Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Be careful that you don’t forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
- BSB and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.
- NKJV Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
- NASB Be careful that you do not abandon the Levite as long as you live in your land.
- NLT And be very careful never to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.
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
Israel must take care never to neglect the Levites throughout their generations. God's worship includes provision for his ministers.
Overview
Because the Levites had no land inheritance, their support depended on the faithfulness of the people in bringing tithes and offerings. Moses presses Israel to remember them as long as they live in the land. This concern for those who serve in worship carries into the New Testament principle that those who proclaim the gospel should be supported.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 2 Chr 31:4–21Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.
- Neh 10:34–39And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:
- Deut 14:27–29And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
- 1 Cor 9:10–14Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
- 2 Chr 11:13–14And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 12:19 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.