You may eat it anywhere, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the Tent of Meeting.
Parallel translations
- 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.
- BSB And you and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere; it is the compensation for your work at the Tent of Meeting.
- 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 5:17–18Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
- 1 Cor 9:10–14or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.
- Matt 10:10Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.
- 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.
- Gal 6:6But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.
- 2 Cor 12:13For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
- Deut 14:22–23You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes out of the field year by year.
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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.