The Meaning of Numbers 18:21 Explained

Numbers 18:21

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.

Darby: And to the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Numbers 18:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Num 18:21-32 - Give God The Best
The inner service of the Tabernacle was assigned to the priests, who must be of the house of Aaron. The Levites were joined to the house of Aaron for the more menial service. In the earlier portion of this chapter, Numbers 18:5-20, the maintenance of the priests is provided for; and in this part, Numbers 18:21-32, the maintenance of the Levites. A tithe of the heave-offerings of Israel was assigned to them. It had been Levi's doom to be scattered in Israel, Genesis 49:7. But the curse was transmuted to blessing. They were summoned to perform the priestly office of the first-born, and God was not unmindful to reward them for their arduous labors. He Himself became their inheritance.
But though the Levite's sustenance was assured from the gifts of Israel, he was not absolved from the privilege and duty of contributing to the service of God. He, too, must offer a tithe for the support of the priests. "We are members one of another." [source]

Chapter Summary: Num 18

1  The charge of the priests and Levites
8  The priests, portion
21  The Levites,
25  The heave offering to the priests out of the Levites' portion

What do the individual words in Numbers 18:21 mean?

And the sons of Levi behold I have given all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform - the work of the tabernacle of meeting
וְלִבְנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י הִנֵּ֥ה נָתַ֛תִּי כָּל־ מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְנַחֲלָ֑ה חֵ֤לֶף עֲבֹֽדָתָם֙ אֲשֶׁר־ הֵ֣ם עֹֽבְדִ֔ים אֶת־ עֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד

וְלִבְנֵ֣י  And  the  sons  of 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
לֵוִ֔י  Levi 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵוִי 
Sense: the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites.
הִנֵּ֥ה  behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
נָתַ֛תִּי  I  have  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ר  the  tithes 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֵׂר  
Sense: tithe, tenth part.
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  in  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
לְנַחֲלָ֑ה  as  an  inheritance 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
חֵ֤לֶף  in  return  for 
Parse: Preposition
Root: חֵלֶף  
Sense: in exchange for (only construct) prep.
עֲבֹֽדָתָם֙  the  work 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
עֹֽבְדִ֔ים  perform 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
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.
עֲבֹדַ֖ת  the  work 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
אֹ֥הֶל  of  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
מוֹעֵֽד  of  meeting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.