Numbers 3:46

Verse

To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

American Standard Version (1901)

And for the redemption of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel, that are over and above the number of the Levites,

Bible in Basic English

And the price you have to give for the two hundred and seventy-three first sons of the children of Israel which are in addition to the number of the Levites,

Free Bible Version

In order to buy back the 273 firstborn Israelites who are more than the number of Levites,

King James (Authorized) Version

And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;

One Unity Resource Bible

For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel [God prevails], who exceed the number of the Levites [Descendants of United with],

Translation for Translators

There are 273 more firstborn males of the other Israeli people than of the descendants of Levi.

Unlocked Literal Bible

You must collect five shekels for the redemption of each of the 273 firstborn people of Israel who exceed the number of the Levites.

Noah Webster Bible

And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and seventy and three, of the first-born of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites:

World English Bible

For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel who exceed the number of the Levites,

Young's Literal Translation

'And [from] those ransomed of the two hundred and seventy and three (who are more than the Levites) of the first-born of the sons of Israel,

Context

The Redemption of the Firstborn

⁴⁵“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD.⁴⁶To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, ⁴⁷you are to collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs.

Summary

In this verse, Moses instructs the Israelites to redeem the firstborn sons among them by paying a ransom price. This redemption was a symbolic act to acknowledge that all firstborn sons belonged to the Lord and were spared from death during the final plague in Egypt. The redemption price served as a reminder of God's deliverance and ownership over the Israelites. This practice foreshadowed the ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins and claimed us as His own.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Thou shall even take five shekels apiece the poll,.... Or head; every firstborn, or his parent for him, was bound to pay five shekels, which were about eleven or twelve shillings of our money, and which was afterwards settled as the price of such a redemption, Num 18:16, after the shekel of the sanctuary shall thou take them; being full weight according to the standard there kept: the shekel is twenty gerahs; See Gill on Lev 27:25.