Numbers 18 31

Numbers 18:31 kjv

And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 18:31 nkjv

You may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your work in the tabernacle of meeting.

Numbers 18:31 niv

You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting.

Numbers 18:31 esv

And you may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting.

Numbers 18:31 nlt

You Levites and your families may eat this food anywhere you wish, for it is your compensation for serving in the Tabernacle.

Numbers 18 verses

Numbers 18 31 Meaning

Numbers 18:31 specifies that the Levites, along with their families, are permitted to eat the tithes they receive from the Israelites wherever they may be. This provision is explicitly stated as their rightful compensation for their dedicated service in the Tent of Meeting (Tabernacle), acknowledging their unique role and reliance on God's system of support rather than land inheritance.

Numbers 18 31 Context

Numbers chapter 18 defines the specific duties, responsibilities, and, crucially, the provisions for the priests (Aaron and his sons) and the Levites. The entire chapter establishes a system whereby these chosen tribes, who have no tribal land inheritance like the other Israelite tribes, are sustained directly by God's decree through offerings and tithes. Verses 21-24 state that the Levites receive all tithes from Israel in exchange for their service in the Tabernacle. Verses 26-29 then mandate that the Levites, in turn, must present a "heave offering" (a tithe of their tithe) to Aaron, the High Priest, as the Lord's special portion. Verse 30 permits them to count their contribution as though it were direct produce and to eat the rest of their tithe. Verse 31 specifically extends this permission to the remaining portion of their tithes, emphasizing that it is their legitimate payment for their consecrated service, ensuring their focus remains on their spiritual duties rather than worldly concerns.

Numbers 18 31 Word analysis

• And ye shall eat it (וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֣ם אֹתֹ֗ו - wa'akhaltem otho):
  • אכל (akhal): To eat. This highlights God's explicit permission and provision. The object "it" refers to the remaining portion of the tithes they received from the Israelites after they had given their "heave offering" to the priests (Nu 18:26-30). This establishes that this food is considered ritually clean and fit for consumption.
• in every place (בְּכָל־מָק֖וֹם - bechol-maqom):
  • כָּל (kol): All, every. מָּקוֹם (maqom): Place, locale. This is a significant distinction. Unlike some holy offerings that could only be consumed in a sacred place (e.g., the Tabernacle courtyard for priests), the Levites' portion of the tithes can be eaten anywhere. This signifies that after the consecrated portion is given to the priests, the remaining tithe they receive effectively becomes common food for their sustenance, allowing them freedom in their daily life and duties without constant proximity to the sanctuary for eating.
• you and your households (אַתֶּ֣ם וּבֵיתְכֶ֑ם - attem uvetkhem):
  • אַתֶּם (attem): You (plural, referring to the Levites). בֵּיתְכֶ֑ם (betkhem): Your household/family. This broadens the permission, ensuring that not only the ministering Levite but also his entire family—including wives, children, and servants—are fully provided for. This comprehensive provision alleviates any need for Levites to engage in other occupations to support their families, allowing full dedication to their service.
• for it is your reward (כִּֽי־ה֤וּא שָׂכָר֙ לָכֶ֔ם - ki-hu sakhar lakhem):
  • כִּֽי (ki): For, because (introduces the reason). שָׂכָר (sakhar): Reward, wages, hire, payment. This is a crucial declaration. The tithes received are not mere charity or a casual gift, but a direct, earned compensation—a just wage—for their dedicated labor. This reinforces the dignity of their divine vocation and ensures they receive appropriate recompense.
• for your service (עֲבֹדַתְכֶ֖ם - avodatkhem):
  • עֲבֹדָה (avodah): Service, labor, work, worship. This rich Hebrew term encapsulates the multifaceted duties of the Levites, from physically carrying and dismantling the Tabernacle to assisting priests in rituals and potentially teaching the Law. It emphasizes that the provision is contingent upon and directly related to their active, consecrated performance of duties.
• in the tent of meeting (בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד - be'ohel mo'ed):
  • אֹ֣הֶל (ohel): Tent (Tabernacle). מוֹעֵ֑ד (mo'ed): Meeting, appointed place/time. This specifies the exact sphere of their service. Their labor is directly tied to the divine sanctuary, the appointed place where God met with His people. This confirms the sacred, divinely ordained nature of their work and the legitimacy of their reward.

Words-group analysis:

• "And ye shall eat it in every place, you and your households": This phrase defines the extent and liberty of their sustenance. It underlines that the food (tithes) given to them becomes non-sacred after their heave offering to the priests, enabling free consumption anywhere by all members of their household. This contrasts sharply with the stricter consumption rules for some priestly portions.
• "for it is your reward for your service": This clarifies the theological and practical basis for their provision. It is presented as a just and divine payment, directly compensating them for their committed labor for the Lord, preventing them from being dependent on other means of livelihood.
• "in the tent of meeting": This clause provides the geographical and functional scope of their ministry. Their service is intrinsically linked to the central place of worship, signifying the divine appointment of their roles and therefore the divine validation of their compensation.

Numbers 18 31 Bonus section

The regulations concerning Levitical portions illustrate a deliberate divine choice to separate the priestly and Levitical tribes from typical land-based livelihoods, allowing them full devotion to their unique spiritual functions. This verse specifically addresses the "heave offering" (terumah) the Levites offer from their tithes to the priests, and then implicitly refers to the remainder of the tithes they keep. The clear distinction that this portion can be eaten "in every place" highlights its practical function as common, nourishing food, differing from other highly consecrated offerings that must be consumed within the Tabernacle courts by the priests. This model served as a prototype for ministerial support, emphasizing that service to God is valuable labor that merits proper, dignified remuneration, empowering individuals to dedicate their lives fully to spiritual responsibilities without material destitution for themselves or their families.

Numbers 18 31 Commentary

Numbers 18:31 is pivotal in establishing the economic structure for the Levites within ancient Israel. It confirms God's faithful provision for those consecrated to His service, ensuring they are free from the need to acquire land or engage in secular trades. By allowing them to consume their portions "in every place" and specifying that it includes "your households," the verse highlights a practical and comprehensive support system designed to cover their entire families without geographical restrictions associated with sacred food. The description of this provision as their "reward" (שָׂכָר, sakhar) for "service" (עֲבֹדָה, avodah) elevates their sustenance beyond mere sustenance to a dignified compensation for sacred labor performed in God's dwelling place. This foundational principle, that those who minister spiritually are worthy of material support, echoes throughout the Old and New Testaments, laying the groundwork for how God provides for His servants in every generation. It assures that God values and reciprocates faithful devotion.