And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
Parallel translations
- WEB Of them I will also select priests and Levites,” says Yahweh.
- BSB “And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.
- NKJV And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,” says the Lord.
- NASB I will also take some of them as priests and Levites,” says the Lord.
- NLT “And I will appoint some of them to be my priests and Levites. I, the Lord, have spoken!
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
God will appoint priests and Levites from among the gathered peoples. It matters because it signals that even Gentiles will be drawn into the service and worship of God.
Overview
Strikingly, the LORD promises to take some of these gathered ones for priestly service, a role once limited to a single tribe. This foreshadows the breaking down of old boundaries and the inclusion of the nations. In Christ, believers from every people become a royal priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices to God (1 Peter 2:9).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Pet 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- Exod 19:6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
- 1 Pet 2:5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
- Isa 61:6But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
- Rev 1:6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
- Rev 20:6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
- Rev 5:10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
- Jer 13:18–22Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 66:21 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.