The Meaning of Numbers 3:6 Explained

Numbers 3:6

KJV: Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

YLT: 'Bring near the tribe of Levi, and thou hast caused it to stand before Aaron the priest, and they have served him,

Darby: Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him;

ASV: Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Bring  the tribe  of Levi  near,  and present  them before  Aaron  the priest,  that they may minister  unto him. 

What does Numbers 3:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 3:1-13 - 44-51, The Substitute For The First-Born
The Levites were taken, instead of the firstborn sons of Israel, to perform the service of the Tabernacle. There were nearly as many Levites as first-born, and the difference was made good by the payment of redemption money on the part of the overplus, Numbers 3:45-48. So each of us has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb to belong to God and to minister to Him! Aaron's family provided the priesthood, Leviticus 3:9-10. The rest of the tribe performed the more irksome duties of ministry and transport.
The Gershonites, as eldest, pitched westward of the Tabernacle, and cared for the hangings and curtains. The Kohathites, because related to Aaron, pitched southward, and had charge of the sacred vessels. The Merarites pitched northward, and had charge of the boards and sockets. It was enough for each to know that his place and charge were God-appointed. Even to carry a pin became honorable, when God had allotted that to a man as his share. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 3

1  The sons of Aaron
5  The Levites are given to the priests instead of the firstborn
14  Are numbered by their families
21  The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites
27  Of the Kohathites
33  Of the Merarites
38  The place and charge of Moses and Aaron
40  The firstborn are freed by the Levites
44  The balances are refunded

What do the individual words in Numbers 3:6 mean?

bring near - the tribe of Levi and present them before Aaron the priest that they may serve him
הַקְרֵב֙ אֶת־ מַטֵּ֣ה לֵוִ֔י וְֽהַעֲמַדְתָּ֣ אֹת֔וֹ לִפְנֵ֖י אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְשֵׁרְת֖וּ אֹתֽוֹ

הַקְרֵב֙  bring  near 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
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.
מַטֵּ֣ה  the  tribe  of 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַטֶּה  
Sense: staff, branch, tribe.
לֵוִ֔י  Levi 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
וְֽהַעֲמַדְתָּ֣  and  present 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לִפְנֵ֖י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אַהֲרֹ֣ן  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
הַכֹּהֵ֑ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
וְשֵׁרְת֖וּ  that  they  may  serve 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁרַת  
Sense: (Piel) to minister, serve, minister to.