Numbers 8:10

You are to present the Levites before the LORD and have the Israelites lay their hands upon them.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The LORD (Yahweh) commands Moses to bring the Levites before the assembled congregation of Israel for formal consecration.

The words — הִקְרַבְתָּ (hik.rav.Ta) translates literally as "you will bring near," and סָמְכוּ (sa.me.Khu) means "they will lay [hands]."

The thread — The text's presentation sequence parallels Leviticus 1:4 for ritual transfer, Acts 6:6 for communal commissioning, and Numbers 3:45 for substitutionary replacement.

Why it lands — The verse requires the community to physically and formally place responsibility upon the consecrated servants, establishing a tangible boundary between the people and their designated 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

וְהִקְרַבְתָּ֥ve./hik.rav.Taand/ you will bring near אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַלְוִיִּ֖םha/l.vi.Yimthe/ Levites לִפְנֵ֣יli/f.Nei<to>/ before יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahweh וְסָמְכ֧וּve./sa.me.Khuand/ they will lay בְנֵי־ve.nei-[the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElIsrael אֶת־'et-<obj.>יְדֵיהֶ֖םye.dei./Hemhands/ their עַל־'al-on הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ha/l.vi.Yimthe/ Levites

King James Version

And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:

Cross-references

Leviticus 1:4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
Acts 6:6 They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
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.
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.
1 Timothy 5:22 Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.