Numbers 18:13 kjv
And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.
Numbers 18:13 nkjv
Whatever first ripe fruit is in their land, which they bring to the LORD, shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.
Numbers 18:13 niv
All the land's firstfruits that they bring to the LORD will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.
Numbers 18:13 esv
The first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the LORD, shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.
Numbers 18:13 nlt
All the first crops of their land that the people present to the LORD belong to you. Any member of your family who is ceremonially clean may eat this food.
Numbers 18 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 27:28 | "Nevertheless, anything devoted that a man devotes to the Lord, of anything that he has... shall be most holy to the Lord." | ḥērem is most holy; permanent devotion |
| Lev 27:21 | "...the field, when it is released... shall be devoted to the Lord as a field that is set apart; it shall be for the priest as his possession." | ḥērem specifically for the priest |
| Num 18:11 | "Also, this is yours: the contribution of their gift, all the wave offerings... I have given them to you, and to your sons and daughters..." | General priestly portion of offerings |
| Num 18:14 | "Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours." | Reinforces provision; closely related to 18:13 |
| Deut 10:9 | "Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers; the Lord is his inheritance, just as the Lord your God said to him." | God as priestly inheritance; explains provision |
| Deut 12:17-18 | "...you may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain... but you shall eat them before the Lord your God in the place that the Lord your God chooses..." | Priestly support comes from the offerings |
| Josh 6:17 | "And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab... shall live..." | ḥērem leading to destruction; dual meaning |
| Josh 7:1 | "...Achan... took some of the devoted things... and the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel." | Strict adherence to ḥērem rules |
| 1 Sam 15:21 | "...but the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the devoted things, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal." | Saul's disobedience regarding ḥērem |
| Ez 44:28-30 | "This shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance... Every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs." | Prophetic re-affirmation of priestly sustenance |
| Neh 10:37b-38 | "...and the tithes of our ground to the Levites, for they, the Levites, collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor... the priests... shall bring the tithe..." | Post-exilic commitment to tithes/offerings for priests |
| Lev 6:16 | "And what is left of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten unleavened in a holy place..." | Priests eat from holy offerings; earlier instruction |
| Lev 2:3 | "...what is left of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the Lord’s food offerings." | Priestly share of grain offerings |
| Ex 29:28 | "It shall be for Aaron and his sons as a perpetual due from the people of Israel, for it is a contribution..." | Permanent priestly provision |
| 1 Cor 9:13 | "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?" | NT affirmation of support for ministers |
| 1 Cor 9:14 | "In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | NT application of priestly support to gospel ministers |
| 1 Tim 5:18 | "For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and, 'The laborer deserves his wages.'" | Principle of supporting those who labor for God |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts..." | Promise tied to financial support for the Temple |
| Num 3:8 | "...and they shall take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the people of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle." | Priestly duty as reason for dedicated provision |
| Heb 7:11-12 | "If perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood... what further need would there have been for another priest to arise...?" | Contrasts Levitical system with Christ's perfect priesthood |
| Heb 7:5 | "And those among the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people..." | Confirms the legal right of the Levites to receive tithes |
Numbers 18 verses
Numbers 18 13 Meaning
Numbers 18:13 details God's specific provision for the Aaronic priesthood. It states that every "devoted thing" (חֵרֶם, ḥērem) in Israel shall belong to the priests. These are items irrevocably consecrated to God, set apart as most holy. This divine allocation ensures the sustenance of the priests and their families, enabling them to solely focus on their sacred duties in the tabernacle without needing to own land or pursue other livelihoods. It underscores the sanctity and distinct nature of items specifically consecrated to the Lord within Israel.
Numbers 18 13 Context
Numbers 18 details the duties and privileges of the Levitical priests and Aaron’s family within the sanctuary system, reinforcing their distinct roles and the sanctity of the sacred space after the rebellion of Korah (Num 16) challenged priestly authority. The chapter begins by affirming the responsibility of Aaron and his sons for the sanctuary's holiness and the consequences of violating it (Num 18:1-7). It then shifts to defining the priests’ and Levites’ means of support. Verses 8-20 specify the priestly share from offerings brought to the Lord, dividing them into "most holy things" (e.g., portions of grain offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, Num 18:9) and other consecrated gifts (e.g., firstfruits, firstborn animals, Num 18:12-19). Verse 13, therefore, falls under this segment of priestly provisions, specifically identifying ḥērem, or "devoted things," as belonging to the priests. This provision ensured the spiritual independence and sustained focus of the priests, making them reliant directly on God’s ordained system rather than secular or personal wealth.
Numbers 18 13 Word analysis
- And every: The Hebrew "וְכָל-" (vəḵol-) denotes an all-encompassing inclusion, emphasizing that no devoted thing is excluded from this provision. It stresses the comprehensive nature of the priests' entitlement.
- devoted thing: The key term here is חֵרֶם (ḥērem). This Hebrew word carries significant weight and can mean something utterly set apart to God. While often implying irreversible destruction (as seen in warfare where spoils are ḥērem to God and must be destroyed, e.g., Josh 6-7; Deut 7:26, 13:17), in this priestly context, ḥērem refers to items that, because they are irrevocably consecrated to God, become the possession of His priests for their use. This is explicitly stated in Lev 27:21, 28-29. Such items are deemed "most holy" and cannot be redeemed or used for common purposes. This provision prevents desecration and confirms divine ownership, even through the priestly transfer.
- in Israel: This phrase indicates the scope of the commandment – applying to anything devoted from among the entire people of Israel, underscoring the universal application within the covenant community. It implies all things truly separated unto the Lord by any Israelite.
- shall be yours: The phrase "יִהְיֶה־לָּךְ" (yihyeh-llākh) directly attributes ownership and entitlement to the priests (singular "yours" often addressing Aaron as representative of the priesthood). This establishes a divinely ordained right and exclusive possession. It's a declarative statement of provision, a permanent decree from the Lord to the priesthood.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- And every devoted thing: This collective phrase highlights the profound reverence due to whatever is consecrated to the Lord. The unique application of ḥērem here for priestly consumption, rather than outright destruction, shows that not all ḥērem follows the same fate, but all of it is exclusively for the Lord and hence forbidden to common use. It's set apart entirely, belonging solely to the divine sphere.
- in Israel shall be yours: This segment firmly connects the national act of devotion with the divine sustenance of the priesthood. It's a foundational principle: Israel's acts of dedication to God directly fuel the very ministers who facilitate their communion with God. This system reinforced the idea that supporting God's chosen servants was part of an Israelite's obligation to God Himself, ensuring the functional continuity of the tabernacle/temple service.
Numbers 18 13 Bonus section
The concept of ḥērem (devoted thing) is complex and appears with different implications throughout the Old Testament. Its usage in Num 18:13, where it becomes the possession of the priests, distinguishes it from instances where ḥērem meant utter destruction, particularly in contexts of judgment against wicked nations or idolatry (e.g., Jericho in Joshua 6). This specific nuance emphasizes that some things irrevocably given to God served not as objects of destruction but as means of upholding His chosen servants. This ensured that the resources God's people consecrated were directly channeled into supporting the ongoing ministry, thereby contributing to the spiritual health of the entire nation. It highlights a system where every aspect of dedication, even that to the point of permanent exclusion from common use, ultimately served the divine purpose and maintenance of covenant relationship.
Numbers 18 13 Commentary
Numbers 18:13 elucidates a critical aspect of God's covenantal provision for the Aaronic priesthood: the allowance of ḥērem, or "devoted things." Unlike ḥērem intended for destruction, such as in instances of Holy War, this specific ḥērem refers to objects or properties irrevocably consecrated to God and thus assigned to the priests for their sustenance. This divine directive underscores the complete dedication required for temple service, as priests were not allotted tribal lands (Deut 10:9). Their livelihood was intricately linked to the people’s offerings and consecrated items. This structure maintained their exclusive focus on sacred duties and prevented secular entanglement, reinforcing the sacred-profane distinction essential for Israel's religious life. It's a powerful theological statement about God’s direct support for His ministers, through the obedience and devotion of His people. The inclusion of ḥērem as priestly property signifies its supreme holiness; only those uniquely sanctified by God could handle and partake of what was entirely set apart for Him.