King James Version

What Does Numbers 3:17 Mean?

“And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.”

Context

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.

And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. word: Heb. mouth

And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.

And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.

And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

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Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**16-24. if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some aprt of a field of his possession, &c.--**In the case of acquired property in land, if not redeemed, it returned to the donor at the Jubilee; whereas the part of a hereditary estate, which had been vowed, did not revert to the owner, but remained attached in perpetuity to the sanctuary. The reason for this remarkable difference was to lay every man under an obligation to redeem the property, or stimulate his nearest kinsman to do it, in order to prevent a patrimonial inheritance going out from any family in Israel.

Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, David Brown. Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 3:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.