Numbers 8:18 nasb — "But I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel.

NASB

""But I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel."

— Numbers 8:18, NASB

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Numbers 8:18 in Other Translations

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Numbers 8 — Context

15

"Then after that the Levites may go in to serve the tent of meeting. But you shall cleanse them and present them as a wave offering;

16

for they are wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself instead of every first issue of the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel.

17

"For every firstborn among the sons of Israel is Mine, among the men and among the animals; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for Myself.

18

"But I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel.

19

"I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the sons of Israel, to perform the service of the sons of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement on behalf of the sons of Israel, so that there will be no plague among the sons of Israel by their coming near to the sanctuary."

20

Thus did Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the sons of Israel to the Levites; according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the sons of Israel did to them.

21

The Levites, too, purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes; and Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the LORD. Aaron also made atonement for them to cleanse them.

Numbers 8:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Numbers 8:18 say?
Numbers 8:18 in the NASB reads: “"But I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel.”
Where is Numbers 8:18 in the Bible?
Numbers 8:18 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Numbers, chapter 8, verse 18.
Who wrote Numbers?
Numbers is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Numbers about?
Numbers records Israel's forty years of wilderness wandering — two censuses (hence the name), rebellions, the failure at Kadesh-Barnea, and the slow journey to the plains of Moab. It is a sober portrait of human unbelief and God's patient faithfulness across a generation.
What are the major themes of Numbers?
Numbers explores themes including Wilderness, Faithfulness, Rebellion, Guidance, Provision. These themes shape the meaning and context of Numbers 8:18.
What translation should I read Numbers 8:18 in?
Numbers 8:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Numbers 8:18?
Numbers 8:18 reads (NASB): “"But I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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