Numbers 3:40
New International Version
The LORD said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more and make a list of their names.

New Living Translation
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now count all the firstborn sons in Israel who are one month old or older, and make a list of their names.

English Standard Version
And the LORD said to Moses, “List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then the LORD said to Moses: “Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and above, and take the number of their names.

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Count every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and make a list of their names.

NASB 1995
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and make a list of their names.

NASB 1977
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every first-born male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and make a list of their names.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and make a list of their names.

Amplified Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and make a list of their names.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD told Moses, “Register every firstborn male of the Israelites one month old or more, and list their names.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD told Moses: “Register every firstborn male of the Israelites one month old or more, and list their names.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Number all the first-born males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said to Moses, "Make a list and count the first-born sons at least one month old in each of the Israelite families.

English Revised Version
And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said to Moses, "Register every firstborn male of the Israelites who is at least one month old, and make a list of their names.

International Standard Version
Later the LORD instructed Moses: "Number all the first-born males of Israel from a month old and above and list their names.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names.

NET Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Number all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD said to Moses, "Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to Moses, number all the first-born of the males of the children of Israel, from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

World English Bible
Yahweh said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a son of a month and upward, and take up the number of their names;

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Number every first-born male of the sons of Israel from a son of a month and upward, and take up the number of their names;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to Moses, Review every first-born male to the sons of Israel, from the son of a month and above, and take up the number of names.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to Moses: Number the firstborn of the male sex of the children of Israel, from one month and upward, and thou shalt take the sum of them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to Moses: “Number the firstborn of the male sex from the sons of Israel, from one month and above, and you shall take their total.

New American Bible
The LORD then said to Moses: Enroll every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and count the number of their names.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD said to Moses: Enroll all the firstborn males of the Israelites, from a month old and upward, and count their names.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to Moses, Number all the first-born of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH spoke with Moshe and said to him: “Number every firstborn male of the children of Israel from a son of a month and above and take the number of their names.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Number all the first-born males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Count every first-born male of the children of Israel from a month old and upwards, and take the number by name.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Redemption of the Firstborn
40Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names. 41You are to take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.”…

Cross References
Exodus 13:2
“Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast.”

Exodus 13:12-15
you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. / You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem. / In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ...

Numbers 8:16-18
For the Levites have been wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself in place of all who come first from the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel. / For every firstborn male in Israel is Mine, both man and beast. I set them apart for Myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. / But I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel.

Numbers 18:15-16
The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. / You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your valuation: five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs.

Deuteronomy 15:19
You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herds and flocks. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work, nor are you to shear the firstborn of your flock.

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:28
I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

Luke 2:22-23
And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord / (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),

Hebrews 12:23
in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

Colossians 1:15
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Revelation 14:4
These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

Exodus 4:22
Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,

Jeremiah 31:9
They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said to 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.

Numbers 3:12,15,45
And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; …

Exodus 32:26-29
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him…

Psalm 87:6
The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

Jump to Previous
Children Count First Firstborn First-Born Israel Israelite List Male Males Month Moses Names Numbered Upward
Jump to Next
Children Count First Firstborn First-Born Israel Israelite List Male Males Month Moses Names Numbered Upward
Numbers 3
1. The sons of Aaron
5. The Levites are given to the priests instead of the firstborn
14. Are numbered by their families
21. The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites
27. Of the Kohathites
33. Of the Merarites
38. The place and charge of Moses and Aaron
40. The firstborn are freed by the Levites
44. The balances are refunded














Then the LORD said to Moses
This phrase introduces a direct communication from God to Moses, emphasizing the divine authority and guidance that Moses received. The Hebrew root for "LORD" is יהוה (YHWH), the sacred and personal name of God, often rendered as Yahweh. This name signifies God's eternal presence and covenantal faithfulness to His people. The phrase underscores the unique relationship between God and Moses, where Moses acts as a mediator between God and the Israelites. Historically, this communication reflects the theocratic leadership structure of Israel, where God directly guided His chosen leader.

Number all the firstborn males
The command to "number" or count the firstborn males is significant in the context of Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The Hebrew word for "number" is פקד (paqad), which can mean to count, muster, or take account of. This census of the firstborn is a reminder of the Passover event, where the firstborn of Egypt were struck down, but the firstborn of Israel were spared. The act of numbering them signifies their consecration and special status before God. It also foreshadows the redemption and substitutionary role of the Levites, who would later be set apart for service in place of the firstborn.

of the sons of Israel
The phrase "sons of Israel" refers to the descendants of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel after wrestling with God. This designation highlights the covenant relationship between God and the twelve tribes of Israel. It is a reminder of the promises made to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and the fulfillment of those promises as the Israelites become a great nation. The historical context here is the formation of a distinct people set apart for God's purposes, emphasizing their identity and mission as God's chosen people.

from a month old and upward
The specification "from a month old and upward" indicates the age from which the firstborn males were to be counted. In ancient Israel, a child was considered viable and part of the community after surviving the first month of life. This age marker signifies the beginning of a child's formal recognition within the covenant community. It also reflects the practical considerations of survival and health in the ancient world, where infant mortality was high. Spiritually, it underscores the sanctity of life and the importance of each individual within God's plan.

and list their names
The instruction to "list their names" involves recording each firstborn male, emphasizing the personal and individual nature of God's covenant with His people. In Hebrew culture, names held significant meaning and often reflected one's character or destiny. The act of listing names signifies God's intimate knowledge and care for each person. It also serves as a record of God's faithfulness in preserving His people. This meticulous recording is a testament to the value God places on each life and His desire for a personal relationship with His people.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the LORD
יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to Moses,
מֹשֶׁ֗ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

“Number
פְּקֹ֨ד (pə·qōḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

firstborn
בְּכֹ֤ר (bə·ḵōr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

male
זָכָר֙ (zā·ḵār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2145: Remembered, a male

of the Israelites
לִבְנֵ֣י (liḇ·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

a month old
מִבֶּן־ (mib·ben-)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

or more,
וָמָ֑עְלָה (wā·mā·‘ə·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4605: The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top

and list
וְשָׂ֕א (wə·śā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

their names.
שְׁמֹתָֽם׃ (šə·mō·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8034: A name


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OT Law: Numbers 3:40 Yahweh said to Moses Number all (Nu Num.)
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