Numbers 8:18
◄  Numbers 8:18  ►
New International Version (©2011)
And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Yes, I have claimed the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel.

English Standard Version (©2001)
and I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"But I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
But I have taken the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites.

International Standard Version (©2012)
taking the descendants of Levi instead of every firstborn of the Israelis.

NET Bible (©2006)
So I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn sons among the Israelites.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
So I have taken the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the Israelites.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.

American King James Version
And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.

American Standard Version
And I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel:

Darby Bible Translation
And I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

English Revised Version
And I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the children of Israel.

World English Bible
I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
and I take the Levites instead of every first-born among the sons of Israel:

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:5-26 Here we have directions for the solemn ordination of the Levites. All Israel must know that they took not this honour to themselves, but were called of God to it; nor was it enough that they were distinguished from others. All who are employed for God, must be dedicated to him, according to the employment. Christians must be baptized, ministers must be ordained; we must first give ourselves unto the Lord, and then our services. The Levites must be cleansed. They must be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Moses must sprinkle the water of purifying upon them. This signifies the application of the blood of Christ to our souls by faith, that we may be fit to serve the living God. God declares his acceptance of them. All who expect to share in the privileges of the tabernacle, must resolve to do the service of the tabernacle. As, on the one hand, none of God's creatures are his necessary servants, he needs not the service of any of them; so none are merely honorary servants, to do nothing. All whom God owns, he employs; angels themselves have their services.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. Gave up his right in the firstborn, and instead of them took the Levites for his use and service: see Numbers 3:12.

Numbers 8:18 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Cleansing the Levites
…17For 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. 18And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. 19And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come near to the sanctuary. …

Numbers 8:17 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 8:19 From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary."