instruction at the culmination of a meticulously detailed divine census. It underscores several core principles: God's absolute ownership of life (especially the firstborn), His provision for substitution, and the cost associated with redemption when direct substitution is not numerically possible. The surplus 273 firstborns, at five shekels apiece, amounted to 1365 shekels—a significant sum designated entirely for the priestly family. This financial arrangement highlights the practical realities of sustaining those devoted wholly to God's service in the tabernacle. The passage further deepens the theological concept of "redemption" as a release achieved through a specified price. This physical redemption for the firstborn served as a vital precursor, teaching Israel about the profound need for a ransom. It subtly foreshadows the ultimate spiritual redemption provided through Christ, who, as the true Firstborn, provided the precious and singular payment for humanity's release from sin.