“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.
Parallel translations
- KJV Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
- BSB “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.
- NKJV “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.
- NASB “Bring the tribe of Levi forward and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.
- NLT “Call forward the tribe of Levi, and present them to Aaron the priest to serve as his assistants.
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 commanded that the tribe of Levi be brought near to assist Aaron. The Levites were appointed to serve the priests in sacred duties.
Overview
The Levites were 'brought near' and placed before Aaron to minister to him, distinguishing them from the priests who were Aaron's direct descendants. This established a structure of service supporting the priesthood. Their nearness to holy things, granted by God's appointment, illustrates that all approach to God depends on His gracious calling.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Num 18:1–7Yahweh said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your fathers’ house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
- Deut 10:8At that time Yahweh set apart the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, to stand before Yahweh to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day.
- Num 2:17“Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps. As they encamp, so shall they set out, every man in his place, by their standards.
- Deut 33:8–9About Levi he said, “Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah.
- Mal 2:4You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi,” says Yahweh of Armies.
- Num 1:49–53“Only the tribe of Levi you shall not count, neither shall you take a census of them among the children of Israel;
- Exod 32:26–29then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on Yahweh’s side, come to me!” All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.
- Num 8:6–26“Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
- Num 2:33But the Levites were not counted among the children of Israel; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
- Num 16:9–11Is it a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of Yahweh’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;
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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 3:6 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
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