Deuteronomy 12:19

and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, giving instructions for centralized worship and sacrificial meals before they cross the Jordan. The command immediately follows Deuteronomy 12:18, which mandates sharing celebratory food with the Levites at the chosen place.

The words — הִשָּׁמֵר (hiššāmer, "take heed") and עָזַב (‘āzav, "neglect") form the core imperative warning. The phrase כָּל־יָמֶיךָ (kol-yāmēkā, "all your days") ties the obligation to the full duration of their settlement in the land.

The thread — The text explicitly repeats the command in Deuteronomy 14:27, which adds that the Levite has no land inheritance. The same concern appears in 2 Chronicles 31:4 and Nehemiah 10:34, where post-exilic communities restore Levite provisions to maintain worship practices.

Why it lands — The verse states a direct prohibition against ignoring the Levites while living in the land. It requires readers to budget time and resources for a non-inheriting tribe rather than treating their support as discretionary.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

הִשָּׁ֣מֶרhi.Sha.mertake heedלְךָ֔le./Khato/ yourselfפֶּֽן־pen-lest תַּעֲזֹ֖בta.'a.Zoyou should neglect אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַלֵּוִ֑יha./le.Vithe/ Levite כָּל־kol-all יָמֶ֖יךָya.Mei./khadays/ your עַל־'al-on אַדְמָתֶֽךָ׃ ס'ad.ma.Te./khaland/ your

King James Version

Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 31:4 Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.
Nehemiah 10:34 We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.
Deuteronomy 14:27 And do not neglect the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.
2 Chronicles 11:13 Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.
1 Corinthians 9:10 Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.