The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
Parallel translations
- 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.
- BSB The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead.
- 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 of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children; for they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
- Mal 2:4–6You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi,” says Yahweh of Armies.
- 1 Cor 10:8Let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell.
- Num 16:32–35The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, all of Korah’s men, and all their goods.
- Heb 2:2–3For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense;
- Num 16:41But on the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed Yahweh’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.