Definition: For all the firstborn of the children of Israel [are] mine, [both] man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Numbers 8:17. It’s a really significant passage about God’s plan to free his people from slavery and establish a new nation. Here's a simple explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse describes God’s decision to protect the firstborn of Israel, specifically the sons and daughters of Egypt, during a time of intense hardship. He uses this decision as a way to demonstrate his power and sovereignty. Let’s look at it piece by piece: “For all the firstborn of the children of Israel…” : This tells us we're talking about the Israelites – the people God had chosen to be free from slavery. “[are]” : This is a word that means “are.” It’s a simple way of saying "they are." “both man and beast” : This is a bit tricky. It means all firstborn – both men and women. It's not just boys; it’s the entire family line of the firstborn. “…on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt…” : This is the key part. God decides to destroy all firstborn children in Egypt. He chooses to strike down every single one of them – boys and girls. This was a very deliberate action. “I sanctified them for myself.” : This is the most important part! After destroying the firstborn, God declares that he sanctifies them. "Sanctify" means to make something holy or special, like protecting it from harm and making it valuable. He gives them a special status – it's his to protect and manage. What’s the Significance? This verse is important because: It shows God’s power: It demonstrates that God has the ability to control events and punish those who disobey him. It’s about protection and blessing: God is protecting his people, but also giving them a special advantage – he's making them his . It sets the stage for Israel’s journey: This event is a crucial step in God’s plan to lead the Israelites out of slavery and establish their own nation in Canaan (the land of the Promised Land). In short, this verse describes a dramatic act of divine judgment that ultimately leads to God's plan for the future. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Give you some historical context about this event? Compare it to another similar story in the Bible?