And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
Parallel translations
- WEB You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi,” says Yahweh of Armies.
- 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 3:12And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
- Ezek 38:23Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
- Jer 28:9The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.
- Matt 3:12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
- Ezek 44:9–16Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.
- Neh 13:29Remember them, O 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 beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
- Luke 10:11Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
- Isa 26:11LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.
- Isa 1:24–28Therefore saith the LORD, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
- Ezek 20:38–41And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
- 1 Kgs 22:25And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
- Isa 27:9By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.
- Ezek 33:33And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
- Num 3:45Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.
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Original language
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