King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Their meat will be yours, like the breast that is waved and the right thigh - they will be yours.
Berean Standard Bible:
And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast and right thigh of the wave offering belong to you.
American Standard Version:
And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be thine.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the flesh{H1320} of them shall be thine, as the wave{H8573} breast{H2373} and as the right{H3225} shoulder{H7785} are thine.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 7:31
- And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.
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.
Exodus 29:26
- And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration, and wave it [for] a wave offering before the LORD: and it shall be thy part.
Exodus 29:28
- And it shall be Aaron's and his sons' by a statute for ever from the children of Israel: for it [is] an heave offering: and it shall be an heave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifice of their peace offerings, [even] their heave offering unto the LORD.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 18:18
**Themes:**
Numbers 18:18 is part of a larger passage that deals with the rights and duties of the Levites, particularly the priests (Aaron and his descendants), in ancient Israel. The verse highlights themes of divine provision, priestly entitlement, and the sanctity of offerings. It emphasizes that the priests are to be supported by the sacrifices brought by the people, specifically mentioning the portions of the offerings that are allocated to them, such as the wave breast and the right shoulder.
1. **Divine Provision:** The Lord establishes a system where the priests are cared for through the offerings, ensuring their livelihood is tied to their sacred duties.
2. **Priestly Entitlement:** The verse underscores the special status of the priests, who are entitled to specific parts of the sacrifices as their inheritance or payment for service.
3. **Sanctity of Offerings:** The reference to the wave breast and the right shoulder indicates that these choice parts of the sacrifice are holy and set apart for the priests, reinforcing the sacred nature of the offerings.
**Historical Context:**
The book of Numbers recounts events following the Exodus, as the Israelites journey through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. Numbers 18 is set during the time when the tabernacle (the portable dwelling place for God) was the center of Israelite worship. The Levites, and among them the priests, had no land inheritance like the other tribes; instead, they were supported by the offerings and tithes of the Israelites.
1. **Tabernacle Worship:** The instructions in Numbers 18 are part of the regulations given by God to Moses for the conduct of worship in the tabernacle, including how to handle sacrifices and offerings.
2. **Support for the Priesthood:** The historical context reflects the socio-economic system established by God to sustain the priests, who were responsible for the religious life of the nation, including sacrifices, teachings, and maintaining the sanctity of the tabernacle.
3. **Covenantal Relationship:** The allocation of the wave breast and the right shoulder to the priests is a tangible expression of the covenant between God and the Israelites, where the people provide for the priests as a sign of their obedience and devotion to God.
In summary, Numbers 18:18, within its broader chapter, reinforces the divine support structure for the priesthood in ancient Israel, highlighting the sanctity of the offerings and the special role of the priests in mediating the worship of the Israelite community.
*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: H1320
There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּשָׂר
Transliteration: bâsâr
Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. - Strong's Number: H8573
There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תְּנוּפָה
Transliteration: tᵉnûwphâh
Pronunciation: ten-oo-faw'
Description: from נוּף; a brandishing (in threat); by implication, tumult; specifically, the official undulation of sacrificial offerings; offering, shaking, wave (offering). - Strong's Number: H2373
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָזֶה
Transliteration: châzeh
Pronunciation: khaw-zeh'
Description: from חָזָה; the breast (as most seen in front); breast. - Strong's Number: H3225
There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָמִין
Transliteration: yâmîyn
Pronunciation: yaw-meen'
Description: from יָמַן; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south; [phrase] left-handed, right (hand, side), south. - Strong's Number: H7785
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוֹק
Transliteration: shôwq
Pronunciation: shoke
Description: from שׁוּק; the (lower) leg (as a runner); hip, leg, shoulder, thigh.