Numbers 8:18

Contemporary English Version

But now I have chosen these Levites as substitutes for the first-born sons,

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Yisra'el.

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

Lexham English Bible
and I have taken the Levites in the place of every firstborn among the Israelites.

New Century Version
But I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn in Israel.

New English Translation
So I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn sons among the Israelites.

Amplified Bible
"And I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the Israelites.

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

Geneva Bible (1587)
And I haue taken the Leuites for all the first borne of the children of Israel,

Legacy Standard Bible
But I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel.

Complete Jewish Bible
But I have taken the L'vi'im in place of all the firstborn among the people of Isra'el,

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

Easy-to-Read Version
But now I will take the Levites in their place. I will take the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons from the other families in Israel.

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

George Lamsa Translation
And I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the children of Israel.

Good News Translation
I am now taking the Levites instead of all the first-born of the Israelites,

Christian Standard Bible®
But I have taken the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites.

Literal Translation
And I take the Levites instead of every first-born among the sons of Israel.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and toke the Leuites for all the first borne amonge the childre of Israel,

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

Bible in Basic English
And in place of the first sons among the children of Israel, I have taken the Levites.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I haue taken the Leuites for all the first borne of the children of Israel.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel.

King James Version (1611)
And I haue taken the Leuites for all the first borne of the children of Israel.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I took the Levites in the place of every first-born among the children of Israel.

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

Berean Standard Bible
But I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y took the Leuytis for alle the firste gendrid children of the sones of Israel;

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

Update Bible Version
And I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born among the sons 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.

New King James Version
I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel.

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

New Life Bible
But I have taken the Levites instead of every first-born among the people of Israel.

New Revised Standard
but I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the Israelites.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore have I taken the Levites, - instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel;

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

Revised Standard Version
and I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born 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.

Contextual Overview

⁵ The Lord said to Moses: ⁶ The Levites must be acceptable to me before they begin working at the sacred tent. So separate them from the rest of the Israelites ⁷ and sprinkle them with the water that washes away their sins. Then have them shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes. ⁸ They are to bring a bull and its proper grain sacrifice of flour mixed with olive oil. And they must bring a second bull as a sacrifice for sin. ⁹ Then you, Moses, will call together all the people of Israel and have the Levites go to my sacred tent, ¹⁰ where the people will place their hands on them. ¹¹ Aaron will present the Levites to me as a gift from the people, so that the Levites will do my work. ¹² After this, the Levites are to place their hands on the heads of the bulls. Then one of the bulls will be sacrificed for the forgiveness of sin, and the other to make sure that I am pleased. ¹³ The Levites will stand at my altar in front of Aaron and his sons, who will then dedicate the Levites to me. ¹⁴ This ceremony will show that the Levites are different from the other Israelites and belong to me in a special way.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:14 - and laid Numbers 3:12 - General

Cross-References

Psalms 121:8
The Lord will protect you now and always wherever you go.

Gill's Notes on the 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The Levites could only undertake their duties Numbers 3:0; Numbers 4:0 after the formal exchange of the Levites for the first-born Numbers 3:44-51.

The distinction between the “consecration” of the priests Leviticus 8:0 and the less solemn “purification” Numbers 8:21 of the Levites is marked. These rites of purification are similar to those incumbent on the priests of Egypt.

Numbers 8:7

Water of purifying - literally, “sin water:” i. e. water to cleanse from sin; no doubt taken from the laver of the sanctuary, which was used by the priests for purification before they went into the tabernacle to minister (compare Numbers 5:17; Exodus 30:18 ff).

The “sprinkling” of so large a body of men could have been only general, but tokens of individual purification are specified (compare also Leviticus 14:8).

Numbers 8:8

The two bullocks were “to make an atonement for the Levites,” and therefore are presented in their name. These offerings are similar to those prescribed in Leviticus 8:14 ff at the consecration of the priests, except that the burnt-offering was on that occasion a ram. The larger victim corresponds to the larger number of the Levites.

Numbers 8:10

The children of Israel - i. e. through the heads of their tribes, who Numbers 7:2 no doubt acted for their tribesmen. This act, the distinguishing feature of the ceremony, represented the transfer to the Levites of the sacred duties originally incumbent on the whole people.

Numbers 8:11

Offer ... offering - Compare the margin Aaron pointed to the Levites, and then waved his hands, indicating (compare Leviticus 7:30 note) that the offering was dedicated to God, and, again, by grant from Him, withdrawn for the use of the priests.

Numbers 8:19

Make an atonement for the children of Israel - i. e. by performing those services which were due from the children of Israel; the omission of which by the children of Israel would, but for the interposition of the Levites, have called down “wrath” from God, or Numbers 1:53 “plague.” The institution of the Levites was an extension of that mediatorial system which the people themselves, terrified at the direct manifestations to them of the divine presence, desired; see Deuteronomy 5:25. Further, it is suggested to us here as an act of mercy on the part of God; yet even the priests and Levites themselves were not always sufficiently heedful and reverent. Compare Numbers 17:10; Leviticus 10:1 ff; 2 Samuel 6:6 following.

Numbers 8:21

Were purified - Rather, purified themselves; as directed in Numbers 8:7.