Numbers 8:17
Numbers 8:17 in Multiple Translations
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.
For 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.
For all the first-born among the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
For every mother's first son among the children of Israel is mine, the first male birth of man or beast: on the day when I sent death on all the first sons in the land of Egypt, I made them mine.
Every firstborn male in Israel belongs to me, both human and animal. I reserved them for myself at the time when I killed all the firstborn in Egypt.
For all the first borne of the children of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast: since the day that I smote euery first borne in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for my selfe.
for Mine [is] every first-born among the sons of Israel, among man and among beast; in the day of my smiting every first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for Myself;
For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for myself.
For all the first born of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
For all the firstborn of the children of Israel, both of men and of beasts, are mine. From the day that I slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, have I sanctified them to myself:
All the firstborn males in Israel, both the people and the animals, are mine. When I caused all the firstborn sons of the people of Egypt to die, I ◄spared/did not kill► the firstborn males of the Israelis. I set them apart to belong to me. I said that the firstborn males of all their domestic animals would also belong to me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 8:17
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Numbers 8:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 8:17
Study Notes — Numbers 8:17
Context — Cleansing the Levites
17For 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.
18But I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel. 19And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to perform the service for the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting and to make atonement on their behalf, so that no plague will come against the Israelites when they approach the sanctuary.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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.” |
| 2 | Luke 2:23 | (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord” ), |
| 3 | 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. And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’ |
| 4 | Leviticus 27:26 | But no one may consecrate a firstborn of the livestock, because a firstborn belongs to the LORD. Whether it is an ox or a sheep, it is the LORD’s. |
| 5 | Leviticus 27:14–15 | Now if a man consecrates his house as holy to the LORD, then the priest shall value it either as good or bad. The price will stand just as the priest values it. But if he who consecrated his house redeems it, he must add a fifth to the assessed value, and it will belong to him. |
| 6 | Numbers 3:13 | for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.” |
| 7 | James 1:18 | He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation. |
| 8 | Psalms 105:36 | Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor. |
| 9 | John 10:36 | then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God? |
| 10 | Hebrews 10:29 | How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? |
Numbers 8:17 Summary
This verse means that God has claimed every firstborn male in Israel, both humans and animals, as His own special possession. This is because He spared the Israelites' firstborn sons when He struck down the firstborn of the Egyptians, as seen in Exodus 11:5 and Exodus 12:12-13. God did this to show His power and to remind the Israelites that they belong to Him, just like it says in Psalm 100:3. By claiming the firstborn, God is reminding us that everything we have, including our lives, belongs to Him and is to be used for His purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that every firstborn male in Israel is God's?
This means that God has set apart the firstborn males, both human and animal, as His own special possession, much like He did when He spared the Israelites' firstborn sons in Egypt, as seen in Exodus 11:5 and Exodus 12:12-13.
Why did God strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt?
God struck down all the firstborn in Egypt as a judgment on the Egyptians for their refusal to let the Israelites go, as seen in Exodus 4:22-23 and Exodus 11:5, and to demonstrate His power and authority over all creation.
How does this verse relate to the concept of redemption in the Bible?
This verse relates to the concept of redemption because it shows how God has taken the firstborn as His own, and later, how the Levites were taken in their place, as seen in Numbers 8:18, illustrating how God provides a substitute or redemption for His people, a concept that is later fulfilled in Jesus Christ, as seen in Galatians 3:13 and Titus 2:14.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for something or someone to be 'set apart' for God, and how can I apply this concept to my own life?
- How does the idea of God's ownership of the firstborn males in Israel challenge or comfort me, and what does it reveal about God's character?
- In what ways can I, like the firstborn males in Israel, consider myself 'set apart' for God's special purposes, and what responsibilities or privileges come with this designation?
- How does the story of the Passover and the striking down of the firstborn in Egypt, as referenced in this verse, point forward to the redemption that Jesus Christ provides for all people?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 8:17
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 8:17
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Numbers 8:17
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 8:17
Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 8:17
Sermons on Numbers 8:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Holiness and Redemption by B.H. Clendennen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses how God reveals himself as the redeemer of his chosen people. He allowed them to go through oppression, slavery, and misery to prepare their |
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Redemption: Grace and Love by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of meeting God's needs through love and grace. He uses the example of the Israelites building the Tabernacle to illustrate th |
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Go Forward by G.W. North | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of leaders taking initiative and leading by example. He uses the story of Moses leading the Israelites through the Red Sea as |
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Luke 2:21-32. the Song of Simeon. by Favell Lee Mortimer | Favell Lee Mortimer reflects on the significance of Jesus' presentation at the temple, emphasizing how Jesus, as the firstborn Son, was brought to the Lord as a holy and unblemishe |
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The Meaning of the Cross by David Ravenhill | David Ravenhill emphasizes the true meaning of the cross, arguing that many believers misunderstand its significance, focusing on personal benefits rather than the call to disciple |
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All Our Children Belong to the Lord by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the act of dedicating children to the Lord, drawing parallels between Old Testament practices like the dedication of the firstborn and the Passover feast to |
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What Does It Mean to Be Firstborn? by Anton Bosch | Anton Bosch delves into the privileges and responsibilities of being the firstborn in the Old Testament, highlighting the greater inheritance, blessing, succession rights, and spec |







