You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi,” says Yahweh of Armies.
Parallel translations
- KJV And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
- BSB Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- NKJV Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, That My covenant with Levi may continue,” Says the Lord of hosts.
- NASB Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, so that My covenant may continue with Levi,” says the Lord of armies.
- NLT Then at last you will know it was I who sent you this warning so that my covenant with the Levites can continue,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
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 sends this warning so the priests will recognize His desire to preserve His covenant with Levi, the priestly line.
Overview
Even in judgment, God's aim is corrective, that the priests might return and His covenant with Levi continue. This covenant established the priesthood as a channel of reverent service and instruction. The reference to Levi prepares for the description of the ideal priest in the following verses, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, our great High Priest.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Num 3:12“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine:
- Ezek 38:23I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Yahweh.
- Jer 28:9The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet shall happen, then shall the prophet be known, that Yahweh has truly sent him.”
- Matt 3:12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
- Ezek 44:9–16Thus says the Lord Yahweh, No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any foreigners who are among the children of Israel.
- Neh 13:29Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
- John 15:2Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
- Luke 10:11‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
- Isa 26:11Yahweh, your hand is lifted up, yet they don’t see; but they will see your zeal for the people, and be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.
- Isa 1:24–28Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says: “Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself on my enemies;
- Ezek 20:38–41I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who disobey against me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and you shall know that I am Yahweh.”
- 1 Kgs 22:25Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself.”
- Isa 27:9Therefore by this the iniquity of Jacob will be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he makes all the stones of the altar as chalk stones that are beaten in pieces, so that the Asherah poles and the incense altars shall rise no more.
- Ezek 33:33When this comes to pass, (behold, it comes), then shall they know that a prophet has been among them.
- Num 3:45“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am Yahweh.
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The messenger who prepares the way, the sun of righteousness rising with healing, and the Lord suddenly coming to his temple set the stage for the gospel that opens with John and Jesus.
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Original language
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