Numbers 18:30 kjv
Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.
Numbers 18:30 nkjv
Therefore you shall say to them: 'When you have lifted up the best of it, then the rest shall be accounted to the Levites as the produce of the threshing floor and as the produce of the winepress.
Numbers 18:30 niv
"Say to the Levites: 'When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.
Numbers 18:30 esv
Therefore you shall say to them, 'When you have offered from it the best of it, then the rest shall be counted to the Levites as produce of the threshing floor, and as produce of the winepress.
Numbers 18:30 nlt
"Also, give these instructions to the Levites: When you present the best part as your offering, it will be considered as though it came from your own threshing floor or winepress.
Numbers 18 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 27:30-33 | "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed... it is the Lord's: holy unto the Lord..." | Divine ownership of all tithes. |
| Deut 10:9 | "Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance..." | Levites' lack of land and God as their portion. |
| Deut 18:1-2 | "The priests the Levites... shall eat the offerings... They shall have no inheritance... the Lord is their inheritance..." | Reinforces Levites' inheritance being offerings, not land. |
| Num 18:21 | "And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance for their service..." | Levites' primary source of support is Israel's tithe. |
| Num 18:26 | "Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes... then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth of the tenth." | Direct command for Levites to give their own tithe. |
| Num 18:28 | "Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes..." | Reinforces the Levites' heave offering from their tithes. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled..." | Principle of honoring God with the best firstfruits. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me... in tithes and offerings..." | Rebuke for withholding tithes; principle of giving to God. |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | "Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple... Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." | New Covenant principle of ministers living from the gospel. |
| Gal 6:6 | "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." | New Covenant teaching on supporting spiritual instructors. |
| Heb 7:5-6 | "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi... have commandment to take tithes of the people... but he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes..." | Priestly right to receive tithes, leading to Melchizedek. |
| Heb 7:8 | "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth." | Tithe receivers and the permanence of Christ's priesthood. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." | Emphasis on the attitude of giving to God. |
| Rom 12:1-2 | "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." | Presenting the "best" (ourselves) to God. |
| Php 4:18 | "But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God." | Accepting offerings as pleasing to God, like a sacrifice. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." | All labor for the Lord is valued and rewarded. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." | Principle of holiness, including in giving and service. |
| Deut 26:1-10 | "And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance... thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth..." | Instruction for offering firstfruits to God. |
| Ez 44:30 | "And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priests': ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough..." | Priests receive the best and first of various offerings. |
| Luke 6:38 | "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom..." | The spiritual principle of generous giving and receiving. |
Numbers 18 verses
Numbers 18 30 Meaning
Numbers 18:30 reveals a foundational principle for the Levites' obligation and God's divine reckoning. It clarifies that when the Levites offer the choicest part, referred to as the "best thereof," from the tithe they receive from the Israelites, this offering is accounted by God as if it were the direct produce from their own land—like the harvest from a threshingfloor or winepress. This instruction establishes that their spiritual labor is recognized and validated by God as equally productive and worthy of contribution as agricultural labor, despite the Levites having no tribal land inheritance.
Numbers 18 30 Context
Numbers chapter 18 outlines the distinct roles and responsibilities of the Aaronic priesthood and the Levites, alongside their provision and support. Having already addressed the separation of the Levites and their service (Num 8) and confirmed their exclusive access to the sanctuary in response to Korah's rebellion (Num 16-17), this chapter focuses on the practical economy of their service. The priests (Aaron and his sons) are responsible for the most holy tasks and receive the dedicated gifts, firstfruits, and parts of sacrifices (Num 18:8-20). The Levites, on the other hand, are tasked with assisting the priests and performing the general duties of the Tabernacle service, for which they receive all the tithes from the Israelites (Num 18:21-24). Verse 30 directly follows the command in Numbers 18:26 for the Levites to offer a "tenth of the tenth"—a tithe from the tithes they receive—as a heave offering to the Lord for the priests. This verse addresses how God views this secondary tithe, particularly the "best" part of it. Historically and culturally, the Levites did not inherit land, thus relying entirely on God's provision through the offerings and tithes of the other tribes. This verse reaffirms God's provision and recognition of their unique status, considering their contribution from received income as equally valuable as those from tangible land produce.
Numbers 18 30 Word analysis
- Therefore thou shalt say unto them: This phrase indicates a direct, divine command given through Moses (and Aaron) to the Levites. It underscores the authority and clarity of the instruction regarding their giving.
- When ye take the best thereof from it: The Hebrew word for "best thereof" is חֶלְבּוֹ (chelbow), which literally means "its fat" or "the choicest part." While "fat" often refers to the best part of an animal sacrifice dedicated to God (Lev 3:16-17), here it extends to the principle of giving the highest quality from any offering, specifically from the tithe they receive. It is not just about a numerical tenth but the qualitative choicest portion of that tenth, emphasizing wholehearted dedication and reverence. "From it" refers to the tithe that the Levites have received from the Israelites.
- Then it shall be counted unto the Levites: The Hebrew word for "counted" is וְנֶחְשַׁב (wenechshav), derived from the root חָשַׁב (chashav), meaning "to reckon," "to compute," or "to consider." This signifies a divine imputation or estimation. God considers this qualitative offering by the Levites as if they had generated the produce themselves through their own physical labor on a farm. This is a divine accounting principle that values their service and specific tithe-of-a-tithe contribution as fully legitimate and equivalent to agricultural production, even without direct farming.
- as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress: The "increase" is תְּבוּאָה (tevu'ah), referring to the produce or yield. "Threshingfloor" (גֹּרֶן, goren) and "winepress" (יֶקֶב, yekev) are metonyms for the entire agricultural yield of grain and grape harvests, respectively. These were the primary sources of tithes for the other Israelite tribes. By comparing the Levites' tithe of the tithe to these, God validates their form of offering, demonstrating that despite their non-agricultural vocation, their offering holds the same weight and acceptance as if they were farmers giving from their land produce.
- "take the best thereof from it": This phrase highlights the critical spiritual principle of not just giving, but giving from a place of quality and intentional selection. It's not just "any tenth" but the "choicest part" of that tenth, even if what they are tithing from is itself a tithe. This reinforces the idea that true worship involves offering what is most valuable, whether in material goods or dedicated service.
- "counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress": This phrase group signifies divine acceptance and validation. Despite their unique circumstance of lacking land and living from tithes, God's decree places their financial contribution on par with direct agricultural production. This underscores that all labor, when dedicated to the Lord within His ordained structure, is recognized and honored by Him. It implicitly counteracts any potential thought that because they receive their income, their tithing responsibility is less significant. It solidifies the dignity and spiritual value of their specific role and provision system.
Numbers 18 30 Bonus section
The imputation expressed in Numbers 18:30 (God counting their offering from received tithes as if from their own threshingfloor and winepress) highlights God's comprehensive view of labor and provision. It implies that from God's perspective, all legitimate income or increase is ultimately from Him, whether directly harvested from land or provided through the offerings of His people. This eliminates any perceived inferiority in the Levites' economic model and ensures their offerings are seen as full, authentic contributions. This also subtly affirms God's ultimate ownership of the land and all its produce, thereby integrating all forms of wealth and contribution within His covenantal framework. It also shows a reciprocal relationship: God provides for the Levites, and they, in turn, demonstrate their faithfulness and trust by offering back to Him from what He has provided.
Numbers 18 30 Commentary
Numbers 18:30 serves as a pivotal verse in defining the spiritual economy of ancient Israel, particularly concerning the Levites. It goes beyond merely commanding a tithe from a tithe (as stated in Num 18:26) to explain the divine valuation of this specific offering. The requirement for the Levites to give the "best thereof" from their received tithe, and God's promise to "count" it as if it were personal agricultural produce, conveys profound theological truths.
Firstly, it underscores the universal principle of tithing and offering. No one, not even those wholly devoted to spiritual service and supported by the offerings of others, is exempt from the obligation to honor God with a portion of their income. This applies across all income types, whether derived from manual labor, spiritual service, or as provision from another source.
Secondly, the "best thereof" emphasizes qualitative giving. God desires not merely a percentage but the choicest, reflecting a heart of true worship and reverence. This reflects God's own nature as one who gives the best, and invites His people to respond in kind.
Thirdly, the concept of "counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor" is a powerful testament to God's view of faithful stewardship. It legitimizes and elevates the Levites' service, declaring that their work—even without land ownership or agricultural production—is viewed by God as productive and worthy of generating sacred offerings. It recognizes spiritual labor and dedicated service as equally valid and valued as physical labor in His economy. It assures the Levites that their dependence on the offerings of others does not diminish their dignity or their capacity to offer their own portion meaningfully back to God. Ultimately, this verse encapsulates God's grace in crediting His servants for their obedience, establishing that obedience and faithful stewardship are as productive in His eyes as tangible physical output.