Numbers 18:21

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

To the Levites, I have given every tithe in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְלִבְנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י הִנֵּ֥ה נָתַ֛תִּי כָּל־מֽ͏ַעֲשֵׂ֥ר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְנַחֲלָ֑ה חֵ֤לֶף עֲבֹֽדָתָם֙ אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֣ם עֹֽבְדִ֔ים אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

Transliteration

And to bənê lēwî, behold, I nātattî all maʿăśēr in yiśrāʾēl for naḥălâ, ḥēlep ʿăbōdātām which they ʿōbədîm, ʾet-ʿăbōdat ʾōhel môʿēd.

Grammar Details

• *bənê lēwî*: construct chain - sons of Levi, Levites
• *nātattî*: qal perfect 1st person singular - I have given
• *maʿăśēr*: common noun, masculine singular - tithe, tenth part
• *yiśrāʾēl*: proper name - Israel
• *naḥălâ*: common noun, feminine singular - inheritance, possession
• *ḥēlep*: preposition - in exchange for, instead of
• *ʿăbōdātām*: common noun, feminine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their service/work
• *ʿōbədîm*: qal participle masculine plural - serving, working
• *ʾet-ʿăbōdat*: direct object marker with common noun, feminine singular construct - service/work of
• *ʾōhel môʿēd*: construct chain - tent of meeting

Word Meanings

• *maʿăśēr*: tithe, tenth part, tenth portion
• *naḥălâ*: inheritance, heritage, possession
• *ḥēlep*: in exchange for, as compensation for, in return for
• *ʿăbōdātām*: their service, their work, their labor
• *ʿōbədîm*: serving, performing, working, laboring
• *ʿăbōdat*: service, work, labor
• *ʾōhel môʿēd*: tent of meeting, tabernacle of congregation

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And unto the children{H1121} of Levi,{H3878} behold, I have given{H5414} all the tithe in Israel{H3478} for{H2500} an inheritance,{H5159} in return for{H2500} their service{H5656} which they serve,{H5647} even the service{H5656} of the tent{H168} of meeting.{H4150}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And, behold, I have given{H5414}{(H8804)} the children{H1121} of Levi{H3878} all the tenth{H4643} in Israel{H3478} for an inheritance{H5159}, for{H2500} their service{H5656} which they serve{H5647}{(H8802)}, even the service{H5656} of the tabernacle{H168} of the congregation{H4150}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And beholde I haue geuen the childern of Leui the tenth in Israel to enherite for the seruyce whiche they serue in the tabernacle of witnesse

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Vnto the children of Leui haue I geuen all the tithes in Israel to inheritaunce, for ye seruyce which they do vnto me in the Tabernacle of witnesse,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For beholde, I haue giuen the children of Leui all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their seruice which they serue in the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Beholde, I haue geuen the children of Leui all the tenth in Israel to inherite, for the seruice which they serue in the tabernacle of the congregation.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, [even] the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and to the sons of Levi, lo, I have given all the tenth in Israel for inheritance in exchange for their service which they are serving -- the service of the tent of meeting.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And unto the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And unto the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And to the children of Levi I have given as their heritage all the tenths offered in Israel, as payment for the work they do, the work of the Tent of meeting.

• World English Bible (2000)

  "To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the Tent of Meeting.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  See, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they perform– the service of the tent of meeting.

Referenced Verses

• Deut 14:22-29 : 22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. 23 You shall eat the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He chooses for His name to dwell, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. 24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, because the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His name is too far away, then when the LORD your God blesses you, 25 you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place the LORD your God chooses. 26 Then you may spend the money on whatever you desire: cattle, sheep, wine, strong drink, or whatever you wish. You shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. 27 And do not neglect the Levite living in your towns, for he has no portion or inheritance with you. 28 At the end of every three years, bring out a tenth of all your produce for that year and store it within your towns. 29 Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance with you), the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
• Neh 10:37 : 37 We agreed to bring the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there.
• 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.
• Neh 13:12 : 12 All Judah then brought the tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil into the storerooms.
• 1 Cor 9:13-14 : 13 Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings of the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
• Gal 6:6 : 6 The one who is taught the word should share all good things with the one who teaches.
• Heb 7:5 : 5 Now the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood are commanded by the law to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—even though they too are descendants of Abraham.
• 2 Chr 31:5-6 : 5 As soon as the word spread, the Israelites generously brought the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. 6 The people of Israel and Judah who were living in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks, and of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God. They piled them in heaps.
• 2 Chr 31:12 : 12 They faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes, and the holy gifts. Conaniah the Levite was in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second in command.
• Neh 10:29 : 29 The rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to follow the Law of God, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, all who could understand—
• Gen 14:20 : 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.' And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
• Lev 27:30-33 : 30 A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. 31 If anyone wishes to redeem any part of their tithe, they must add a fifth of its value to it. 32 Every tithe of the herd or flock, every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod, will be holy to the LORD. 33 No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does substitute one animal for another, both the original animal and its substitute shall become holy and cannot be redeemed.
• Num 3:7-8 : 7 They shall be responsible for his duties and the duties of the entire congregation before the tent of meeting, to perform the service of the tabernacle. 8 They shall care for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and the duties of the people of Israel, to perform the service of the tabernacle.
• Num 18:6 : 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.
• Num 18:24-26 : 24 For I have given the Levites the tithes that the Israelites present as a contribution to the LORD as their inheritance. That is why I told them they shall have no inheritance among the Israelites. 25 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 26 Speak to the Levites and say to them: When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I have given you as your inheritance, you must present a contribution from it to the LORD—a tithe of the tithe.
• Deut 12:17-19 : 17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, new wine, or oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or any of your vowed offerings, freewill offerings, or special contributions. 18 Instead, you are to eat these in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place the Lord your God will choose—you, your son and daughter, your male and female servants, and the Levite within your gates. Rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you undertake. 19 Be careful not to neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.