Numbers 3:9 kjv
And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
Numbers 3:9 nkjv
And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are given entirely to him from among the children of Israel.
Numbers 3:9 niv
Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.
Numbers 3:9 esv
And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel.
Numbers 3:9 nlt
Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been given from among all the people of Israel to serve as their assistants.
Numbers 3 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 3:6 | "Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest..." | Levites assist Aaron in the tabernacle. |
| Num 3:12 | "I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn..." | Levites chosen by God to replace the firstborn. |
| Num 3:45 | "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel..." | Further confirmation of Levites as a substitute for firstborn redemption. |
| Num 8:6 | "Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them." | God's instruction for Levite purification before service. |
| Num 8:16 | "For they are wholly given to Me from among the people of Israel." | Reiterates their dedication directly to God. |
| Num 8:19 | "...and give them to Aaron and his sons..." | Explicitly states their being given to the priests for service. |
| Num 18:2 | "And let your relatives, the tribe of Levi, your ancestral tribe, come near..." | Levites are helpers and join with the priesthood. |
| Num 18:6 | "Behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel; they are a gift to you..." | Confirms Levites as a divine gift to the priests. |
| Deut 10:8 | "At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark..." | Separation of Levi for specific sacred duties, including the Ark. |
| 1 Chr 23:27 | "For according to the last instructions of David, the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward," | David organizes and confirms Levites' service role. |
| 1 Chr 23:28 | "For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD..." | Confirms Levite duty to assist Aaronic priesthood. |
| Josh 21:3 | "...the people of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance cities..." | Levites receive no tribal land, highlighting their non-material inheritance/role. |
| Deut 18:5 | "...for the LORD your God has chosen him from all your tribes, to stand ministering in the name of the LORD..." | Highlights the divine election of the priestly line (and by extension, Levites). |
| Gen 49:7 | "I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel." | The prophetic curse on Levi for violence, turned into a blessing of unique service. |
| Exod 32:26 | "Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered around him." | Levites' zeal for God at the Golden Calf, often seen as reason for their dedication. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth..." | Highlighting the spiritual responsibility of the priestly/Levitical line. |
| Rom 12:1 | "...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God..." | Christian principle of wholehearted dedication to God's service. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood..." | New Covenant believers share in a collective priesthood. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." | All believers in Christ are set apart for spiritual service to God. |
| Heb 7:12 | "For when there is a change in the priesthood, there must also be a change in the law." | Points to the transitory nature of the Levitical priesthood, fulfilled in Christ. |
| Heb 10:11-12 | "And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices...But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down..." | Christ's finished work fulfills and replaces the old covenant Levitical sacrifices. |
| Acts 6:3 | "Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute...whom we will appoint to this duty." | Parallel of setting apart individuals for specific ministry within the Church. |
| 1 Cor 9:13 | "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple?" | Principle of supporting those dedicated to full-time spiritual ministry. |
Numbers 3 verses
Numbers 3 9 Meaning
Numbers 3:9 signifies a profound divine arrangement in ancient Israel, where the tribe of Levi, specifically identified as the Levites, were solemnly appointed and permanently entrusted by God through Moses to Aaron and his sons. Their purpose was to serve as helpers to the Aaronic priesthood in the sacred duties of the Tabernacle and, later, the Temple. The phrase "wholly given" underscores their complete dedication and exclusive assignment, setting them apart from the other tribes for sacred service, not by human design but by divine command and ordination.
Numbers 3 9 Context
Numbers 3 details the first census of the Levites, who were uniquely designated by God for sacred service to the Tabernacle and to assist the Aaronic priesthood. This chapter immediately follows the initial organization of the Israelite camp and the establishment of the Aaronic line as the designated priests. The broader context of Numbers reveals the divine order for Israel's journey through the wilderness, emphasizing God's meticulous care for the structure and function of worship. By assigning the Levites to the priests, God ensured the practical administration of Tabernacle duties while preserving the unique sanctity of the priesthood. This specific arrangement also replaced the traditional right of the firstborn to serve the Lord (Exod 13:2), underscoring a foundational shift in divine service and sanctification.
Numbers 3 9 Word analysis
- And: Connects this command with previous instructions, indicating continuity in God's ordered plan for Israel's spiritual leadership and service.
- thou shalt give: The Hebrew verb natan (נָתַן) is a command given to Moses, the human mediator. It highlights the divine initiative and Moses's role in executing God's will. This is not a human or tribal decision, but a divinely ordained transfer of possession and responsibility.
- the Levites: (הַלְוִיִּם, ha-Leviim) - Refers collectively to the descendants of Levi. They are singled out from the other tribes, not for material inheritance but for a spiritual purpose directly connected to the Tabernacle and its service.
- unto Aaron and to his sons: Specifically designates the recipients of the Levites' service – the High Priest and the priestly family. This establishes a hierarchy and a complementary relationship where the Levites are subservient to and assist the Aaronic priesthood. Their role is to facilitate the priests' sacred functions.
- they are wholly given: The Hebrew phrase is netunim netunim (נְתוּנִים נְתוּנִים), using a doubled participial form of natan. This intensive construction emphasizes complete, absolute, and irrevocable dedication. It conveys a sense of permanency, unique possession, and specific, singular purpose. It is not a partial gift or a temporary assignment, but a full and unreserved entrusting.
- unto him: The singular pronoun emphasizes Aaron as the head of the priestly family, indicating that the Levites serve under his authority and direction, which is itself divinely established.
- out of the children of Israel: (מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, mi-tokh b'nei Yisrael) - This phrase highlights their origin from within the broader Israelite community while simultaneously emphasizing their distinct separation and special status. They are drawn out from the nation for a unique, dedicated role, distinguishing them from the other tribes whose focus would be on territorial inheritance and tribal duties. This also implies that their "giving" involved a transition from common tribal life to a life of exclusive sacred service.
Numbers 3 9 Bonus section
The Levites, by being "wholly given" to the priests, were consequently not allotted a tribal land inheritance as the other tribes were (Num 26:62, Josh 13:33). Their "inheritance" was the Lord Himself, and their service was their means of sustenance through the offerings of Israel (Num 18:20-24, Deut 10:9). This arrangement underscores a fundamental theological principle: divine service often involves detachment from worldly pursuits and reliance on God's provision. The emphasis on the Levites replacing the firstborn (Num 3:12) highlights God's sovereignty in selecting and dedicating servants to Himself, transitioning from a universal sanctification (firstborn of all Israel) to a specific, appointed group (Levites) for ongoing, structured service.
Numbers 3 9 Commentary
Numbers 3:9 is a foundational verse articulating the specific, divinely mandated role of the Levites in ancient Israel. Their appointment "wholly given" to Aaron and his sons underscored their dedicated service to the priesthood, ensuring the orderly and holy conduct of Tabernacle worship. This was God's solution to facilitate priestly duties, making sure that sacred responsibilities were properly managed without overburdening the high priest and his sons, and protecting the wider community from accidental profanation. The Levites thus functioned as the essential support staff for the sacred work. Their designation highlights the principle of divine calling and specific assignment within God's ordered community, where different individuals or groups are set apart for distinct functions that contribute to the overall purposes of God's Kingdom. This foundational act in the Old Covenant prefigures the diverse gifting and setting apart for ministry found within the New Covenant body of Christ, where believers are called to serve according to their God-given gifts for the building up of the church and the spread of the Gospel. For instance, like the Levites were wholly given, believers are called to be living sacrifices, wholly dedicated to God (Rom 12:1).