Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Amplified Bible

Numbers 18:2

"But bring with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father (ancestor), so that they may join with you and serve you [as assistants], while you and your sons with you are before the Tent of the Testimony [the Holy Place where only priests may go, and the Most Holy Place which only the high priest may enter].

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Minister, Christian;   Priest;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Levites, the;   Tabernacle;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Tabernacle;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Priest, Christ as;   Priest, Priesthood;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Levite;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Aaron's Rod;   Levi;   Numbers, Book of;   Priests and Levites;   Stranger;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Brethren;   Levites;   Priest;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Levites ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Covenant;   Tabernacle;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Melchizedek;   Priesthood, the;   Peculiarities of the Law of Moses;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ezekiel;   Genealogy;   Levi (2);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Aaron;   Apiḳoros;   Commandments, the 613;   Korah;   Levi;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, bring you near with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you: but you and your sons with you shall be before the tent of the testimony.
King James Version
And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
Lexham English Bible
Moreover, bring your brothers with you, the tribe of Levi the tribe of your father, that they may be joined to you and minister to you, you and your sons with you before the tent of testimony.
New Century Version
Bring with you your fellow Levites from your tribe, and they will help you and your sons serve in the Tent of the Agreement.
New English Translation
"Bring with you your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may join with you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.
New American Standard Bible
"But also bring your brothers with you, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may join you and serve you, while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And bring also with thee thy brethren of the tribe of Leui of ye familie of thy father, which shalbe ioyned with thee, and minister vnto thee: but thou, and thy sonnes with thee shall minister before the Tabernacle of the Testimonie:
Legacy Standard Bible
But bring near with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may be joined with you and minister to you, while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.
Contemporary English Version
The Levites are your relatives and are here to help you in your service at the tent.
Complete Jewish Bible
But you are to bring your kinsmen, the tribe of Levi, along with yourselves, to work together with you and help you — you and your sons with you — when you are there before the tent of meeting.
Darby Translation
And thy brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring near with thee, that they may unite with thee, and minister unto thee; but thou and thy sons with thee [shall serve] before the tent of the testimony.
Easy-to-Read Version
To prevent that from happening, you must bring the rest of the men from the tribe of Levi to join you. These Levites will help you and your sons do your work in the Tent of the Agreement.
English Standard Version
And with you bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.
George Lamsa Translation
And your brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, you shall bring with you, that they may accompany you and minister to you; but you and your sons with you shall minister before the tabernacle of the testimony.
Good News Translation
Bring in your relatives, the tribe of Levi, to work with you and help you while you and your sons are serving at the Tent.
Christian Standard Bible®
But also bring your relatives with you from the tribe of Levi, your ancestral tribe, so they may join you and assist you and your sons in front of the tent of the testimony.
Literal Translation
and also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, you shall bring near with you, that they may be joined to you and may minister to you, you and your sons in your being before the tabernacle of the testimony.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But thy brethren of the trybe of Leui yi father, shal come nye the, & be ioyned vnto the, that they maye mynistre vnto ye. But thou & thy sonnes wt the, shal mynistre before ye Tabernacle of witnesse.
American Standard Version
And thy brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou near with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall be before the tent of the testimony.
Bible in Basic English
Let your brothers, the family of Levi, come near with you, so that they may be joined with you and be your servants: but you and your sons with you are to go in before the ark of witness.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And thy brethren of the tribe of Leui, & of thy fathers householde thou shalt bryng with thee, that they may be ioyned vnto thee, and minister vnto thee: but thou and thy sonnes with thee [shal minister] before the tabernacle of witnesse.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And thy brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou near with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee, thou and thy sons with thee being before the tent of the testimony.
King James Version (1611)
And thy brethren also of the tribe of Leui, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be ioyned vnto thee, and minister vnto thee: but thou and thy sonnes with thee shall minister before the Tabernacle of Witnesse.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And take to thyself thy brethren the tribe of Levi, the family of thy father, and let them be joined to thee, and let them minister to thee; and thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
English Revised Version
And thy brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou near with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall be before the tent of the testimony.
Berean Standard Bible
But bring with you also your brothers from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and assist you and your sons before the Tent of the Testimony.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But also take thou with thee thi britheren of the lynage of Leuy, and the power of thi fadir, and be thei redi, that thei mynystre to thee. Forsothe thou and thi sones schulen mynystre in the tabernacle of witnessyng;
Young's Literal Translation
and also thy brethren, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring near with thee, and they are joined unto thee, and serve thee, even thou and thy sons with thee, before the tent of the testimony.
Update Bible Version
And your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, you bring near with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you: but you and your sons with you shall be before the tent of the testimony.
Webster's Bible Translation
And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined to thee, and minister to thee: but thou and thy sons with thee [shall minister] before the tabernacle of witness.
World English Bible
Your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, bring you near with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you: but you and your sons with you shall be before the tent of the testimony.
New King James Version
Also bring with you your brethren of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may be joined with you and serve you while you and your sons are with you before the tabernacle of witness.
New Living Translation
"Bring your relatives of the tribe of Levi—your ancestral tribe—to assist you and your sons as you perform the sacred duties in front of the Tabernacle of the Covenant.
New Life Bible
Bring with you your brothers also, the family of Levi, the family of your father. Then they may join you and help you while you and your sons are in front of the meeting tent of the Law.
New Revised Standard
So bring with you also your brothers of the tribe of Levi, your ancestral tribe, in order that they may be joined to you, and serve you while you and your sons with you are in front of the tent of the covenant.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore also thy brethren of the tribe of Levi the stem of thy father, bring thou near with thee, and let them be joined unto thee, and let them wait upon thee, - both on thee and on thy sons with thee, before the tent of the testimony.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And take with thee thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, and the sceptre of thy father, and let them be ready in hand, and minister to thee: but thou and thy sons shall minister in the tabernacle of the testimony.
Revised Standard Version
And with you bring your brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you, and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But bring with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may be joined with you and serve you, while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.

Contextual Overview

1So the LORD said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your father's household (family) with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary [that is, through your service as priests you will atone for the offenses which the people unknowingly commit when brought into contact with the manifestations of God's presence]; and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood [that is, your own unintentional offenses]. 2"But bring with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father (ancestor), so that they may join with you and serve you [as assistants], while you and your sons with you are before the Tent of the Testimony [the Holy Place where only priests may go, and the Most Holy Place which only the high priest may enter].3"And the Levites shall attend to your duty [as assistants] and to the duties of all the tent (tabernacle); only they shall not approach the articles of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die. 4"They shall join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting—all the service of the tent—and no stranger [no layman, anyone who is not a Levite] may approach you [and your sons]. 5"So you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the altar [of burnt offering and the altar of incense], so that there will no longer be wrath on the Israelites [as with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram]. 6"Behold, I Myself have taken your fellow Levites from among the sons of Israel; they are a gift to you, given (dedicated) to the LORD, to do the service for the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle). 7"Therefore you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar [of burnt offering and the altar of incense] and [of the Holy of Holies] within the veil, and you are to serve. I am giving you the priesthood as a bestowed service, but the stranger (outsider, layman) who approaches shall be put to death."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

joined unto thee: There is a fine paronomasia in the original. Levi is desired from lawah, to join, couple, associate; hence Moses says, the Levites yillawoo, "shall be joined," or associated, with the priests: they shall conjointly perform the sacred office, but the priests shall be principal, the Levites their associates or assistants. Numbers 18:4, Genesis 29:34

minister: Numbers 3:6-9, Numbers 8:19, Numbers 8:22

but thou: Numbers 3:10-13, Numbers 4:15, Numbers 16:40, Numbers 17:7, 1 Chronicles 16:39, 1 Chronicles 16:40, 2 Chronicles 30:16, Ezekiel 44:15

Reciprocal: Exodus 38:21 - tabernacle of testimony Numbers 16:9 - separated 2 Chronicles 24:6 - tabernacle 2 Chronicles 29:11 - the Lord Nehemiah 10:35 - General Acts 7:44 - the tabernacle

Cross-References

Genesis 18:3
and Abraham said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass by your servant [without stopping to visit].
Genesis 18:6
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly, get ready three measures of fine meal, knead it and bake cakes."
Genesis 18:7
Abraham also ran to the herd and brought a calf, tender and choice, and he gave it to the servant [to butcher], and he hurried to prepare it.
Genesis 18:11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years; she was past [the age of] childbearing.
Genesis 18:16
Then the men got up from there, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham walked with them to send them on the way.
Genesis 19:1
It was evening when the two angels came to Sodom. Lot was sitting at Sodom's [city] gate. Seeing them, Lot got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
Genesis 23:7
So Abraham stood up and bowed to the people of the land, the Hittites.
Genesis 32:24
So Jacob was left alone, and a Man [came and] wrestled with him until daybreak.
Genesis 43:26
When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present [of tribute] which they had with them and bowed to the ground before him.
Genesis 43:28
And they answered, "Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive." And they bowed down [their heads before Joseph] in respect.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And to thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father,.... For his father Amram was of that tribe, and so the Levites were his brethren, as he is directed to consider them; which might serve to conciliate their minds, and make them easy with respect to his enjoyment of the priesthood:

bring them with thee; into the court of the tabernacle, for further they might not go:

that they maybe joined unto thee: as their name of Levites signifies, persons joined and united to others, as they were to the priests: see reason of their patriarch's name Levi in Genesis 29:34;

and minister unto thee: be assisting to the priests in killing the sacrifices, receiving the blood, and flaying the beasts, and in other things about the sanctuary, Numbers 3:6;

but thou, and thy sons with thee, [shall minister] before the tabernacle of witness; which was the most holy place, where were the ark of the testimony or witness, and the tables of the covenant; and they might be said to minister before that, when they ministered in the holy place, which was before it, when they burned incense upon the altar of incense, ordered the shewbread, and trimmed the lamps of the candlestick, which none but the priests the sons of Aaron might do.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 18:2. Thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi - may be joined unto thee — There is a fine paronomasia, or play upon words, in the original. לוי Levi comes from the root לוה lavah, to join to, couple, associate: hence Moses says, the Levites, ילוו yillavu, shall be joined, or associated with the priests; they shall conjointly perform the whole of the sacred office, but the priests shall be principal, the Levites only their associates or assistants. For an explanation of many parts of this chapter, see the notes on several of the passages referred to in the margin.


 
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