Numbers 18:7

But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses Aaron and his sons, defining their exclusive role in guarding priestly duties at the Tent of Meeting. The words — תִּשְׁמְר֨וּ (tish.me.Ru) means “you will keep” or guard, and כְּהֻנַּתְ/כֶ֜ם (ke.hu.nat./Khem) translates literally as “your priesthood.” The thread — The restriction on unauthorized sanctuary access appears in Numbers 3:10, while the theme of divinely granted gifts runs through John 3:27 and Romans 15:15. Why it lands — It requires readers to acknowledge that sacred service is a delegated divine authority, not a human achievement, and to respect the boundaries it establishes.

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

וְאַתָּ֣הve./'a.Tahand/ you וּבָנֶ֣יךָu./va.Nei./khaand/ sons/ your אִ֠תְּךָ'I.te./khawith/ you תִּשְׁמְר֨וּtish.me.Ruyou will keep אֶת־'et-<obj.>כְּהֻנַּתְכֶ֜םke.hu.nat./Khempriesthood/ your לְכָל־le./kholto/ every דְּבַ֧רde.Var<the> matter of הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַha./miz.Be.achthe/ altar וּלְמִבֵּ֥יתu./le./mi./Beitand/ to/ from/ inside לַפָּרֹ֖כֶתla./pa.Ro.khetto the/ curtain וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֑םva./'a.vad.Temand/ you will serve עֲבֹדַ֣ת'a.vo.Data service of מַתָּנָ֗הma.ta.Naha gift אֶתֵּן֙'e.TenI give אֶת־'et-<obj.>כְּהֻנַּתְכֶ֔םke.hu.nat./Khempriesthood/ your וְהַזָּ֥רve./ha./Zarand/ the/ stranger הַקָּרֵ֖בha./ka.Rev<the>/ approaching יוּמָֽת׃ סyu.Mathe will be put to death

King James Version

Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Cross-references

Numbers 3:10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”
John 3:27 John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
Romans 15:15 However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me
Numbers 16:5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses He will bring near to Himself.
Numbers 16:40 just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.
Numbers 18:4 They are to join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting, doing all the work at the Tent; but no outsider may come near you.
Numbers 18:20 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.
Exodus 29:9 Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and tie headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a permanent statute. In this way you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.
Leviticus 16:2 And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
Leviticus 16:12 Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil.