Numbers Chapter 3 · Verse 40
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.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָ֜ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֜ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
פְּקֹ֨ד
Number
H6485
פְּקֹ֨ד
Number
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
5 of 17
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 17
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
זָכָר֙
of the males
H2145
זָכָר֙
of the males
Strong's:
H2145
Word #:
8 of 17
properly, remembered, i.e., a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex)
מִבֶּן
of the children
H1121
מִבֶּן
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
9 of 17
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
10 of 17
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
מִבֶּן
of the children
H1121
מִבֶּן
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
11 of 17
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וָמָ֑עְלָה
and upward
H4605
וָמָ֑עְלָה
and upward
Strong's:
H4605
Word #:
13 of 17
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
וְשָׂ֕א
and take
H5375
וְשָׂ֕א
and take
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
14 of 17
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
אֵ֖ת
H853
אֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
This census counted 22,273 firstborn males (v.43), fewer than expected given Israel's total population. Various explanations include: only firstborn since the Exodus counted, firstborn who inherited their fathers, or natural demographic variations. The Levites (22,000) substituted for most firstborn, with the extra 273 requiring five-shekel redemption payment each (v.46-51). This redemption money supported the sanctuary. The principle continued as every Jewish firstborn required redemption (pidyon haben), practiced even today in observant Jewish families.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you live as one who's been redeemed - recognizing you belong to God, not yourself?
- How does understanding you were 'bought with a price' affect your daily choices and priorities?
Analysis & Commentary
God commands Moses: 'Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward.' Every firstborn belonged to God due to Passover deliverance when God spared Israel's firstborn while judging Egypt's (Ex 13:2). The one-month minimum age reflects ancient Near Eastern practice where infant mortality was high. God's claim on the firstborn demonstrates that redemption creates ownership - those saved belong to their Savior. Christ, as God's firstborn (Col 1:15, 18), redeems us to be God's possession, a 'peculiar people' (Titus 2:14, 1 Pet 2:9). We're 'not our own' but 'bought with a price' (1 Cor 6:19-20).