Numbers 8:6 kjv
Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
Numbers 8:6 nkjv
"Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially.
Numbers 8:6 niv
"Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.
Numbers 8:6 esv
"Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them.
Numbers 8:6 nlt
"Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean.
Numbers 8 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:50-53 | But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle... to carry all its utensils... | Levites' specific charge over the Tabernacle. |
| Num 3:6-9 | Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron... to minister... | Levites given to Aaron as assistants. |
| Num 3:11-13 | Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel... | Levites substituted for the firstborn. |
| Num 8:14 | Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel... | Explicit command to separate them for God. |
| Num 18:2-6 | They are to care for your needs and the needs of the whole tent... | Details of Levites' duties and limitations. |
| Exod 29:4-9 | Then bring Aaron and his sons... wash them with water... | Priestly consecration includes washing. |
| Lev 8:6 | And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. | Physical cleansing as a consecration step. |
| Deut 33:8-10 | Of Levi he said, "Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one..." | Levi's faithfulness to God's laws and service. |
| Ps 24:3-4 | Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?... He who has clean hands... | Purity required to approach God. |
| Isa 1:16 | "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds..." | Prophetic call for moral and spiritual cleansing. |
| Zech 13:1 | "On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David..." | Future cleansing from sin and impurity. |
| John 13:8-10 | Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." | Christ's cleansing foreshadowing spiritual purity. |
| Acts 6:3-6 | ...select from among you seven men of good repute... and we will appoint... | Setting apart individuals for specific service. |
| Heb 9:13-14 | For if the blood of goats... purifies for the cleansing of the flesh... | Christ's blood cleansing the conscience. |
| Heb 10:22 | Let us draw near with a true heart... having our bodies washed with pure... | Call to spiritual purity for new covenant access. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | ...but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. | Believers are called to holiness. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation... | New Covenant believers as a "royal priesthood." |
| Titus 2:14 | ...who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify | Christ's work in purifying His people. |
| Eph 5:25-27 | ...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might... | Christ sanctifies and cleanses the church. |
| Rom 12:1-2 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present... | Presenting ourselves as holy, living sacrifices. |
| 2 Tim 2:21 | Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable... | Personal cleansing for useful service. |
| Mal 3:3 | He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the... | Future purification of the sons of Levi (spiritual). |
| 1 Cor 6:11 | And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified... | Believers' past transformation and spiritual washing. |
Numbers 8 verses
Numbers 8 6 Meaning
Numbers 8:6 issues a divine command to Moses to select the Levites from among the Israelite community and ritually purify them. This instruction marks their formal separation and preparation for exclusive service in the Tabernacle, underscoring their unique, divinely ordained role within the covenant community.
Numbers 8 6 Context
Numbers chapter 8 focuses on the practical details of the Levites' dedication and service within the Tabernacle. Following earlier chapters detailing their census (Ch. 3), duties (Ch. 4), and general allocation to the priests (Num 3:6-9), this verse initiates the specific ritual for their official inauguration. Historically, the Israelites were encamped in the wilderness, establishing the patterns of worship and societal order as directed by Yahweh. The original audience would understand the critical importance of ritual purity and separation for anything associated with the sacred Tabernacle, as it represented God's holy presence among them. The Levites' distinct separation for Tabernacle service protected the people from unwittingly violating God's holiness by improper approach.
Numbers 8 6 Word analysis
- "Take" (תִּקַּח tiqqach): This verb is a direct command, in the imperfect tense but used for an imperative, indicating a clear divine instruction given to Moses. It signifies God's active choice and initiation in setting the Levites apart, emphasizing that their service is by divine appointment, not human selection or voluntary enlistment.
- "the Levites" (אֶת-הַלְוִיִּם ʾet-haLwiyyim): Refers to the male members of the tribe of Levi. Their identity and lineage were crucial, as they were chosen to perform specific services related to the Tabernacle in lieu of Israel's firstborn (Num 3:11-13). This designated tribal role highlighted a principle of delegated responsibility for sacred duties.
- "from among" (מִתּוֹךְ mittōḵ): This preposition indicates a drawing out or extraction from the midst of. It emphasizes the physical and spiritual separation of the Levites from the general population of Israel. This distinction was critical for maintaining the sanctity of the Tabernacle and its service, preventing the defilement of holiness by common, unconsecrated contact.
- "the children of Israel" (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל benē Yisrāʾēl): This phrase designates the broader covenant community from which the Levites are drawn. It reiterates that despite their special designation, the Levites remained integral to Israel, albeit with a unique and sacred function within that community.
- "and cleanse them" (וְטִהַרְתָּ אֹתָם wəṭihartā ʾōṯām): The verb tahar (טהר) signifies "to be clean," "to purify," or "to pronounce clean." This phrase indicates that ritual purification is a prerequisite for their consecrated service. This cleansing involved specific physical actions detailed in subsequent verses (washing with water, shaving the body, sprinkling sin offering water), ensuring ritual fitness to approach the holy space and God's presence without incurring judgment. It's a purification from ritual defilement, essential for holy duty.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "Take the Levites": This phrase highlights God's sovereignty and initiative in choosing individuals for sacred service. It communicates that their induction into service is a divine act, not based on self-appointment or human merit, thus setting them apart with unique divine authority.
- "from among the children of Israel": This emphasizes their separation and distinct status. While originating from Israel, they were consecrated for a particular purpose, creating a sacred boundary that underscored their specific holy function and prevented unauthorized access to holy things.
- "and cleanse them": This segment underscores the essential nature of purification for sacred service. Without being ritually cleansed, they could not legitimately approach or handle the holy objects of the Tabernacle. This act ritualistically prepared them to participate in activities that bridged the gap between the mundane and the holy, a symbolic foreshadowing of the need for spiritual purification for those who serve God.
Numbers 8 6 Bonus section
The purification rites for the Levites, while similar, were less elaborate than those for the Aaronite priests, underscoring their distinct but subservient role. Their purification was a necessary step not for priesthood itself, but for being God's special assistants within the Tabernacle, preventing desecration and allowing proper maintenance of the divine dwelling. This demonstrates God's meticulous care for order, holiness, and precise execution in His worship system, emphasizing that serving a holy God demands intentional preparation and consecration, which points to the ultimate and final purification found only in Christ Jesus.
Numbers 8 6 Commentary
Numbers 8:6 is foundational to the Levites' consecrated status. It articulates God's specific command for Moses to formally separate the Levites from the rest of Israel and perform rituals of purification upon them. This was not a minor detail but a crucial step in maintaining the sanctity of the Tabernacle worship. The act of "taking" emphasizes divine selection, distinct from common Israelite identity. The subsequent command to "cleanse" signifies that access to divine service requires ritual, outward purification—a prerequisite to functioning within a holy sphere. This sets a paradigm that all who serve God must be distinctly set apart and ritually, and eventually spiritually, pure, ready for sacred duties. This ancient directive points forward to the comprehensive spiritual purification found through the blood of Jesus Christ, by which believers are not only set apart but truly made holy to serve God in spirit and truth (Heb 9:14, 1 Pet 2:9).