The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead.
Parallel translations
- WEB The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
- KJV And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
- NKJV So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
- NASB So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
- NLT The Levites obeyed Moses’ command, and about 3,000 people died that day.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Levites obey, and about three thousand fall that day. The judgment is real and costly, showing sin's deadly seriousness.
Overview
The death toll marks the grave consequences of Israel's idolatry. Notably, at Pentecost about three thousand were added to the church when the Spirit came (Acts 2:41), a striking contrast between the law that brings death and the gospel that gives life. The episode underscores why a Mediator and a better covenant were needed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Deut 33:9He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant.
- Mal 2:4–6Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- 1 Cor 10:8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
- Num 16:32–35and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions.
- Heb 2:2–3For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment,
- Num 16:41The next day the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the LORD’s people!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 32:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.