Deuteronomy 18:6 kjv
And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose;
Deuteronomy 18:6 nkjv
"So if a Levite comes from any of your gates, from where he dwells among all Israel, and comes with all the desire of his mind to the place which the LORD chooses,
Deuteronomy 18:6 niv
If a Levite moves from one of your towns anywhere in Israel where he is living, and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose,
Deuteronomy 18:6 esv
"And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel, where he lives ? and he may come when he desires ? to the place that the LORD will choose,
Deuteronomy 18:6 nlt
"Suppose a Levite chooses to move from his town in Israel, wherever he is living, to the place the LORD chooses for worship.
Deuteronomy 18 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 12:5 | "But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses..." | Central sanctuary worship mandated |
| Deut 12:11 | "then to the place that the LORD your God will choose..." | All holy offerings to central place |
| Deut 10:9 | "Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers..." | Levites' unique landless status |
| Num 35:2-8 | "Give the Levites cities to live in... pasturage for their cities..." | Cities allotted to Levites |
| Josh 21:1-42 | "So the LORD gave Israel all the land that he swore to give..." | Fulfillment of cities for Levites |
| Num 18:21-24 | "To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given every tithe in Israel..." | Provision for Levites through tithes |
| Deut 14:27-29 | "You shall not neglect the Levite who is within your gates..." | Care for Levites in communities |
| 1 Kgs 8:29 | "that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day..." | Solomon's Temple as the chosen place |
| 2 Chr 6:6 | "But I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name might be there..." | Jerusalem identified as the chosen place |
| Deut 12:18 | "and the Levite who is within your gates..." | Levites participate in feasting/blessings |
| Ps 84:10 | "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere." | Desire for sanctuary service/presence |
| Ps 27:4 | "One thing I have asked from the LORD... to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD..." | Longing for dwelling in God's house |
| 1 Chr 26:1-32 | "Also for the divisions of the gatekeepers..." | Levites' specific duties/service |
| Ez 48:11 | "It shall be for the priests... the consecrated portion..." | Levites/Priests in future temple |
| Phil 3:7-8 | "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ." | Willingness to give up for spiritual gain |
| Heb 7:11-19 | "If perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood..." | Levitical system points to Christ's superior priesthood |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood..." | All believers as a priesthood |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service..." | Principle of supporting ministers |
| Rom 12:1 | "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God..." | Voluntary service for believers today |
| Ps 110:3 | "Your people will offer themselves willingly..." | Principle of willing service in God's kingdom |
Deuteronomy 18 verses
Deuteronomy 18 6 Meaning
Deuteronomy 18:6 grants any Levite dwelling in any town throughout Israel the right to journey freely to the central sanctuary, "the place that the Lord will choose," driven by a genuine and personal desire to minister there. This provision ensured that all Levites had access to priestly duties and provision at the main center of worship, fostering voluntary service to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 18 6 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 18 outlines the provisions for the Levitical priesthood and warns against practices forbidden by God. Following a discussion of the priests' allotted portions from sacrifices and offerings (verses 1-5), verse 6 transitions to address the freedom of Levites who live in the towns scattered throughout Israel. It emphasizes their right to relocate to the central sanctuary chosen by the Lord to fulfill their ministry. Historically, this served to consolidate Israel's worship at one designated location, countering the decentralized pagan worship common among surrounding nations. It also provided a means for Levites, who had no territorial inheritance, to actively participate in the national worship and be sustained there.
Deuteronomy 18 6 Word analysis
- And if a Levite (וְכִי יָבֹא הַלֵּוִי, wə·ḵî yā·ḇō’ hal·lē·wî): The particle "wə·ḵî" introduces a conditional possibility, "and when" or "if indeed." "hal·lē·wî" refers specifically to a member of the tribe of Levi. Levites had no land inheritance (Num 18:24) but were sustained by tithes and offerings (Deut 14:27-29). They were distributed among specific cities across Israel (Josh 21). This phrase confirms their right to personal movement and dedication to temple service.
- comes from any of your towns (מֵאַחַד שְׁעָרֶיךָ, mê·’a·ḥaḏ šə·‘ā·reḵā): Literally, "from one of your gates." This signifies a specific locale within their assigned dwelling. It underscores that this right applies to any Levite, no matter which Levite city or assigned dwelling he resided in within Israel.
- out of all Israel (מִכָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, mik·kōl yiś·rā·’êl): Emphasizes the universality of this provision across the entire land and all members of the tribe of Levi. It ensures that the scattered Levites maintain their tribal identity and ministerial rights.
- where he lives (הוּא גָר שָׁם, hū gār-šām): "Gār" implies sojourning or residing, reflecting the Levites' status as non-landowners who resided in assigned cities. It denotes their present, often temporary, place of dwelling, before potentially moving to the central sanctuary for devoted service.
- and comes with all his desire (וּבָא בְּכָל־נַפְשׁוֹ, ū·ḇā’ bə·ḵol-nap̄·šōw): "Bə·ḵol-nap̄·šōw" means "with all his soul/being." This is a crucial element, indicating a sincere, willing, and heartfelt motivation for service, not coercion or a response to lack of provision elsewhere. It highlights spiritual intention over mere necessity.
- to the place that the Lord will choose (אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהוָה, ’el-ham·mā·qōwm ’ă·šer yiḇ·ḥar YHWH): This recurring phrase in Deuteronomy refers to the one, divinely appointed central sanctuary for worship (e.g., Deut 12:5, 11, 21; 16:6). Historically, this became Jerusalem, where the Temple was eventually built. This mandate served as a polemic against local pagan shrines and later against unauthorized altars within Israel, promoting religious unity and purity.
Deuteronomy 18 6 Bonus section
The freedom for Levites to move and serve at the central sanctuary illustrates God's high value on committed, Spirit-led ministry. It also prefigures a calling to full-time service, where individuals, compelled by inward desire, consecrate their lives to the Lord's work, knowing His provision will follow. This provision not only offered a practical solution for the sustenance of a landless tribe but also acted as a vital means to preserve spiritual vibrancy at the core of Israel's national worship, allowing for dedicated attention to divine law and rituals.
Deuteronomy 18 6 Commentary
Deuteronomy 18:6 guarantees a fundamental right for any Levite to pursue a dedicated life of service at the Lord's chosen sanctuary. This right was rooted in their unique tribal status—having no land inheritance but instead serving the spiritual needs of the nation. The emphasis on "all his desire" is paramount; it underscores the spiritual willingness and personal devotion driving the Levite, not merely the economic incentive of temple provision. This ensured that ministry at the heart of Israel's worship was fueled by a sincere heart for God. The divine designation of "the place that the Lord will choose" reinforced the centralization of pure worship, safeguarding against decentralized and corrupt practices. The verse reflects God's provision for those devoted to Him and encourages fervent, voluntary spiritual service.