12. Source Text: Hebrew (WLC) Numbers 3:12:1 ⧉וַאֲנִ֞יvaaniAnd I Numbers 3:12:2 ⧉הִנֵּ֧הhinnehbehold Numbers 3:12:3 ⧉לָקַ֣חְתִּיlakakhtiI have taken Numbers 3:12:4 ⧉אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֗םethalviyimthe Levites Numbers 3:12:5 ⧉מִתּוֹךְ֙mitokhfrom among Numbers 3:12:6 ⧉בְּנֵ֣יbeneithe sons Numbers 3:12:7 ⧉יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyisraelof Israel Numbers 3:12:8 ⧉תַּ֧חַתtakhatinstead of Numbers 3:12:9 ⧉כָּל־בְּכ֛וֹרkolbekhorevery firstborn Numbers 3:12:10 ⧉פֶּ֥טֶרpeterwho opens Numbers 3:12:11 ⧉רֶ֖חֶםrekhemthe womb Numbers 3:12:12 ⧉מִבְּנֵ֣יmibneifrom among the sons Numbers 3:12:13 ⧉יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyisraelof Israel Numbers 3:12:14 ⧉וְהָ֥יוּvehayuand shall be Numbers 3:12:15 ⧉לִ֖יlito me Numbers 3:12:16 ⧉הַלְוִיִּֽם׃halviyimthe Levites |
12. Formal Translation As for Me {Yahweh, Covenant Redeemer}—behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel in place of every firstborn who opens the womb, and the Levites shall be Mine. |
12. Dynamic Translation Look, I {Yahweh, Divine Chooser} have taken the Levites from among the Israelites to stand in for every firstborn who opens the womb. The Levites now belong to Me. |