Numbers 8:17 kjv
For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
Numbers 8:17 nkjv
For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them to Myself.
Numbers 8:17 niv
Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal, is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.
Numbers 8:17 esv
For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself,
Numbers 8:17 nlt
For all the firstborn males among the people of Israel are mine, both of people and of animals. I set them apart for myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.
Numbers 8 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:22 | "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.”'" | Israel declared as God's firstborn. |
| Exod 13:2 | "Sanctify to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine." | Initial command to consecrate firstborn. |
| Exod 13:12 | "...you shall set apart to the LORD all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from a beast; the males shall be the LORD’s." | Command for male firstborn of beasts. |
| Exod 13:15 | "For it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn... that the LORD killed all the firstborn... Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males that open the womb..." | Consequence of plague for firstborn redemption. |
| Exod 22:29-30 | "You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce... You shall give Me the firstborn of your sons. Likewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep..." | Offering of firstborn (produce, human, animal). |
| Exod 34:19 | "All that open the womb are Mine, every male firstborn among your livestock, whether ox or sheep." | Reiterates God's ownership of all firstborn. |
| Num 3:12-13 | "Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn... The Levites shall be Mine..." | Levites chosen as substitution for firstborn. |
| Num 3:40-43 | God commands census of firstborn, finds specific number. | Census of firstborn for comparison to Levites. |
| Num 3:45 | "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine..." | Direct instruction for Levite substitution. |
| Num 3:46-51 | Outlines the redemption price for the excess firstborn not covered by Levites. | Redemption price for remaining firstborn. |
| Num 8:16 | "For they are wholly given to Me from among the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb..." | Context: Levites are a full gift to God. |
| Num 8:18 | "And I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel." | Direct affirmation of Levite substitution. |
| Deut 15:19 | "All the firstborn males that come from your herd and your flock you shall sanctify to the LORD your God..." | Reiterated command for firstborn animals. |
| Neh 10:36 | "also that we would bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks..." | Commitment to uphold the firstborn law. |
| Mal 1:6 | "'A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence?'" | God's claim as Father and Master implies ownership. |
| Col 1:15 | "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." | Christ's supreme preeminence. |
| Col 1:18 | "...and He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." | Christ's authority and resurrection. |
| Rom 8:29 | "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." | Christ as the archetype and leader among believers. |
| Heb 12:23 | "...to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven..." | Believers as spiritual firstborn by grace. |
| Rev 1:5 | "...and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth..." | Christ's kingship and resurrection victory. |
| Tit 2:14 | "...who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people..." | Redemption and purification leading to divine ownership. |
| 1 Cor 6:20 | "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." | Believers belong to God through redemption. |
Numbers 8 verses
Numbers 8 17 Meaning
This verse states God's sovereign claim over all the firstborn of the children of Israel, encompassing both humans and animals. This ownership is not arbitrary but is specifically rooted in the historical event of the tenth plague in Egypt, where God, by striking down the firstborn of Egypt, spared Israel's firstborn and thus sanctified them, setting them apart exclusively for Himself as a consequence of His redemptive act.
Numbers 8 17 Context
Numbers chapter 8 outlines the specific procedures for purifying and dedicating the Levites for their service in the Tabernacle. This verse provides the profound theological rationale for why the Levites were chosen for this unique role. Historically, all firstborn Israelite males and their firstborn animals were initially sanctified to the LORD following the final plague in Egypt (Exod 13), where God struck down Egypt's firstborn but spared Israel's. This divine act of judgment and salvation established God's perpetual claim. In Numbers, as the priestly duties became too numerous for Aaron and his sons alone, God appointed the tribe of Levi as a substitutionary offering to Himself, effectively exchanging the firstborn of all Israel for the Levites. This verse grounds the Levites' service in God's prior salvific action, establishing their divine claim and unique separation for sacred duties.
Numbers 8 17 Word analysis
- For: Kī (כִּי) - This conjunction often introduces a reason, explanation, or confirmation. Here, it signals the justification for the preceding instruction regarding the Levites.
- all the firstborn: Kol-bekhor (כָל־בְּכ֣וֹר) - Kol means "all" or "every," emphasizing totality. Bekhor (בְּכוֹר) refers to the one who "opens the womb," indicating the firstborn. Culturally, the firstborn held significant rights and prominence (primogeniture), often representing the strength and future of the family or nation.
- among the children of Israel: Clearly defines the specific group whose firstborn are claimed by God.
- are Mine: Lî (לִ֗י) - This simple preposition with a pronominal suffix functions as a powerful declaration of absolute, personal ownership by God. It conveys the idea "belonging to Me," highlighting divine sovereignty and entitlement over that which He claims.
- both of man and beast: Extends the comprehensive scope of God's ownership to all life—human and animal—that represents the initial offspring. This reflects the complete sweep of the tenth plague in Egypt.
- on the day that I struck: Pinpoints the precise historical event that underpins God's claim. It emphasizes divine action and a foundational moment in Israel's history. This refers to the tenth plague (Exod 12), where God demonstrated His power and salvation.
- all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: Specifies the victims of God's judgment, serving as a powerful backdrop for His claim over Israel's firstborn, who were spared.
- I sanctified them: Hiqdachti 'ōtām (הִקְדַּ֣שְׁתִּי אֹתָ֖ם) - From the Hebrew verb qādash (קָדַשׁ), meaning "to be holy," "to consecrate," or "to set apart for sacred use." The past tense emphasizes that this consecration was a divine accomplished fact stemming from the Exodus event. God declared them holy for Himself.
- to Myself: Reinforces the exclusivity of their dedication. They were set apart for God alone, to serve His purposes.
Words-group analysis
- "For all the firstborn... are Mine": This phrase encapsulates the divine right and ownership. God's claim on the firstborn is not an arbitrary rule but an established truth declared by Him as the Creator and Redeemer. This highlights the inherent sacredness and belonging of the first and best to God.
- "on the day that I struck... I sanctified them to Myself": This explains the basis of God's claim. The preservation of Israel's firstborn amidst the destruction of Egypt's firstborn during the Passover became the permanent marker of their special status and sanctification. It signifies that their separation for God's service was an act of grace and redemption, memorializing a pivotal moment in salvation history. It reveals God's power over life and death, His justice, and His covenant faithfulness.
Numbers 8 17 Bonus section
The concept of "firstborn" in ancient Israelite culture often carried profound theological significance beyond merely being the first male child. It signified the prime, the representative, and the inheritor. By claiming "all the firstborn," God was effectively laying claim to the entire nation as His own. Israel, in Exodus 4:22, is specifically referred to as God's "firstborn son." This makes the substitution of the Levites for the general Israelite firstborn not merely a pragmatic shift but a powerful symbolic act. It shows God's meticulous care for covenant fulfillment and the prefiguring of a future, ultimate redemption. The exacting count and redemption of the firstborn who exceeded the number of Levites (Num 3:44-51) further underscore the precision and sanctity of this divine arrangement, emphasizing that divine ownership required either service or redemption, never mere disregard.
Numbers 8 17 Commentary
Numbers 8:17 articulates the foundational principle behind the Levitical service, grounding it firmly in God's saving acts in the Exodus. It declares God's ultimate ownership of all the firstborn—both human and animal—among the Israelites. This claim originates directly from the night of the Passover in Egypt, where God, through His judgment, spared Israel's firstborn, thereby setting them apart ("sanctified them") for His exclusive possession and service. This act established a perpetual divine right, leading to the substitution of the Levites for the general firstborn of Israel, enabling Israel to fulfill its covenant obligations through the specialized service of the Levites, all while remembering God's power and redemptive grace.