And be very careful never to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.
Parallel translations
- WEB Be careful that you don’t forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
- KJV Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
- 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.
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 who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to Yahweh’s law.
- Neh 10:34–39We cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on Yahweh our God’s altar, as it is written in the law;
- Deut 14:27–29You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no portion nor inheritance with you.
- 1 Cor 9:10–14or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.
- 2 Chr 11:13–14The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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.