Numbers 18:31

And you and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere; it is the compensation for your work at the Tent of Meeting.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Moses and Aaron regarding the administrative and ritual duties of the Levites. He establishes their right to consume the remaining tithes as their designated provision.

The words — שָׂכָ֥ר (sa.Khar) translates literally as "wages" or "compensation," designating the tithe not as a voluntary gift but as earned pay for Tabernacle service.

The thread — This wage concept recurs in the New Testament where Jesus and Paul apply the principle to spiritual laborers (Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1 Corinthians 9:10).

Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that sacred service carries a material provision, shifting the focus from personal gain to divinely mandated sustenance for those who maintain the Tent of Meeting.

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

וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤םva./'a.khal.Temand/ you will eat אֹתוֹ֙'o.T/o<obj.>/ it בְּכָל־be./kholin/ any מָק֔וֹםma.Komplace אַתֶּ֖ם'a.Temyou וּבֵֽיתְכֶ֑םu./veit./Khemand/ household/ your כִּֽי־ki-for שָׂכָ֥רsa.Khar[is] wage[s]הוּא֙hu'itלָכֶ֔םla./Khemof/ youחֵ֥לֶףChe.lefin return for עֲבֹֽדַתְכֶ֖ם'a.vo.dat./Khemservice/ your בְּאֹ֥הֶלbe./'O.helin/ [the] tent of מוֹעֵֽד׃mo.'Edmeeting

King James Version

And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Cross-references

Matthew 10:10 Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.
Luke 10:7 Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
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.
1 Timothy 5:17 Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
Deuteronomy 14:22 You must be sure to set aside a tenth of all the produce brought forth each year from your fields.
2 Corinthians 12:13 In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Galatians 6:6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.