Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.
- BSB “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.
- ESV “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to 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 quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 18:1–7And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father’s house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
- Deut 10:8At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
- Num 2:17Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.
- Deut 33:8–9And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
- Mal 2:4And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Num 1:49–53Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
- Exod 32:26–29Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
- Num 8:6–26Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
- Num 2:33But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
- Num 16:9–11Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
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.