The Meaning of Numbers 8:13 Explained

Numbers 8:13

KJV: And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.

YLT: and thou hast caused the Levites to stand before Aaron, and before his sons, and hast waved them -- a wave-offering to Jehovah;

Darby: And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them as a wave-offering to Jehovah.

ASV: And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for a wave-offering unto Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt set  the Levites  before  Aaron,  and before  his sons,  and offer  them [for] an offering  unto the LORD. 

What does Numbers 8:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 8:1-13 - Lights In God's House Clean Workmen
It is strange to come on this paragraph about the candlestick amid the preparations for leaving Sinai. But typically it is appropriate, because the people of God are called, in their earthly pilgrimage, to shine as lights in the world.
The beaten work of gold is significant of persecution, and the one lump of gold indicates the essential unity of the Church. The Levites were symbolically cleansed by the water and the razor. This was required for those who were sprung from a stock so cruel, Genesis 49:7.
Next they were offered to God, i.e., Israel transferred to them the obligations of ministry, which up to this time had been performed by the firstborn. As the priest was wont to wave a portion of the sacrifice before God, so Aaron, Numbers 8:11. The counterpart of this is Acts 13:3. Missionaries, teachers and others who perform certain functions for us all, may be regarded as wave-offerings. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 8

1  How the lamps are to be lighted
5  The consecration of the Levites
23  The age and time of their service

What do the individual words in Numbers 8:13 mean?

And you shall stand - the Levites before Aaron and his sons then offer them [like] a wave offering to Yahweh
וְהַֽעֲמַדְתָּ֙ אֶת־ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לִפְנֵ֥י אַהֲרֹ֖ן וְלִפְנֵ֣י בָנָ֑יו וְהֵנַפְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֛ם תְּנוּפָ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה

וְהַֽעֲמַדְתָּ֙  And  you  shall  stand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
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.
הַלְוִיִּ֔ם  the  Levites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
לִפְנֵ֥י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אַהֲרֹ֖ן  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
בָנָ֑יו  his  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וְהֵנַפְתָּ֥  then  offer 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הֲנָפָה 
Sense: to move to and fro, wave, besprinkle.
תְּנוּפָ֖ה  [like]  a  wave  offering 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּנוּפָה  
Sense: swinging, waving, wave offering, offering.
לַֽיהוָֽה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 8:13?

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