Numbers 8:16

KJV1611 – Modern English

For they are wholly given to me among the children of Israel; instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the children of Israel, I have taken them for myself.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּי֩ נְתֻנִ֨ים נְתֻנִ֥ים הֵ֙מָּה֙ לִ֔י מִתּ֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל תַּחַת֩ פִּטְרַ֨ת כָּל־רֶ֜חֶם בְּכ֥וֹר כֹּל֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָקַ֥חְתִּי אֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃

Transliteration

For nəṯunim nəṯunim hēmmāh to me from tôḵ bənê Yiśrāʾēl taḥaṯ piṭraṯ all reḥem bəḵôr all from bənê Yiśrāʾēl lāqaḥtî them to me

Grammar Details

• *nəṯunim*: Qal passive participle, masculine plural - given (repeated for emphasis)
• *hēmmāh*: 3rd person masculine plural pronoun - they
• *tôḵ*: common noun, masculine singular construct - midst of
• *bənê*: common noun, masculine plural construct - sons of
• *Yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun - Israel
• *taḥaṯ*: preposition - instead of
• *piṭraṯ*: common noun, feminine singular construct - opening of
• *reḥem*: common noun, masculine singular - womb
• *bəḵôr*: common noun, masculine singular construct - firstborn of
• *lāqaḥtî*: Qal perfect, 1st person common singular - I have taken

Word Meanings

• *nəṯunim*: given/granted/dedicated (repetition indicates emphasis or completeness)
• *tôḵ*: midst/among/from within
• *taḥaṯ*: instead of/in place of/in exchange for
• *piṭraṯ*: opening/first issue/that which first opens
• *reḥem*: womb/matrix/birth canal
• *bəḵôr*: firstborn/firstling/first issue
• *lāqaḥtî*: I have taken/received/claimed

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  For they are entirely given to me from among the Israelites. I have taken them in place of every firstborn that opens the womb among the Israelites.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For they are wholly given{H5414} unto me from among{H8432} the children{H1121} of Israel;{H3478} instead of all that openeth{H6363} the womb,{H7358} even the first-born{H1060} of all the children{H1121} of Israel,{H3478} have I taken{H3947} them unto me.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For they are wholly given{H5414}{(H8803)} unto me from among{H8432} the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}; instead of such as open{H6363} every womb{H7358}, even instead of the firstborn{H1060} of all the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, have I taken{H3947}{(H8804)} them unto me.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  for they are geuen vnto me from amonge the childre of Israel: for I haue taken them vnto me for all ye firstborne that ope any matrice amoge the childern of Israel.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  for they are my gifte of the children of Israel, and I haue taken them vnto me for all that openeth the Matrix, namely for the first borne of all the children of Israel.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For they are freely giuen vnto me from among the children of Israel, for such as open any wombe: for all the first borne of the children of Israel haue I taken them vnto me.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For they are geuen and deliuered vnto me from among the children of Israel for such as open euery wombe, euen for the first borne of all the children of Israel haue I taken them vnto me.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For they are wholly given to me from among the children of Israel; instead of all who open the womb, even the firstborn of all the children of Israel, I have taken them to me.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `For they are certainly given to Me out of the midst of the sons of Israel, instead of him who openeth any womb -- the first-born of all -- from the sons of Israel I have taken them to Myself;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of all that openeth the womb, even the first-born of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of all that openeth the womb, even the first-born of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For they have been given to me from among the children of Israel; in place of every mother's first son, the first to come to birth in Israel, I have taken them for myself.

• World English Bible (2000)

  For they are wholly given to me from among the children of Israel; instead of all who open the womb, even the firstborn of all the children of Israel, I have taken them to me.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  For they are entirely given to me from among the Israelites. I have taken them for myself instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn sons of all the Israelites.

Referenced Verses

• Num 3:12 : 12 Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; therefore the Levites shall be mine;
• Num 3:45 : 45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.
• Num 3:9 : 9 And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are completely given to him from among the children of Israel.