Numbers 3:11-13

New International Version

¹¹The Lord also said to Moses, ¹²“I have taken the Levites^(A) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(B) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^(C) ¹³for all the firstborn are mine.^(D) When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”^(E)

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Numbers 3:11-13

International Standard Version

The Descendants of Levi as Substitutes for the First-born

¹¹Later, the Lord told Moses, ¹²“I’m taking the descendants of Levi for myself from among the Israelis in place of every first-born who opens the womb.^[a] The descendants of Levi belong to me ¹³because all the first-born belong to me. When^[b] I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated all the first-born in Israel for myself—from human beings to livestock. They belong to me, since^[c] I am the Lord.”