Numbers 3:13

¹¹ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

¹² 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;

Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.

¹⁴ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

¹⁵ Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.”
KJV: Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.
WEB: for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am the LORD.”
ASV: for all the first-born are mine; on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast; mine they shall be: I am Jehovah.
DARBY: for every firstborn is mine. On the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and beast; mine shall they be: I am Jehovah.
BLB: because all the firstborn [are] unto Me. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to beast. Unto Me they shall be; I [am] YHWH.”

ÅB: For meg hører alt førstefødt til; den dag jeg slo alt førstefødt i Egypt, helliget jeg meg alt som førstefødt er i Israel, både folk og fe; de skal høre meg til, meg, Herren.
OTB: for alle førstefødte er Mine. På den dagen jeg slo ned alle førstefødte i landet Egypt, helliget jeg for Meg selv alle førstefødte i Israel, både mennesker og dyr. De skal være Mine; Jeg er Herren."
B1930: For mig hører alt førstefødt til; den dag jeg slo alt førstefødt i Egyptens land, helliget jeg mig alt som førstefødt er i Israel, både folk og fe; de skal høre mig til, mig, Herren.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Luke 2:23
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
Read in context
Exodus 13:12
That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’s.
Read in context
Exodus 13:2
Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
Read in context
Exodus 13:15
And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
Read in context
Leviticus 27:26
Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the LORD’s firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the LORD’s.
Read in context
Exodus 12:29–30
And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
Read in context
Numbers 8:16–17
For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.
Read in context
Exodus 34:19
All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.
Read in context