Numbers 18:29 kjv
Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
Numbers 18:29 nkjv
Of all your gifts you shall offer up every heave offering due to the LORD, from all the best of them, the consecrated part of them.'
Numbers 18:29 niv
You must present as the LORD's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.'
Numbers 18:29 esv
Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every contribution due to the LORD; from each its best part is to be dedicated.'
Numbers 18:29 nlt
Be sure to give to the LORD the best portions of the gifts given to you.
Numbers 18 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Neh 10:38 | And the priests, the sons of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes... | Priests oversee, Levites bring tithe of tithes. |
| 2 Chron 31:12 | and they faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the dedicated things. | Faithfully bringing contributions. |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. | Principle of giving full tithe to support priesthood. |
| Heb 7:5 | And those among the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment to take tithes... | Levitical priests authorized to receive tithes. |
| Heb 7:8 | In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case by him of whom it is testified that he lives. | Christ is greater than mortal tithe receivers. |
| Exod 23:19 | The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. | General command to bring the best firstfruits. |
| Exod 34:26 | The very first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God. | Giving the very first as an act of worship. |
| Lev 2:1-2 | When anyone brings a grain offering... its fine flour... some of its oil and all its frankincense, and the priest shall burn as a memorial portion of it, all its fine flour and all its oil, with all its frankincense, a food offering... | Grain offerings include finest parts. |
| Deut 15:21 | But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind, or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it... | Imperfect offerings are rejected. |
| Prov 3:9 | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce. | Honor God with the best of resources. |
| Mal 1:8 | When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? | Condemnation for offering blemished sacrifices. |
| Mal 1:13-14 | You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick... accursed be the cheat... who sacrifices to the Lord a blemished thing. | Condemns deceitful giving of impaired goods. |
| Lev 27:30 | Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord. | All tithes are intrinsically holy to the Lord. |
| Num 18:24 | For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a heave offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites. | Source of Levites' gifts: Israel's heave offering. |
| Ezek 48:12 | This shall be a most holy portion of the land, belonging to the priests... for they are most holy to him. | Holy portions designated for priests. |
| Rom 11:16 | If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. | Principle: the consecrated part makes the whole holy. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” | Calls believers to reflect God's holiness. |
| Deut 14:22-23 | You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year... that you may learn to fear the Lord. | Tithing teaches fear and reliance on God. |
| Hag 1:6-7 | You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but never have enough... | Consequence of withholding from the Lord. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. | Encourages cheerful and intentional giving. |
| Rom 11:36 | For from him and through him and to him are all things. | All things originate and belong to God. |
| 1 Chron 29:14 | But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. | Acknowledges all gifts come from God. |
| 1 Tim 5:17-18 | Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor... For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” | Supporting those who minister. |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | 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? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. | Provision for those serving God. |
Numbers 18 verses
Numbers 18 29 Meaning
Numbers 18:29 instructs the Levites to offer a significant portion of the tithes they receive from the Israelites back to the Lord. This contribution, described as a "heave offering" (terumah), must be drawn from "all the best" of their received gifts and is specifically designated as a "holy portion." This command underscores that even those dedicated to serving God are not exempt from honoring Him with their own possessions, affirming His ultimate ownership and demanding a portion that reflects His sacredness and worth.
Numbers 18 29 Context
Numbers chapter 18 defines the responsibilities and provisions for the Aaronic priests and the Levites within the Mosaic covenant. The Levites, who had no territorial inheritance, were to be supported by a tenth (tithe) of all produce from the Israelites (Num 18:21, 24). Verse 29 falls within God's specific instructions to the Levites, following the description of the tithes they receive. It introduces a further command: out of the tithe they receive, they must, in turn, offer a portion—a "tithe of the tithe"—to the Aaronic priests. This ensures that the priests, who perform the most sacred functions at the tabernacle/temple, are also provided for directly from this divinely instituted system of contributions. Historically, this system cemented the dependence of the Levitical ministry on the entire community, and likewise, the community's reliance on God's provision mediated through obedience. It served as a polemic against any notion that priestly service conferred absolute immunity from the sacred demands placed on the community regarding acknowledging God's ultimate ownership.
Numbers 18 29 Word analysis
- Out of all (מִכָּל, mi-kol) your gifts (מַתְּנֹתֵיכֶם, matnōtêḵem): "Mi-kol" indicates "from every part" or "from all," emphasizing inclusivity of source. "Matnōtêḵem" refers to the entire aggregate of offerings, specifically the tithes (Numbers 18:21, 24) the Levites receive from the other Israelite tribes. It underscores that the command to give back applies to the totality of what God provides for their sustenance.
- you shall present (וַהֲרֵמֹתֶם, va-haremōtem): Derived from the verb root רוּם (rum), meaning "to lift up," "to raise," or "to set apart." This term signifies an act of taking a portion and lifting it up or setting it aside as an offering to God. It shares the same root with "terumah," the next word, reinforcing its meaning as a distinct, deliberate dedication.
- every contribution due to the Lord (אֵת כָּל־תְּרוּמַת יְהוָה, ēt kol-terûmat YHWH): "Terumah" is a "heave offering" or "contribution." It's a consecrated portion lifted out of a larger quantity and set apart for sacred use, often for the priests. Attributing it to "YHWH" (the Lord) highlights that the offering's ultimate recipient and authority is God Himself, not merely the priests.
- from all (מִכֹּל, mi-kol) the best of them (מִטְבָּחוֹ, miṭbaḥô): "Miṭbaḥô" comes from the root טוֹב (ṭōḇ), meaning "good" or "best." It refers to the finest, choicest, or fattest portion. This explicitly dictates the quality of the offering – it must be the very best available. It is not just any portion, but the prime, superior part. This requirement is paramount in many Old Testament sacrificial laws, signifying honor and worship.
- even the holy portion (אֶת־קָדְשֹׁו, et-qodshō): "Qodesh" means "holiness" or "sacredness." This specifies the nature and purpose of the contribution—it must be consecrated and set apart because it belongs to the Lord. It signifies purity, sacredness, and separation from common use. The phrase reinforces the idea that what is given to the Lord must itself embody holiness and be handled with reverence. This offering becomes holy by being offered from what is already designated as holy (the tithe), and it is itself consecrated for a holy purpose.
Numbers 18 29 Bonus section
This verse highlights God's reciprocal economy: God provides for His servants (Levites through tithes), and in turn, His servants must acknowledge His ultimate authority and ownership by offering back a portion, especially the very best, from what they received. This reinforces the theological concept that even the gifts received from God are not simply for personal consumption without accountability. It establishes a divine chain of blessing and responsibility, preventing self-sufficiency or a sense of entitlement in ministry. The offering from the Levites not only supported the Aaronic priesthood but also served as a profound object lesson for all Israel—that a lifestyle of continuous receiving and giving honors the Lord. This perpetual giving back to the source symbolizes worship and submission to God's ultimate dominion over all resources, teaching dependency not on earthly provisions, but on God who gives all.
Numbers 18 29 Commentary
Numbers 18:29 conveys a fundamental spiritual principle: no one, regardless of their calling or service, is exempt from honoring God with a portion of what He has provided. Even the Levites, who ministered in sacred duties and received sustenance directly from God's provision through the tithes of Israel, were required to give a "tithe of the tithe" (specifically, one tenth of what they received) to the priests. This mandate emphasized that all possessions ultimately belong to the Lord, and an act of giving back from "the best" was a recognition of His ultimate ownership and the holiness required in His service. This was not a burdensome tax but a demonstration of worship, dependence, and obedience, acknowledging God's faithfulness as provider and demonstrating trust in Him. It ensured the sustainability of the priesthood while cultivating a spirit of humility and gratitude even among those set apart for holy service. The command to give the "best" highlights that God is not content with leftovers or reluctant contributions; His due is what is most valued and reflects sincere reverence. This echoes into New Testament principles of cheerful, proportional giving that acknowledges Christ as the source of all blessings and owner of all.