Numbers 16:9

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has set you apart from the rest of the Israelite community to bring you near to Himself to do the work of the Lord's tabernacle and to stand before the assembly to minister to them?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הַמְעַ֣ט מִכֶּ֗ם כִּֽי־הִבְדִּיל֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵעֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְהַקְרִ֥יב אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָ֑יו לַעֲבֹ֗ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַת֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהוָ֔ה וְלַעֲמֹ֛ד לִפְנֵ֥י הָעֵדָ֖ה לְשָׁרְתָֽם׃

Transliteration

Hamʿaṭ from-you that-hibdîl ʾĕlōhê Yiśrāʾēl you from-ʿădat Yiśrāʾēl to-həhaqrîb you to-him, to-laʿăbōd ʾet-service-of miškān YHWH and to-laʿămōd before the-hāʿēdâ to-ləšārətām

Grammar Details

• *Hamʿaṭ*: interrogative + noun, masculine singular - is it a small thing
• *hibdîl*: Hiphil perfect, 3rd masculine singular - he has separated/distinguished
• *ʾĕlōhê*: noun, masculine plural construct - God of
• *Yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun, masculine singular - Israel
• *ʿădat*: noun, feminine singular construct - congregation of
• *həhaqrîb*: Hiphil infinitive construct - to bring near
• *laʿăbōd*: preposition + Qal infinitive construct - to serve/work
• *miškān*: noun, masculine singular construct - tabernacle of/dwelling place of
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the LORD/Yahweh
• *laʿămōd*: preposition + Qal infinitive construct - to stand
• *hāʿēdâ*: definite article + noun, feminine singular - the congregation
• *ləšārətām*: preposition + Piel infinitive construct + 3rd masculine plural suffix - to minister to them/serve them

Word Meanings

• *Hamʿaṭ*: is it a small thing/is it too little
• *hibdîl*: has separated/set apart/distinguished
• *ləšārətām*: to minister to them/to serve them

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Does it seem like a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  [ seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them;

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Semeth it but a small thynge vnto you that ye God of Israel hath separated you fro the multitude of Israel to brynge you to him to doo the seruyce of the dwellynge place of the Lorde and to stonde before the people to minystre vnto them?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  it not ynough vnto you, yt ye God of Israel hath separated you fro ye multitude of Israel, yt ye shulde come nye him, to do the seruyce of the dwellynge place of the LORDE, and stonde before the people to mynister vnto them?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Seemeth it a smal thing vnto you that the God of Israel hath separated you from the multitude of Israel, to take you neere to himselfe, to doe the seruice of the Tabernacle of the Lord, & to stand before the Congregation and to minister vnto them?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Seemeth it but a small thyng vnto you, that the God of Israel hath seperated you from the multitude of Israel, and brought you to hym selfe, to do the seruice of the tabernacle of the Lorde, and to stande before the multitude, and to minister vnto them?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  [Seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  [seems it but] a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tent of Yahweh, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  is it little to you that the God of Israel hath separated you from the company of Israel to bring you near unto Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the company to serve them? --

• American Standard Version (1901)

  `seemeth it but' a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  [ seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Does it seem only a small thing to you that the God of Israel has made you separate from the rest of Israel, letting you come near himself to do the work of the House of the Lord, and to take your place before the people to do what has to be done for them;

• World English Bible (2000)

  Is it a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Yahweh, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Does it seem too small a thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the community of Israel to bring you near to himself, to perform the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the community to minister to them?

Referenced Verses

• Deut 10:8 : 8 At that time, the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.
• Isa 7:13 : 13 Then Isaiah said, 'Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?
• Num 16:13 : 13 Isn't it enough that you brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also lord it over us?
• Ezek 44:10-11 : 10 But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who strayed after their idols, shall bear their punishment. 11 They shall serve as ministers in My sanctuary, responsible for the gates of the temple and ministering in the temple. They shall slaughter the burnt offerings and the sacrifices for the people, and they shall stand before them to serve them.
• 1 Sam 18:23 : 23 They repeated these words to David. But David said, 'Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.'
• 2 Sam 7:19 : 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have also spoken of your servant's house for a long time to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!
• 2 Chr 35:3 : 3 He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and were consecrated to the LORD: 'Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon son of David, king of Israel, built. You will no longer need to carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.'
• Neh 12:44 : 44 On that day, men were appointed to oversee the storerooms for contributions, firstfruits, and tithes. They gathered the portions assigned for the priests and Levites from the fields around the towns, because Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who stood in service.
• Gen 30:15 : 15 But Leah said to her, 'Isn’t it enough that you took my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?' Rachel said, 'Very well, he can sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.'
• Num 1:53 : 53 But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the covenant to protect the Israelites from wrath. The Levites are to carry out the responsibilities of the tabernacle of the covenant.
• Num 3:6 : 6 Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may assist him.
• Num 3:41-45 : 41 "And you shall take the Levites for me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the people of Israel." 42 So Moses counted all the firstborn among the people of Israel as the LORD commanded him. 43 The total number of firstborn males, counted by name from a month old and upward, was 22,273. 44 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 45 Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in place of the livestock of the Israelites. The Levites shall be mine. I am the LORD.
• Num 8:14-16 : 14 In this way, you are to set the Levites apart from the Israelites, and the Levites will be mine. 15 After this, the Levites may go in to serve at the tent of meeting. You shall purify them and present them as a wave offering. 16 For they are entirely given to me from among the Israelites. I have taken them in place of every firstborn that opens the womb among the Israelites.
• Acts 13:2 : 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'
• 1 Cor 4:3 : 3 But to me, it is of little importance to be judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.
• Num 18:2-6 : 2 Bring your brothers from the tribe of Levi, your ancestral tribe, to join you and assist you while you and your sons serve before the tent of the testimony. 3 They are to guard your duties and the duties of the entire tent, but they must not come near the sacred furnishings or the altar, so they will not die—and neither will you. 4 They are to join you and take responsibility for the care of the tent of meeting, performing all its service. No unauthorized person may come near you. 5 You are to perform the duties of the sanctuary and the altar, so that no further wrath will fall on the Israelites. 6 I myself have chosen your brothers, the Levites, from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD for their service at the tent of meeting.
• Ezek 34:18 : 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pastures? Must you also trample the rest of your pastures with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?