Leviticus 25:32

KJV1611 – Modern English

Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְעָרֵי֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם בָּתֵּ֖י עָרֵ֣י אֲחֻזָּתָ֑ם גְּאֻלַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם תִּהְיֶ֥ה לַלְוִיִּֽם׃

Transliteration

And wə-ʿārê [cities-of] ha-ləwiyyîm [the-Levites] bāttê [houses-of] ʿārê [cities-of] ʾăḥuzzātām [their-possession] gəʾullat [redemption-of] ʿôlām [forever] tihyeh [shall-be] la-ləwiyyîm [to-the-Levites]

Grammar Details

• *wə-ʿārê*: conjunction + noun, feminine plural construct - and cities of
• *ha-ləwiyyîm*: definite article + noun, masculine plural - the Levites
• *bāttê*: noun, masculine plural construct - houses of
• *ʿārê*: noun, feminine plural construct - cities of
• *ʾăḥuzzātām*: noun, feminine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their possession
• *gəʾullat*: noun, feminine singular construct - redemption of
• *ʿôlām*: noun, masculine singular - forever/eternity
• *tihyeh*: verb, Qal imperfect, 3rd person feminine singular - it will be
• *la-ləwiyyîm*: preposition + definite article + noun, masculine plural - to the Levites

Word Meanings

• *ʿîr*: city/town
• *lēwî*: Levite/member of priestly tribe
• *bayit*: house/home/dwelling
• *ʾăḥuzzāh*: possession/property/holding
• *gəʾullāh*: redemption/right of redemption
• *ʿôlām*: forever/eternity/distant time
• *hāyāh*: be/become/happen/exist

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  As for the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities they possess have a permanent right of redemption for the Levites.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Notwithstanding the cities of the vites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the vites redeem at any time.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Notwithstondynge the cityes of the leuytes and the housses in the cyties of their possessios the leuites maye redeme at all ceasons.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  The cities of the Leuites, and the houses in the cities that their possession is in, maye allwaye be redemed.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Notwithstanding, the cities of the Leuites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Leuites redeeme at all seasons.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Notwithstandyng, the cities of the Leuites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Leuites redeeme at all seasons.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, [and] the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  "'Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `As to cities of the Levites -- houses of the cities of their possession -- redemption age-during is to the Levites;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But the houses in the towns of the Levites may be got back by the Levites at any time.

• World English Bible (2000)

  "'Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  As for the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities which they possess, the Levites must have a perpetual right of redemption.

Referenced Verses

• Num 35:1-8 : 1 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel that they give to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and give to the Levites suburbs for the cities around them as well. 3 And the cities they shall have to dwell in, and their suburbs shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. 4 And the suburbs of the cities that you shall give to the Levites shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about. 5 And measure from outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities. 6 And among the cities which you shall give to the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which you shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee there: and to them you shall add forty-two cities. 7 So all the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities: these shall you give with their suburbs. 8 And the cities which you shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many you shall give many; but from them that have few you shall give few: everyone shall give of his cities to the Levites according to his inheritance which he inherits.
• Josh 21:1-9 : 1 Then the heads of the fathers of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel; 2 And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded through Moses to give us cities to live in, with their suburbs for our livestock. 3 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, at the command of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. 4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities. 5 And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities. 6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. 7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 8 And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. 9 And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are mentioned by name, 10 Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot. 11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs around it. 12 But the fields of the city, and its villages, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession. 13 Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with its suburbs, 14 And Jattir with its suburbs, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs, 15 And Holon with its suburbs, and Debir with its suburbs, 16 And Ain with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, and Bethshemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes. 17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs, 18 Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities. 19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs. 20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites who remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim. 21 For they gave them Shechem with its suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with its suburbs, 22 And Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Bethhoron with its suburbs; four cities. 23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs, 24 Aijalon with its suburbs, Gathrimmon with its suburbs; four cities. 25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with its suburbs, and Gathrimmon with its suburbs; two cities. 26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained. 27 And to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with its suburbs; two cities. 28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with its suburbs, Dabareh with its suburbs, 29 Jarmuth with its suburbs, Engannim with its suburbs; four cities. 30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs, 31 Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities. 32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with its suburbs, and Kartan with its suburbs; three cities. 33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs. 34 And to the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, and Kartah with its suburbs, 35 Dimnah with its suburbs, Nahalal with its suburbs; four cities. 36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its suburbs, and Jahazah with its suburbs, 37 Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities. 38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with its suburbs, 39 Heshbon with its suburbs, Jazer with its suburbs; four cities in all. 40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities. 41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their suburbs. 42 These cities were each with their suburbs around them: thus were all these cities. 43 And the LORD gave to Israel all the land which He had sworn to give their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt in it. 44 And the LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers: and none of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 Nothing failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel; all came to pass.