Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, November 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Green's Literal Translation

2 Chronicles 29:34

Only, the priests had become few, and were not able to skin all of the burnt offerings; and their brothers the Levites strengthened them until the work was ended, and until the priests sanctified themselves; for the Levites were moreupright of heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Form;   Levites;   Minister, Christian;   Obedience;   Priest;   Thompson Chain Reference - Levites;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Priests;   Temple, the First;   Uprightness;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Sanctification;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Sacrifice and Offering;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Hezekiah;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Flay, to;   Levites ;   Offerings, the;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Levi;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Hezekiah;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Levites;   Priest;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Priests and Levites;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Burnt Offering;   Hezekiah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
However, since there were not enough priests, they weren’t able to skin all the burnt offerings, so their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests were.
Hebrew Names Version
But the Kohanim were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: therefore their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and until the Kohanim had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the Kohanim.
King James Version
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
English Standard Version
But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves.
New Century Version
There were not enough priests to skin all the animals for the burnt offerings. So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and other priests could be made holy. The Levites had been more careful to make themselves holy for the Lord 's service than the priests.
New English Translation
But there were not enough priests to skin all the animals, so their brothers, the Levites, helped them until the work was finished and the priests could consecrate themselves. (The Levites had been more conscientious about consecrating themselves than the priests.)
Amplified Bible
But there were too few priests and they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; so until the other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers, the Levites, helped them until the work was done. For the Levites were more upright in heart and more conscientious than the priests in consecrating themselves.
New American Standard Bible
But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was finished and the other priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests.
World English Bible
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: therefore their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But the Priests were too few, and were not able to flay all the burnt offrings: therefore their brethren the Leuites did helpe them, til they had ended the worke, & vntill other Priests were sanctified: for the Leuites were more vpright in heart to sanctifie themselues, then the Priests.
Legacy Standard Bible
But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until the other priests had set themselves apart as holy. For the Levites were more upright of heart to set themselves apart as holy than the priests.
Berean Standard Bible
However, since there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings, their Levite brothers helped them until the work was finished and until the priests had been consecrated. For the Levites had been more diligent in consecrating themselves than the priests had been.
Contemporary English Version
There were not enough priests to skin all these animals, because many of the priests had not taken the time to go through the ceremony to make themselves clean. However, since all the Levites had made themselves clean, they helped the priests until the last animal was skinned.
Complete Jewish Bible
Only there weren't enough cohanim to skin and butcher all the burnt offerings, so their colleagues the L'vi'im assisted them until the work was finished and the cohanim had consecrated themselves (for the L'vi'im had been more diligent to consecrate themselves than the cohanim).
Darby Translation
Only the priests were too few, and they could not flay all the burnt-offerings; therefore their brethren the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and until the priests had hallowed themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to hallow themselves than the priests.
Easy-to-Read Version
But there were not enough priests to skin and cut up all the animals for the burnt offerings. So their relatives, the Levites, helped them until the work was finished and until other priests could make themselves ready for holy service. The Levites had been more serious than the priests about making themselves ready to serve.
George Lamsa Translation
But the priests were too few, so that they could not slay all the burnt offerings; therefore their brethren, the Levites, helped them until the work was finished, and after this the priests sanctified themselves; for the Levites were meek in their hearts to sanctify themselves more than the priests.
Good News Translation
Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. (The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were.)
Lexham English Bible
But the priests were too few, and they were not able to offer all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, strengthened them to finish the work, and until the rest of the priests consecrated themselves. (For the Levites were more conscientious to sanctify themselves than the priests.)
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But the prestes were to fewe, and coulde not pluck of the skynnes of all the burnt offerynges, therfore toke they their brethren the Leuites, tyll the worke was fynished, and tyll the prestes were halowed (for the Leuites are easier to be halowed then the prestes)
American Standard Version
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt-offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
Bible in Basic English
There were not enough priests for the work of cutting up all the burned offerings; so their brothers the Levites gave them help till the work was done and the priests had made themselves holy: for the Levites were more upright in heart to make themselves holy than the priests.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the priestes were to fewe to flay al the burnt offringes: but their brethren the Leuites did helpe them, till they had ended the worke, & vntil the priestes were sanctified: For the Leuites were purer hearted to be sanctified, then the priestes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt-offerings; wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
King James Version (1611)
But the Priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Leuites did helpe them, till the worke was ended, and vntill the other Priestes had sanctified themselues: for the Leuites were more vpright in heart, to sanctifie themselues, then the Priests.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But the priests were few, and could not flay the whole-burnt-offering, so their brethren the Levites helped them, until the work was finished, and until the priests had purified themselves: for the Levites more zealously purified themselves than the priests.
English Revised Version
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe the preestis weren fewe, and myyten not suffice for to `drawe awei the skynnes of brent sacrifices; wherfor and the dekenes her britheren helpiden hem, til the werk was fillid, and the preestis weren halewid; for the dekenes ben halewid bi liytere custom than the preestis.
Update Bible Version
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt-offerings: therefore their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
Webster's Bible Translation
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt-offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites helped them, till the work was ended, and until the [other] priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites [were] more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
New King James Version
But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more diligent in sanctifying themselves than the priests.
New Living Translation
But there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings. So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and more priests had been purified, for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been.
New Life Bible
But there were not enough religious leaders to skin all the burnt gifts. So their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was finished, and until all the religious leaders had made themselves holy. For the Levites put more care into making themselves holy than the religious leaders.
New Revised Standard
But the priests were too few and could not skin all the burnt offerings, so, until other priests had sanctified themselves, their kindred, the Levites, helped them until the work was finished—for the Levites were more conscientious than the priests in sanctifying themselves.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Only, the priests, were too few, and were unable to flay all the ascending-sacrifices, - so their brethren the Levites strengthened them, until the work was complete and until the priests had hallowed themselves, for, the Levites, were more upright in heart to hallow themselves, than the priests.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the priests were few, and were not enough to flay the holocausts: wherefore the Levites their brethren helped them, till the work was ended, and priests were sanctified, for the Levites are sanctified with an easier rite than the priests.
Revised Standard Version
But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had sanctified themselves their brethren the Levites helped them, until the work was finished--for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in sanctifying themselves.
Young's Literal Translation
Only, the priests have become few, and have not been able to strip the whole of the burnt-offerings, and their brethren the Levites strengthen them till the completion of the work, and till the priests sanctify themselves, for the Levites [are] more upright of heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until the other priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests.

Contextual Overview

20 And Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the heads of the city, and went up to the house of Jehovah. 21 And they brought in seven bulls, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven young he goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the holy place, and for Judah. And he commanded the sons of Aaron, the priests, to offer on the altar ofJehovah. 22 And they killed the oxen, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled the blood on the altar. And they killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood on the altar. And they killed the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar. 23 And they brought the he-goats of the sin offering before the king and the congregation, and they laid their hands on them; 24 and the priests slaughtered them, and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to atone for all Israel; for the king said, The burnt offering and the sin offering are for all Israel. 25 And he made the Levites stand in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, by the command of David, and of Gad, the seer of the king, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was by the hand of Jehovah, by the hand ofHis prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer burnt offering on the altar; and at the time the burnt offering began, the song of Jehovah began, and of the trumpets, even by the hand of the instruments of David the king of Israel. 28 And all the congregation were bowing, and the singers singing, and the trumpeters blowing; all until the completion of the burnt offering. 29 And at the completion of the offering the king and all those found with him bowed and worshiped.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the priests: Peace offerings, and such like, the Levites might flay and dress; but the whole burnt offerings could only be touched by the priests, except in a case of necessity, such as the present. 2 Chronicles 29:5, 2 Chronicles 30:16, 2 Chronicles 30:17

their brethren: 2 Chronicles 35:11, Numbers 8:15, Numbers 8:19, Numbers 18:3, Numbers 18:6, Numbers 18:7

did help them: Heb. strengthened them

for the Levites: 2 Chronicles 30:3

upright: 1 Chronicles 29:17, Psalms 7:10, Psalms 26:6, Psalms 94:15

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:10 - sanctify 2 Kings 12:6 - the priests 1 Chronicles 15:14 - sanctified 2 Chronicles 5:11 - sanctified 2 Chronicles 30:15 - were ashamed 2 Chronicles 30:24 - a great 2 Chronicles 35:6 - sanctify Ezra 6:20 - purified together Nehemiah 12:30 - themselves Ezekiel 44:11 - shall slay Acts 6:7 - the priests

Cross-References

Genesis 29:2
And he looked, and, behold, a well in the field. And, behold, three flocks of sheep were lying by it; for from that well they watered the flocks, and the stone on the mouth of the well was great.
Genesis 29:4
And Jacob said to them, My brothers, from where are you? And they said, We are from Haran.
Genesis 29:5
And he said to them, Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him .
Genesis 29:7
And he said, Behold, the day is still high; it is not time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and go feed them .
Genesis 29:8
And they said, We are not able until all the flocks are gathered and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.
Genesis 29:10
And it happened when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, brother to his mother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of Laban, his mother'sbrother.
Genesis 29:26
And Laban said, It is not done this way in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.
Genesis 29:29
And Laban gave his slave-girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel, to her for a slave-girl.
Genesis 34:25
And it happened on the third day, they being pained, that the two sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, each took his sword. And they came on the city in its security, and killed every male.
Genesis 35:23
The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's first-born; and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings,.... Take off the skins of them, which used to be done by the priests, Leviticus 1:6,

wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them till the work was ended; assisted in the flaying of the sacrifices, until they had gone through the service of this time, and the skins of all the sacrifices were flayed off:

and until the other priests had sanctified themselves; who had been negligent of it, or had defiled themselves by idolatry:

for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests; were more ready to do it, and did it with greater cheerfulness and good will; were not backward to do it, but did it at once.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The Levites were more upright etc - See the marginal reference. Urijah, the high priest, had participated to some extent in the impieties of Ahaz 2 Kings 16:10-16. He and many of the priests may, therefore, have looked coldly on the reforming zeal of Hezekiah.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Chronicles 29:34. They could not flay all the burnt-offerings — Peace-offerings, and such like, the Levites might flay and dress; but the whole burnt-offerings, that is, those which were entirely consumed on the altar, could be touched only by the priests, unless in a case of necessity, such as is mentioned here.

The Levites were more upright in heart — The priests seem to have been very backward in this good work; the Levites were more ready to help forward this glorious reformation. Why the former should have been so backward is not easy to tell; but it appears to have been the fact. Indeed, it often happens that the higher orders of the priesthood are less concerned for the prosperity of true religion than the lower. Why is this? They are generally too busy about worldly things, or too much satisfied with secular emoluments. A rich priesthood is not favourable either to the spread or depth of religion. Earthly gratifications are often put in the place of Divine influences: it is almost a miracle to see a very rich man deeply interested in behalf either of his own soul, or the souls of others.


 
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