Numbers 18 7

Numbers 18:7 kjv

Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for everything of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Numbers 18:7 nkjv

Therefore you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything at the altar and behind the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood to you as a gift for service, but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death."

Numbers 18:7 niv

But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death."

Numbers 18:7 esv

And you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death."

Numbers 18:7 nlt

But you and your sons, the priests, must personally handle all the priestly rituals associated with the altar and with everything behind the inner curtain. I am giving you the priesthood as your special privilege of service. Any unauthorized person who comes too near the sanctuary will be put to death."

Numbers 18 verses

Numbers 18 7 Meaning

Numbers 18:7 declares the exclusive and divine appointment of the Aaronic priesthood to serve in the tabernacle. It outlines their specific duties, namely attending to everything concerning the altar and inside the veil, emphasizing that their sacred office is a direct gift of service from God. This verse also pronounces a severe consequence: anyone unauthorized, an "outsider," who dares to approach or usurp priestly functions, shall certainly be put to death. This powerfully underlines the holiness of God and the absolute separation of His consecrated servants and sacred spaces.

Numbers 18 7 Context

Numbers chapter 18 directly follows the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16), and the confirmation of Aaron's unique priestly authority through the blooming of his staff (Numbers 17). The context is God’s further clarification of the specific roles, responsibilities, and revenue streams for the Levites and priests, solidifying the hierarchy and separation that the rebellion sought to dismantle. God emphasizes that the tribe of Levi, and within that, the sons of Aaron, are solely designated for service in the Tabernacle. This verse specifically delineates the high responsibilities and the exclusivity of the priestly functions for Aaron and his sons, preventing any further challenges to their divinely appointed roles and maintaining the sanctity of the Lord’s dwelling. The strict warning about the "outsider" underscores the extreme holiness of God's presence and the gravity of the priestly duties.

Numbers 18 7 Word analysis

• "But" (אַ֗תָּה - 'attah, conjunction/pronoun): Signifies a transition or distinction, specifically contrasting Aaron's responsibilities with the Levites' assisting role mentioned just prior (Num 18:6).
• "you and your sons with you" (אַ֗תָּה וּבָנֶיךָ עִמָּךְ - 'attah uvaneikha 'immakh): Addresses Aaron directly, along with his male descendants. This explicitly designates the hereditary and exclusive nature of the priestly office to Aaron's lineage, not just Aaron himself, for all future generations.
• "shall attend to your priesthood" (תִּשְׁמְרוּ אֶת־כְּהֻנַּתְכֶם - tishmeru 'et-kehunnatchem):
  • "attend to" / "keep" (שָׁמַר - shamar): Implies careful guarding, watching over, observing, preserving. It's a vigilant, responsible stewardship of the sacred office. This isn't merely passive occupation but active maintenance and adherence to divine regulations.
  • "your priesthood" (כְּהֻנַּתְכֶם - kehunnatchem): The office and function of the priest, which involved mediating between God and man, offering sacrifices, teaching the law, and maintaining the sanctuary. It signifies an established, unique vocation.
• "for everything concerning the altar" (לְכֹל דְּבַר הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - lekhol devar hammizbeakh): The altar (מִזְבֵּחַ - mizbeakh) was central to Israel's worship, where sacrifices for atonement, communion, and worship were offered. Priestly duties included animal slaughter, handling blood, burning sacrifices, and maintaining the fire.
• "and inside the veil" (וּלְמִבֵּית לַפָּרֹכֶת - ulimmibeit lapparokhet):
  • "inside" (מִבֵּית - mibbeit): The inner part, specifying location.
  • "the veil" (פָּרֹכֶת - parokhet): The thick curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies) where the Ark of the Covenant resided, symbolizing God's immediate presence. Only the High Priest could enter once a year on Yom Kippur. This emphasizes the most sacred and restricted aspect of their service, primarily for Aaron himself.
• "and you shall serve" (וַעֲבַדְתֶּם - va'avadtem):
  • "serve" (עָבַד - 'avad): To work, labor, minister, render service. This underscores the active nature of their priestly duties, implying dedication and toil. It’s not just a status but a demanding role.
• "I give your priesthood as a gift of service" (מַתְּנַת כְּהֻנַּתְכֶם אֲנִי נָתַתִּי אֶת־כְּהֻנַּתְכֶם לַעֲבֹדָה - mattnat kehunnatkhem 'ani natati 'et-kehunnatkhem la'avodah):
  • "I give... as a gift" (נָתַתִּי... מַתְּנַת - natati... mattnat): God explicitly states His sovereign hand in bestowing this office. It is not earned or taken by human initiative but freely given by divine decree.
  • "of service" (לַעֲבֹדָה - la'avodah): Reaffirms that this gift is specifically for the purpose of carrying out the sacred duties, reiterating that the honor is inextricably linked to the demanding work.
• "and any outsider who comes near" (וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב - vehazzar haqqarev):
  • "outsider" / "foreigner" (זָר - zar): Someone unauthorized, not of the consecrated priestly or even Levitical lineage for the specific task at hand. This refers to anyone outside of Aaron's chosen line for priestly duties, or anyone not Levitical for Levitical duties, who would infringe on their specific tasks.
  • "who comes near" (הַקָּרֵב - haqqarev): To approach, draw near, indicating an act of encroaching on sacred space or usurping sacred function. It's a deliberate act of trespass.
• "shall be put to death" (יוּמָת - yumat): Emphatic Hophal perfect verb "he shall be caused to die." This is a severe, absolute, and certain pronouncement of judgment directly from God, indicating the gravity of violating God's holy order and presence. This reinforced the recent judgments upon Korah and others.

Words-group analysis

• "But you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood... and you shall serve.": This phrase establishes the unique and exclusive authority and responsibility given to the Aaronic lineage. It highlights both their divine election and their ongoing duty. The priesthood is a trust (attending) and a labor (serving).
• "for everything concerning the altar and inside the veil": These specify the two core domains of the priests' most sacred responsibilities. The altar represented public access to God through sacrifice, while "inside the veil" symbolized the highest, most restricted access to God's presence, highlighting the full scope of their mediation.
• "I give your priesthood as a gift of service": This powerful statement affirms God's sovereignty. The priesthood is not an earned right or an arbitrary human choice but a divine endowment (a gift) whose purpose is specifically devoted to serving God. This counteracts any pride or sense of entitlement.
• "and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.": This stern warning concludes the verse, underscoring the extreme holiness of God's sanctuary and His unyielding demand for respect for His appointed order. It protects the sanctuary from defilement and preserves the divinely ordained roles, preventing chaos and ensuring proper, sacred worship.

Numbers 18 7 Bonus section

The severe penalty for an "outsider" encroaching upon the holy things highlights God's uncompromised holiness and the inherent danger of His presence if approached without proper sanctification and authorization. This truth is foundational across the Bible, showing God's judgment against all presumption and lawlessness (e.g., Uzzah in 2 Sam 6). While the New Covenant establishes a "royal priesthood" for all believers (1 Pet 2:9), granting direct access to God through Christ's sacrifice (Heb 10:19-22), it does not diminish the principle of respect for God-given roles and holy reverence in approaching Him. Rather, it deepens the responsibility for believers to live lives commensurate with their holy calling, understanding that spiritual service is still a gift of grace from God, not something to be presumed upon or defiled.

Numbers 18 7 Commentary

Numbers 18:7 is a pivotal statement on the sacred nature and exclusive divine appointment of the Aaronic priesthood in the Old Covenant. After significant challenges to Aaron's authority, God re-establishes the definitive boundaries of sacred service. Their role concerning the altar (public mediation through sacrifice) and inside the veil (access to God's holiest presence) underlines their unique mediatory function. Crucially, God affirms this office as a "gift of service," highlighting that priestly honor stems not from human merit or ambition, but from divine selection and a specific calling to labor. This gift carried immense responsibility. The harsh penalty for "any outsider" who came near reinforced the absolute holiness of God and His unwavering commitment to His chosen order. This served as a potent polemic against any notion that human initiative could approach God's sanctuary without specific consecration, differentiating the God of Israel from pagan deities often approached more casually. Ultimately, this verse underscores the fundamental truth that approaching a holy God requires a designated mediator, pointing forward to Christ, the ultimate High Priest, who provides new covenant believers with direct access to God.