Numbers 3 10

Numbers 3:10 kjv

And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Numbers 3:10 nkjv

So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their priesthood; but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death."

Numbers 3:10 niv

Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death."

Numbers 3:10 esv

And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death."

Numbers 3:10 nlt

Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the sanctuary must be put to death."

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 10 Meaning

Numbers 3:10 mandates that only Aaron and his direct descendants are authorized to serve as priests in the Tabernacle. This divine appointment bestows upon them the exclusive responsibility to guard and perform the sacred duties of the priesthood. Any person not belonging to this consecrated Aaronic lineage, termed an "outsider," who dares to approach or assume priestly functions, will face immediate capital punishment, a divine judgment underscoring the absolute holiness of God and the gravity of violating His divinely established order.

Numbers 3 10 Context

Numbers chapter 3 describes the census of the Levites and their assigned roles in serving the Tabernacle, taking the place of the firstborn males of Israel. The verse is situated immediately after the introduction of Aaron and Moses's lineage and prior to detailing the specific duties of the different Levite clans (Gershon, Kohath, Merari). Historically, after the construction of the Tabernacle and the consecration of Aaron and his sons in Exodus, this passage delineates the administrative and operational structure for its service, emphasizing precision and divine order. This exclusivity and the strict warning against "outsiders" highlight the immense holiness of God and the sacred nature of His dwelling place, differentiating Israelite worship from pagan practices where priestly roles might be more fluid or self-appointed.

Numbers 3 10 Word analysis

• And you shall appoint (וּפְקַדְתָּה - u-p̄əqaḏtāh): From the root פקד (paqad), meaning more than just "appoint." It carries connotations of commissioning, mustering, taking account of, giving charge to, or specifically designating with responsibility. Here, it denotes Moses's role in formally establishing and enforcing God's mandate. It implies divine authority flowing through Moses.
• Aaron and his sons: Refers specifically to Aaron's biological descendants, establishing the hereditary nature of the priesthood. This lineage-based designation ensures a consistent and divinely recognized succession, preventing human caprice or political influence from determining access to God's presence.
• and they shall keep (וְשָׁמְרוּ - vəšāmərû): From the root שמר (shamar), meaning to guard, preserve, watch over, observe. This signifies vigilance and careful adherence to the responsibilities and boundaries of their office. It implies not only performing duties but also protecting the sanctity of the priesthood itself.
• their priesthood (אֶת־כְּהֻנָּתָם - ʾeṯ-kəhunnāṯām): From כהונה (kəhūnāh), referring to their divinely bestowed sacred office and functions, particularly mediating between God and Israel through rituals, sacrifices, and instruction. This "priesthood" is a singular, weighty, and divinely distinct role.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons": This phrase emphasizes the divine initiative and Moses's executory role in establishing the unique, familial nature of the priesthood. It's a declaration of divine selection and ordination.
• "and they shall keep their priesthood": This highlights the continuous duty of vigilance and faithful performance incumbent upon the Aaronic line. Their role is not just to "do" but to "guard" and "maintain" the sacred office in accordance with God's commands.
• "and any outsider" (וְהַזָּר - vəhazzār): From זר (zar), meaning strange, foreign, unauthorized, or profane. This term is critical, as it does not merely refer to a non-Israelite but anyone not of the consecrated Aaronic lineage, whether from another tribe of Israel or even a Levite not a son of Aaron. It speaks to a divinely established internal boundary within Israel regarding sacred office.
• "who comes near" (הַקָּרֵב - haqqārev): From קרב (qarav), to approach, draw near, come into proximity. In cultic contexts, "coming near" refers specifically to approaching the sanctuary, altar, or performing ritual functions. This implies an unauthorized attempt to assume priestly duties or to access the holy spaces without proper divine authorization.
• "shall be put to death" (מוּת יוּמָת - mûṯ yûmāṯ): This is an intensive Hebrew idiom (infinitive absolute followed by the imperfect form of the verb) signifying absolute certainty and severity of punishment: "dying he shall die" or "he shall surely be put to death." This underscores the extreme gravity of transgressing God's holiness and appointed order concerning the Tabernacle and its sacred service. It’s a divine judgment, not merely a human punitive measure.

Numbers 3 10 Bonus section

The concept of "outsider" (zar) extends beyond just ritual context to also describe profane fire or things considered strange to God's ways (e.g., strange gods). This amplifies the idea that any deviation from God's precise instructions regarding sacred matters, particularly His dwelling and service, renders an action or person "unauthorized" or "alien" to His divine order, thereby incurring judgment. The extreme penalty (death) serves as a potent pedagogical tool, imprinting upon Israel the crucial distinction between the holy and the common, between divinely prescribed access and unauthorized intrusion, a lesson essential for a covenant community learning to live in proximity to a holy God. This exclusivity of access in the Old Covenant beautifully prefigures the single exclusive access found in the New Covenant through Christ, where the barrier is removed not by individual worthiness, but by the ultimate authorized sacrifice of our Great High Priest.

Numbers 3 10 Commentary

Numbers 3:10 stands as a foundational decree for the functioning of Israel's covenant worship, establishing an impermeable boundary around the sacred office of the priesthood. The precise language reveals God's meticulous care for His dwelling place and His holy nature. The designation of Aaron and his sons as exclusive priests was not an arbitrary preference but a divinely revealed necessity for mediating between a holy God and an imperfect people. This ensured that approach to God was conducted solely on His terms, through His appointed representatives, maintaining purity and order in the nascent community.

The stark penalty of "death" for any "outsider" serves multiple purposes: it demonstrates God's absolute holiness, safeguarding His presence from defilement; it protects the people by impressing upon them the seriousness of their relationship with God, preventing casual or presumptuous access; and it clearly differentiates the unique, God-ordained Israelite priesthood from surrounding pagan practices where religious offices might be less distinct or more open to human ambition. This stern warning highlights that salvation and mediation come only through divine initiative and prescribed means, foreshadowing the singular, unchallengeable high priesthood of Jesus Christ, through whom all believers now have access.