And you and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere; it is the compensation for your work at the Tent of Meeting.
Parallel translations
- WEB You may eat it anywhere, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the Tent of Meeting.
- KJV And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
- NKJV You may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your work in the tabernacle of meeting.
- NASB You may eat it anywhere, you and your households, for it is your compensation in return for your service in the tent of meeting.
- NLT You Levites and your families may eat this food anywhere you wish, for it is your compensation for serving in the Tabernacle.
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
The Levites and their households could eat the remainder anywhere, for it was their reward for service at the Tent of Meeting.
Overview
Unlike the most holy offerings restricted to sacred places, this provision could be eaten freely by the Levites' families. It was their just compensation for their ministry. This shows God's gracious care, providing His servants ordinary food and household sustenance as the fruit of their dedicated service.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 1 Tim 5:17–18Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
- 1 Cor 9:10–14Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.
- Matt 10:10Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.
- Luke 10:7Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
- Gal 6:6Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.
- 2 Cor 12:13In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
- Deut 14:22–23You must be sure to set aside a tenth of all the produce brought forth each year from your fields.
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 18:31 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.