And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
Parallel translations
- WEB They cast lots for their offices, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the student.
- BSB They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.
- NKJV And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the student.
- NASB They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.
- NLT The musicians were appointed to their term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They cast lots for their duties, with small and great, teacher and student, all treated alike. Service assignments were made impartially before God.
Overview
As with the priests and Levites, the musicians' rotation was set by lot, removing favoritism so that experienced and novice alike received their appointed turn. The equal treatment of teacher and student reflects that all serve the same Lord and that no role is too small in His house. This humility before God's ordering anticipates the gospel truth that in Christ distinctions of rank give way to shared standing as His servants (Gal 3:28).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Chr 26:13And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.
- Prov 16:33The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
- Neh 12:24And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.
- 1 Chr 24:5Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
- 1 Chr 15:22And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.
- 1 Chr 26:16To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.
- 1 Chr 24:31These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.
- Lev 16:8And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
- 2 Chr 23:13And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
- 1 Sam 14:41–42Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
- Acts 1:26And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 25:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.