Numbers 3

Jehovah

These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai. Numbers 3:1

Jehovah, the premortal Christ, is the LORD who spoke with Moses at Sinai.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him

Firstborn

Firstborn — the one holding the birthright, consecrated wholly to God

And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; Numbers 3:12–13

Jehovah speaks and claims Israel's firstborn, whom He spared at the Passover, and accepts the Levites as substitutes for them. The ideas of a firstborn belonging to God and of one standing in the place of another point to Jesus. He is the Firstborn, and He stood in our place.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · the chapter heading names Him · a traditional type, cited

• alludes to Exodus 13:2 — 'Sanctify unto me all the firstborn ... both of man and of beast: it is mine.'
• alludes to Exodus 12:29 — The LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt at the Passover.
• a type of what is in D&C 93:21 — Christ calls Himself 'the Firstborn.'

Jehovah

Jehovah — I AM, the self-existent covenant God

And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. Numbers 3:41

Jehovah speaks in the first person, declaring His name as He sets up the exchange of Levites for firstborn.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him · the chapter heading names Him

Redeemer

Redeemer — one who buys back what was lost by paying the price

And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; Numbers 3:46–51

The firstborn who had no Levite to take their place were bought back with a ransom price paid to the priests. This teaches that redemption costs something. Christ paid the full price to buy us back, with His own blood.

How we know: a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in 1 Peter 1:18-19 — Redeemed 'not ... with corruptible things, as silver and gold ... But with the precious blood of Christ.'
• a type of what is in 1 Corinthians 6:20 — 'Ye are bought with a price.'
• alluded to by Numbers 18:15-16 — The later statute repeats the price: the firstborn of man redeemed for five shekels after the shekel of the sanctuary.