He may eat his share of the sacrifices and offerings, even if he also receives support from his family.
Parallel translations
- WEB They shall have like portions to eat, in addition to that which comes from the sale of his family possessions.
- KJV They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.
- BSB They shall eat equal portions, even though he has received money from the sale of his father’s estate.
- NKJV They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what comes from the sale of his inheritance.
- NASB They shall eat equal portions, except for what they receive from the sale of their fathers’ estates.
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
Serving Levites shared equally in the sanctuary's provisions, regardless of any private family income. God's servants were to be provided for fairly and without partiality.
Overview
A Levite who came to minister received an equal share of the offerings, in addition to whatever he gained from selling family property. This ensured fairness and prevented some from being disadvantaged in their service. It models the equity and generosity that should mark the care of those who labor in God's work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Neh 12:44On that day were men appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the wave offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who waited.
- Neh 12:47All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, as every day required; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.
- Luke 10:7Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house.
- 2 Chr 31:4Moreover 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.
- 1 Tim 5:17–18Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
- Lev 7:14Of it he shall offer one out of each offering for a heave offering to Yahweh. It shall be the priest’s who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings.
- Lev 7:8–9The priest who offers any man’s burnt offering, even the priest shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has offered.
- 1 Cor 9:7–14What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 18:8 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.