King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether [it be] ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"The cohanim will have the right to receive from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether ox or sheep, the shoulder, the jowls and the stomach.
Berean Standard Bible:
This shall be the priests’ share from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether a bull or a sheep: the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jowls, and the stomach.
American Standard Version:
And this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And this shall be the priest's{H3548} due{H4941} from the people{H5971}, from them that offer{H2076} a sacrifice{H2077}, whether it be ox{H7794} or sheep{H7716}; and they shall give{H5414} unto the priest{H3548} the shoulder{H2220}, and the two cheeks{H3895}, and the maw{H6896}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 7:30
- His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved [for] a wave offering before the LORD.
Leviticus 7:34
- For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 12:27
- And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Deuteronomy 18:3
1. Themes:
- Support for the Priesthood: The verse emphasizes the importance of supporting the priestly class, which was responsible for mediating between God and the Israelite people.
- Religious Offerings: It specifies the portions of sacrifices that are due to the priests, highlighting the ritualistic aspect of worship in ancient Israel.
- Divine Instruction: The detailed allocation of sacrificial portions reflects the idea that worship practices are divinely ordained and must be followed meticulously.
2. Historical Context:
- Deuteronomy 18:3 is part of the Law of Moses, which was central to the religious and social life of ancient Israel. The book of Deuteronomy is presented as a series of speeches by Moses to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land.
- The verse falls within a section that outlines the responsibilities and entitlements of the Levites and priests, who were not given a land inheritance like the other tribes of Israel. Instead, they were to be supported by the people through various offerings and tithes.
- This system of support was crucial because priests were responsible for maintaining the Tabernacle (and later the Temple), performing sacrifices, teaching the Law, and making decisions on matters of ritual purity and religious practice.
- The specific mention of the shoulder, cheeks, and maw (the stomach and its contents) as the priest's due indicates a detailed and regulated sacrificial system, which was integral to the covenant between God and Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3548
There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֹּהֵן
Transliteration: kôhên
Pronunciation: ko-hane'
Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer. - Strong's Number: H4941
There are 406 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁפָּט
Transliteration: mishpâṭ
Pronunciation: mish-pawt'
Description: from שָׁפַט; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style; [phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, [idiom] worthy, [phrase] wrong. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H2076
There are 127 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָבַח
Transliteration: zâbach
Pronunciation: zaw-bakh'
Description: a primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice); kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay. - Strong's Number: H2077
There are 153 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זֶבַח
Transliteration: zebach
Pronunciation: zeh'-bakh
Description: from זָבַח; properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act); offer(-ing), sacrifice. - Strong's Number: H7794
There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוֹר
Transliteration: shôwr
Pronunciation: shore
Description: from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר). - Strong's Number: H7716
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׂה
Transliteration: seh
Pronunciation: seh
Description: or שֵׂי; probably from שָׁאָה through the idea of pushing out to graze; a member of a flock, i.e. a sheep or goat; (lesser, small) cattle, ewe, goat, lamb, sheep. Compare זֶה. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H2220
There are 84 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זְרוֹעַ
Transliteration: zᵉrôwaʻ
Pronunciation: zer-o'-ah
Description: or (shortened) זְרֹעַ; and (feminine) זְרוֹעָה; or זְרֹעָה; from זָרַע; the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force; arm, [phrase] help, mighty, power, shoulder, strength. - Strong's Number: H3895
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לְחִי
Transliteration: lᵉchîy
Pronunciation: lekh-ee'
Description: from an unused root meaning to be soft; the cheek (from its fleshiness); hence, the jaw-bone; cheek (bone), jaw (bone). - Strong's Number: H6896
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֵבָה
Transliteration: qêbâh
Pronunciation: kay-baw'
Description: from קָבַב; the paunch (as a cavity) or first stomach of ruminants; maw.