The Meaning of Numbers 18:23 Explained

Numbers 18:23

KJV: But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.

YLT: and the Levites have done the service of the tent of meeting, and they -- they bear their iniquity; a statute age-during to your generations, that in the midst of the sons of Israel they have no inheritance;

Darby: But the Levite, he shall perform the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity: it is an everlasting statute throughout your generations. And among the children of Israel shall they possess no inheritance;

ASV: But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations; and among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the Levites  shall do  the service  of the tabernacle  of the congregation,  and they shall bear  their iniquity:  [it shall be] a statute  for ever  throughout your generations,  that among  the children  of Israel  they have  no inheritance. 

What does Numbers 18:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 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: Numbers 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 18:23 mean?

But shall perform the Levite he - the work of the tabernacle of meeting and they shall bear their iniquity [it shall be] a statute forever throughout your generations that among the sons of Israel no they shall have inheritance
וְעָבַ֨ד הַלֵּוִ֜י ה֗וּא אֶת־ עֲבֹדַת֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וְהֵ֖ם יִשְׂא֣וּ עֲוֺנָ֑ם חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וּבְתוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א יִנְחֲל֖וּ נַחֲלָֽה

וְעָבַ֨ד  But  shall  perform 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
הַלֵּוִ֜י  the  Levite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
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.
עֲבֹדַת֙  the  work 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
אֹ֣הֶל  of  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
מוֹעֵ֔ד  of  meeting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
וְהֵ֖ם  and  they 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
יִשְׂא֣וּ  shall  bear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
עֲוֺנָ֑ם  their  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
חֻקַּ֤ת  [it  shall  be]  a  statute 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חֻקָּה  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, enactment, something prescribed.
עוֹלָם֙  forever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם  throughout  your  generations 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.
וּבְתוֹךְ֙  that  among 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: 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.
לֹ֥א  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִנְחֲל֖וּ  they  shall  have 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָחַל  
Sense: to get as a possession, acquire, inherit, possess.
נַחֲלָֽה  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 18:23?

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