The Church Fathers on this verse

Numbers 3:46Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But for the price of the two hundred and seventy-three, of the firstborn of the children of Israel, that exceed the number of the Levites,

Douay-Rheims

וְאֵת֙ פְּדוּיֵ֣י הַשְּׁלֹשָׁ֔ה וְהַשִּׁבְעִ֖ים וְהַמָּאתָ֑יִם הָעֹֽדְפִים֙ עַל־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם מִבְּכ֖וֹר בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Cyrill of Alexandria

5th centuryChurch Father

Due to the discovery that the total of the firstborn among the community exceeded by two hundred and seventy-three, the Lawgiver decreed that a redemption should be provided for them to the tribe of Levi. This arrangement enabled the Levites to carry out the priestly duties and sacred service in their stead, ensuring that this redemption served as a compensation for their ongoing intercession.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.