The Meaning of Deuteronomy 10:8 Explained

Deuteronomy 10:8

KJV: At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

YLT: 'At that time hath Jehovah separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, to stand before Jehovah, to serve Him, and to bless in His name, unto this day,

Darby: At that time Jehovah separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, to stand before Jehovah to do service unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

ASV: At that time Jehovah set apart the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, to stand before Jehovah to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

At that time  the LORD  separated  the tribe  of Levi,  to bear  the ark  of the covenant  of the LORD,  to stand  before  the LORD  to minister  unto him, and to bless  in his name,  unto this day. 

What does Deuteronomy 10:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Deu 10:1-22 - What The Lord Requires Of Us
The second writing of the Law reminds us of the work wrought in us by the Holy Spirit. When first we hear the Law, we are condemned; but when we have repented and believed, God writes it on the fleshly tablets of our hearts, Hebrews 8:10. Together with this deepening love and delight in God's Law, we enter into the spiritual equivalent of Levi's calling, standing to minister, and blessing in God's name.
Every word of the magnificent parable from Deuteronomy 10:12 deserves careful pondering. Let us learn what God requires and then ask Him to create such things in us. As Augustine puts it: "Give what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt." But we must be willing to enter into the inner significance of the initial Jewish rite, which; is also taught in baptism, Romans 2:26-29; Colossians 2:11-12. The separation of Calvary's Cross leads to the filling of Pentecost! [source]

Chapter Summary: Deu 10

1  God's mercy in restoring the two tablets
6  in continuing the priesthood
8  in separating the tribe of Levi
10  in hearkening unto Moses' plea for his people
12  An exhortation to obedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 10:8 mean?

At time that separated Yahweh - the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to stand before Yahweh to minister to Him and to bless in His name to day this
בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗וא הִבְדִּ֤יל יְהוָה֙ אֶת־ שֵׁ֣בֶט הַלֵּוִ֔י לָשֵׂ֖את אֲר֣וֹן בְּרִית־ יְהוָ֑ה לַעֲמֹד֩ לִפְנֵ֨י יְהוָ֤ה לְשָֽׁרְתוֹ֙ וּלְבָרֵ֣ךְ בִּשְׁמ֔וֹ עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה

בָּעֵ֣ת  At  time 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
הַהִ֗וא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
הִבְדִּ֤יל  separated 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּדַל  
Sense: to divide, separate.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שֵׁ֣בֶט  the  tribe  of 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
הַלֵּוִ֔י  Levi 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵוִי 
Sense: the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites.
לָשֵׂ֖את  to  bear 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֲר֣וֹן  the  ark 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֲרֹון  
Sense: chest, ark.
בְּרִית־  of  the  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לַעֲמֹד֩  to  stand 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לִפְנֵ֨י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֤ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְשָֽׁרְתוֹ֙  to  minister  to  Him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁרַת  
Sense: (Piel) to minister, serve, minister to.
וּלְבָרֵ֣ךְ  and  to  bless 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
בִּשְׁמ֔וֹ  in  His  name 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
הַיּ֥וֹם  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַזֶּֽה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.