42 And Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

Other Translations of Numbers 3:42

New International Version

42 So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him.

English Standard Version

42 So Moses listed all the firstborn among the people of Israel, as the Lord commanded him.

The Message

42 So, just as God commanded him, Moses counted all the firstborn of the People of Israel.

New King James Version

42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel, as the Lord commanded him.

New Living Translation

42 So Moses counted the firstborn sons of the people of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 3:42

Commentary on Numbers 3:40-51

(Read Numbers 3:40-51)

The number of the first-born, and that of the Levites, came near to each other. Known unto God are all his works beforehand; there is an exact proportion between them, and so it will appear, when they are compared together. The small number of first-born, over and above the number of the Levites, were to be redeemed, and the redemption-money given to Aaron. The church is called the church of the first-born, which is redeemed, not as they were, with silver and gold; but, being devoted by sin to the justice of God, is ransomed with the precious blood of the Son of God. All men are the Lord's by creation, and all true christians are his by redemption. Each should know his own post and duty; nor can any service required by such a Master be rightly accounted mean or hard.