Numbers 18:19 kjv
All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
Numbers 18:19 nkjv
"All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD with you and your descendants with you."
Numbers 18:19 niv
Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD for both you and your offspring."
Numbers 18:19 esv
All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the LORD I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD for you and for your offspring with you."
Numbers 18:19 nlt
Yes, I am giving you all these holy offerings that the people of Israel bring to the LORD. They are for you and your sons and daughters, to be eaten as your permanent share. This is an eternal and unbreakable covenant between the LORD and you, and it also applies to your descendants."
Numbers 18 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 2:13 | "You shall season all your grain offerings with salt..." | Salt as an element of covenant/purity. |
| 2 Chr 13:5 | "...the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel to David and his sons forever by a covenant of salt?" | An enduring, unbreakable covenant. |
| Num 18:8 | "I have given you charge of my contributions..." | Broader context of priestly provisions. |
| Num 18:21 | "...I have given the Levites all the tithes..." | Provision for general Levites. |
| Exod 29:9 | "...the priesthood shall be theirs by a perpetual statute." | Priesthood as a perpetual office. |
| Exod 40:15 | "You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations." | Perpetual nature of Aaronic priesthood. |
| Deut 12:12 | "And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite..." | People to provide for Levites. |
| Deut 14:27 | "And you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your towns..." | Command to care for the Levite. |
| Deut 18:1 | "The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the Lord's offerings by fire and his inheritance." | Priests' inheritance is the Lord. |
| Josh 13:14 | "Only to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance; the offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance..." | Confirmation of Levite inheritance. |
| Josh 13:33 | "But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance..." | Reinforces Levites' dependence on God. |
| Eze 44:28 | "As for their inheritance, I am their inheritance: you shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession." | God as the priests' sole inheritance. |
| Gen 9:16 | "When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature..." | Example of an "everlasting covenant." |
| Gen 17:7 | "I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant..." | God's everlasting covenant with Abraham. |
| Ps 105:10 | "...which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant..." | Covenant with Israel as everlasting. |
| 2 Sam 23:5 | "For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant..." | Davidic covenant as everlasting. |
| Jer 32:40 | "I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them..." | New covenant aspects as everlasting. |
| Heb 7:24 | "but he [Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever." | Christ's unchangeable priesthood. |
| Heb 7:28 | "...but he swore an oath that made the Son, who has been made perfect forever, a high priest." | Jesus as perfect, perpetual High Priest. |
| Heb 13:20 | "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant..." | Eternal covenant through Christ. |
| 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?" | New Testament principle of ministerial support. |
| 1 Cor 9:14 | "In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | Applying priestly support principle to NT ministers. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | General principle of God's provision. |
Numbers 18 verses
Numbers 18 19 Meaning
This verse establishes a divine ordinance for the perpetual provision of the Aaronic priesthood and their families. It designates specific "holy contributions" from the people of Israel as the priests' rightful, unending due. This provision is sealed by a "covenant of salt," emphasizing its eternal, binding, and incorruptible nature, underscoring God's unwavering commitment to His chosen ministers.
Numbers 18 19 Context
Numbers chapter 18 defines the responsibilities and privileges of the Levitical priests and general Levites. Following the rebellion of Korah (Num 16) which challenged Aaron's priesthood, God reaffirms Aaron and his descendants as the chosen priests. The chapter delineates the holy duties specific to the priests (Nu 18:1-7) and details their sustenance through offerings and tithes (Nu 18:8-32). Verse 19 specifically grants the "holy contributions" to Aaron and his descendants, establishing a lasting provision as compensation for their exclusive service at the tabernacle and their lack of a territorial inheritance in Canaan. The mention of "a covenant of salt" elevates this provision to a sacred and enduring decree.
Numbers 18 19 Word analysis
- All the holy contributions: The Hebrew word is terumah (תְּרוּמָה). This refers to any offering "lifted" or "separated" for sacred purposes. These were portions of crops, livestock, or other possessions given by the people, designated specifically for the upkeep of the priests and the tabernacle. The inclusion of "all" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the entitlement.
- that the people of Israel present to the Lord: This indicates the contributions are initially offered to God, who then sovereignly grants them to the priests. It underscores divine authority for the provision.
- I give to you: A direct divine pronouncement from God to Aaron, highlighting the unilateral, non-negotiable nature of this divine decree. It establishes the priests' right to receive these contributions as a direct gift from God.
- and to your sons and daughters with you: The provision extends beyond Aaron himself to his entire priestly household. While only males served as priests, the sustenance covered their families, ensuring that the devoted service of the priest did not lead to destitution for their dependents.
- as a perpetual due: In Hebrew, chukat olam (חֻקַּת עוֹלָם). Chukah means "statute" or "ordinance," implying a divinely ordained, unchangeable law. Olam means "forever" or "eternity." This phrase signifies an enduring, permanent, and divinely established law, assuring that the priests' livelihood would not cease through generations.
- It is a covenant of salt forever: In Hebrew, berit melakh olam (בְּרִית מֶלַח עוֹלָם). This is a foundational aspect of the verse.
- Covenant (berit - בְּרִית): A solemn, binding agreement, often sealed by an oath or sacrifice, establishing a committed relationship between parties, typically God and His people.
- Salt (melakh - מֶלַח): Highly valued in the ancient world for its preservative qualities (preventing decay), its association with purity, and its role in solemnizing agreements. Shared salt was a sign of friendship and binding hospitality. Thus, a "covenant of salt" signifies an unbreakable, incorruptible, enduring, and loyal agreement.
- before the Lord: This signifies the divine witness and guarantee. The covenant is enacted in God's presence, validating its sanctity and immutability.
- for you and for your offspring with you: This reiterates the hereditary nature of both the Aaronic priesthood and its divine support system. The covenant, with its perpetual provision, is specifically for Aaron and his successive priestly generations.
Numbers 18 19 Bonus section
The phrase "covenant of salt" is a rare, potent biblical idiom. Its use in Numbers 18:19 confirms the permanence of the divine grant to the priesthood, directly linking it to other foundational, enduring covenants. In Leviticus 2:13, salt's mandatory inclusion in grain offerings symbolized the enduring purity and lasting commitment represented by sacrifices made to God. Furthermore, in 2 Chronicles 13:5, King Abijah describes God's covenant with David for kingship over Israel as "a covenant of salt," affirming its irreversible and perpetual nature. These parallels illuminate that the provision for the Aaronic priesthood was intended to be as stable and incorruptible as the very essence of God's faithful character. Though the Mosaic ceremonial law, including the Aaronic priesthood, has been fulfilled in Christ, the spiritual principle of supporting God's dedicated servants, who lack worldly inheritance, endures through His unchangeable divine provision.
Numbers 18 19 Commentary
Numbers 18:19 underscores God's unfailing commitment to His appointed ministers. The phrase "perpetual due" ensures the continuous support for the Aaronic priesthood, relieving them of temporal anxieties so they can fully dedicate themselves to service. More significantly, sealing this promise with a "covenant of salt" elevates it to an inviolable, everlasting agreement. Salt's ancient significance—preserving, purifying, and binding—emphasizes the covenant's unchangeable, incorruptible nature. This divine guarantee counters any doubt about God's provision for His servants, who had no land inheritance. It establishes that their "inheritance" is God Himself, channeled through the offerings of the people. This principle transcends the Old Covenant, establishing a foundational biblical precedent for supporting those consecrated to God's work, finding a renewed expression in the New Testament Church for those who proclaim the Gospel.