Numbers 18:6

Behold, I Myself have selected your fellow Levites from the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD to perform the service for the Tent of Meeting.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Aaron through Moses, assigning the Levites to assist the priesthood during the wilderness camp organization.

The words — The verb לָקַ֙חְתִּי (la.Kach.ti) literally means "I have taken," and הִנֵּ֤ה (hi.Neh) functions as "behold," emphasizing divine initiative in the selection.

The thread — This transfer of the Levites to the priesthood recurs in Numbers 3:9, 3:12, and 3:45 as a substitution for the firstborn of Israel.

Why it lands — The text assigns the Levites as a fixed provision for Aaron’s line to maintain the Tent of Meeting, requiring recognition of their appointed function rather than voluntary service.

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

וַאֲנִ֗יva./'a.Niand/ I הִנֵּ֤הhi.Nehhere!לָקַ֙חְתִּי֙la.Kach.tiI have taken אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם'a.chei./Khembrothers/ your הַלְוִיִּ֔םha/l.vi.Yimthe/ Levites מִתּ֖וֹךְmi./Tokhfrom/ among בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelלָכֶ֞םla./Khemto <the>/ youמַתָּנָ֤הma.ta.Naha gift נְתֻנִים֙ne.tu.Nimassigned לַֽיהוָ֔הla./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh לַעֲבֹ֕דla./'a.Vodto/ serve אֶת־'et-<obj.>עֲבֹדַ֖ת'a.vo.Dat[the] service of אֹ֥הֶל'O.hel[the] tent of מוֹעֵֽד׃mo.'Edmeeting

King James Version

And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Cross-references

Numbers 3:9 Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been given exclusively to him from among the Israelites.
Numbers 3:12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me,
Numbers 3:45 “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD.
Genesis 6:17 And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish.
Genesis 9:9 “Behold, I now establish My covenant with you and your descendants after you,
Exodus 14:17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen.
Exodus 31:6 Moreover, I have selected Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant. I have also given skill to all the craftsmen, that they may fashion all that I have commanded you:
Numbers 8:16 For the Levites have been wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself in place of all who come first from the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel.
Isaiah 48:15 I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I have brought him, and he will succeed in his mission.
Isaiah 51:12 “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass?