Exodus 30:12
New International Version
“When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.

New Living Translation
“Whenever you take a census of the people of Israel, each man who is counted must pay a ransom for himself to the LORD. Then no plague will strike the people as you count them.

English Standard Version
“When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the LORD when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them.

Berean Standard Bible
“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered.

King James Bible
When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

New King James Version
“When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.

New American Standard Bible
“When you take a census of the sons of Israel to count them, then each one of them shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you count them, so that there will be no plague among them when you count them.

NASB 1995
“When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each one of them shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, so that there will be no plague among them when you number them.

NASB 1977
“When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each one of them shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.

Legacy Standard Bible
“When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each one of them shall give a price of atonement for himself to Yahweh when you number them, so that there will be no plague among them when you number them.

Amplified Bible
“When you take the census of the Israelites, each one shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD when you count them, so that no plague will come on them when you number them.

Christian Standard Bible
“When you take a census of the Israelites to register them, each of the men must pay a ransom for his life to the LORD as they are registered. Then no plague will come on them as they are registered.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When you take a census of the Israelites to register them, each of the men must pay a ransom for himself to the LORD as they are registered. Then no plague will come on them as they are registered.

American Standard Version
When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel, according to those that are numbered of them, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto Jehovah, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

Contemporary English Version
Find out how many grown men there are in Israel and require each of them to pay me to keep him safe from danger while you are counting them.

English Revised Version
When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel, according to those that are numbered of them, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"When you take a census of the Israelites, each person must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will happen to them when they are counted.

Good News Translation
"When you take a census of the people of Israel, each man is to pay me a price for his life, so that no disaster will come on him while the census is being taken.

International Standard Version
"When you take a census of the Israelis to register them, each is to give a ransom for himself to the LORD when they're registered so there won't be a plague among them when they're registered.

Majority Standard Bible
“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered.

NET Bible
"When you take a census of the Israelites according to their number, then each man is to pay a ransom for his life to the LORD when you number them, so that there will be no plague among them when you number them.

New Heart English Bible
"When you take a census of the children of Israel, according to those who are numbered among them, then each man shall give a ransom for his soul to the LORD, when you number them; that there be no plague among them when you number them.

Webster's Bible Translation
When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul to the LORD, when thou numberest them: that there may be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

World English Bible
“When you take a census of the children of Israel, according to those who are counted among them, then each man shall give a ransom for his soul to Yahweh when you count them, that there be no plague among them when you count them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“When you take up the census of the sons of Israel for their numbers, then they have each given an atonement [for] his soul to YHWH in their being numbered, and there is no plague among them in their being numbered.

Young's Literal Translation
When thou takest up the sum of the sons of Israel for their numbers, then they have given each an atonement for his soul to Jehovah in their being numbered, and there is no plague among them in their being numbered.

Smith's Literal Translation
When thou shalt take up the head of the sons of Israel for their reviewing, and they gave each a ransom of his soul to Jehovah, and in reviewing them; and a stumble shall not be in them in reviewing them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When thou shalt take the sum of the children of Israel according to their number, every one of them shall give a price for their souls to the Lord, and there shall be no scourge among them, when they shall be reckoned.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“When you have taken the sum of the sons of Israel, according to their number, each shall give a price for their souls to the Lord, and there will be no scourge among them, when they will be reviewed.

New American Bible
When you take a census of the Israelites who are to be enrolled, each one, as he is enrolled, shall give the LORD a ransom for his life, so that no plague may come upon them for being enrolled.

New Revised Standard Version
When you take a census of the Israelites to register them, at registration all of them shall give a ransom for their lives to the LORD, so that no plague may come upon them for being registered.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When you receive the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you have numbered the people; that there be no plague among them, when you number them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“When you will receive a number of the children of Israel, for their number each man shall give the redemption of his soul to LORD JEHOVAH whenever you have numbered them, that no death shall be among them whenever you have numbered them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel, according to their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If thou take account of the children of Israel in the surveying of them, and they shall give every one a ransom for his soul to the Lord, then there shall not be among them a destruction in the visiting of them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Atonement Money
11Then the LORD said to Moses, 12“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered. 13Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.…

Cross References
Numbers 1:2-3
“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. / You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.

Numbers 26:2
“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

2 Samuel 24:1-2
Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” / So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”

2 Samuel 24:10
After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

1 Chronicles 21:1-2
Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. / So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.”

1 Chronicles 21:7-8
This command was also evil in the sight of God; so He struck Israel. / Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. Now I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

Leviticus 27:2-3
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons, / if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.

Leviticus 27:25
Every valuation will be according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel.

Nehemiah 10:32-33
We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God: / for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God.

Matthew 17:24-27
After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” / “Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” / “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ...

Romans 13:6-7
This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. / Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

1 Corinthians 6:20
you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

1 Corinthians 7:23
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

2 Corinthians 8:12-14
For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. / It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. / At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality.


Treasury of Scripture

When you take the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul to the LORD, when you number them; that there be no plague among them, when you number them.

takest

Exodus 38:25,26
And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: …

Numbers 1:2-5
Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; …

Numbers 26:2-4
Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel…

their number.

Numbers 31:50
We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.

2 Chronicles 24:6
And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?

Job 33:24
Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

no plague

2 Samuel 24:2-15
For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people…

1 Chronicles 21:12,14
Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me…

1 Chronicles 27:24
Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.

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Atonement Census Children Count Counted Disease Israel Israelites Life Numbered Numberest Numbers Pay Plague Price Ransom Soul Sum Time
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Atonement Census Children Count Counted Disease Israel Israelites Life Numbered Numberest Numbers Pay Plague Price Ransom Soul Sum Time
Exodus 30
1. The altar of incense
11. The ransom of souls
17. The bronze basin
22. The holy anointing oil
34. The composition of the incense














When you take a census
The Hebrew word for "census" is "פְּקֻדִים" (pequdim), which implies an act of counting or numbering. In ancient Israel, a census was not merely a statistical exercise but a significant event that often had spiritual implications. The act of counting the people was a reminder of God's ownership over Israel. It was a way to acknowledge that the people belonged to God, and He was their ultimate protector and provider. This census was a divine command, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's instructions.

of the Israelites
The term "Israelites" refers to the descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel. This designation highlights their identity as God's chosen people, set apart for His purposes. The Israelites were a covenant community, bound by the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This identity carried with it both privileges and responsibilities, including adherence to God's laws and commands.

to number them
The act of numbering, or "מִסְפָּר" (mispar), in Hebrew, was a way to organize and prepare the community for various purposes, such as military service or religious duties. In the biblical context, numbering the people was not just about logistics but also about recognizing each individual's value and role within the community. It was a reminder that every person mattered to God and had a place in His divine plan.

each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life
The concept of "ransom" is rooted in the Hebrew word "כֹּפֶר" (kopher), which means a covering or atonement. This payment was a symbolic act of redemption, acknowledging that life is a gift from God and that each person is indebted to Him. The ransom served as a reminder of the cost of sin and the need for atonement. It pointed forward to the ultimate ransom paid by Christ, who redeemed humanity through His sacrificial death.

when he is counted
Being counted in the census was not just a matter of being included in a list; it was an acknowledgment of one's place in the community and relationship with God. It was a moment of reflection on one's identity and purpose as part of God's people. This counting was a sacred act, underscoring the importance of each individual's contribution to the collective mission of Israel.

Then no plague will come upon them
The mention of a "plague" serves as a warning of the consequences of disobedience and the seriousness of God's commands. In the ancient world, plagues were often seen as divine judgments. By following God's instructions regarding the census and ransom, the Israelites were assured of His protection. This promise of safety was contingent upon their faithfulness and obedience, highlighting the covenant relationship between God and His people.

when you number them
The repetition of the act of numbering emphasizes its significance. It was not a mundane task but a spiritual exercise with profound implications. The process of numbering was a way to ensure that the community remained aligned with God's will and purpose. It was a reminder of the need for order, accountability, and reliance on God's provision and protection.

THE RANSOM OF SOULS.

(12) When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel.--A formal enrolment and registration seems to be intended. Hitherto, nothing but a rough estimate of the number had been attempted (Exodus 12:37); now that a covenant had been made with God, an exact account of those who were within the covenant was needed. Moses, apparently, was contemplating such an exact enumeration when the command contained in this text was given him. It would be natural for one trained in Egyptian habits to desire such exact statistical knowledge. (For the minuteness and fulness of the Egyptian statistics of the time, see Records of the Past, vol. ii., pp. 19-28; vol. iv. pp. 46, 47; vol. vi. pp. 35-69, &c.)

Then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul.--On being formally enrolled among the people of God, it would be brought home to every man how unworthy he was of such favour, how necessary it was that atonement should in some way or other be made for him. God therefore appointed a way--the same way for all--in order to teach strongly that all souls were of equal value in His sight, and that unworthiness, whatever its degree, required the same expiation.

That there be no plague among them.--If a man did not feel his need of "ransom," and gladly pay the small sum at which the ransom was fixed, he would show himself so proud and presumptuous that he might well provoke a Divine "plague," or punishment.

Verse 12. - When thou takest the sum. The sum had been taken roughly at the time of the exodus (Exodus 12:37). Moses was now, it would seem, about to take it again, more accurately. No command had ever been given that the people should not be numbered; and the Egyptian habit of compiling exact statistics naturally clung to one who had had an Egyptian training. (See the "Statistical Tables of Karnak," in the "Records of the Past," vol. 2. pp. 19-28.) A ransom. Rather "an expiation," "an atonement" - (as in Exodus 29:33, 36) - something to show that he was conscious of sin, and of his not deserving to be numbered among God's people. That there was no plague. "That they be not punished for undue pride and presumption. There is no thought of such a plague as was provoked by David's numbering (2 Samuel 24:15).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“When
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you take a census
תִשָּׂ֞א (ṯiś·śā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

of the Israelites
בְּנֵֽי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

to number them,
לִפְקֻדֵיהֶם֒ (lip̄·qu·ḏê·hem)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

each man
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

must pay
וְנָ֨תְנ֜וּ (wə·nā·ṯə·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the LORD
לַיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

a ransom
כֹּ֧פֶר (kō·p̄er)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3724: A cover, a village, bitumen, the henna plant, a redemption-price

for his life
נַפְשׁ֛וֹ (nap̄·šōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

when he is counted.
בִּפְקֹ֣ד (bip̄·qōḏ)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

Then no
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

plague
נֶ֖גֶף (ne·ḡep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5063: A trip, an infliction

will come
יִהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

upon them
בָהֶ֛ם (ḇā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

when they are numbered.
בִּפְקֹ֥ד (bip̄·qōḏ)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit


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OT Law: Exodus 30:12 When you take a census (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 30:11
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