King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them [for] an offering unto the LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible:
You are to place the L'vi'im before Aharon and his sons, and offer them as a wave offering to ADONAI.
Berean Standard Bible:
You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons and then present them before the LORD as a wave offering.
American Standard Version:
And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for a wave-offering unto Jehovah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And thou shalt set{H5975} the Levites{H3881} before{H6440} Aaron{H175}, and before{H6440} his sons{H1121}, and offer{H5130} them for an offering{H8573} unto the LORD{H3068}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 8:21
- And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them [as] an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.
Numbers 8:11
- And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD [for] an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.
Romans 15:16
- That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Numbers 18:6
- 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.
Romans 12:1
- ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
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Commentary for Numbers 8:13
Numbers 8:13 is a verse that falls within the broader context of the instructions given to Moses regarding the consecration of the Levites for service in the Tabernacle, the portable dwelling place for God among the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. This verse specifically directs Moses to present the Levites before Aaron (the high priest) and his sons (the other priests) to be dedicated to the Lord. The Levites were to be "offered" in a sense, not as a sacrifice but as a living service to God, setting them apart for the holy work in the Tabernacle.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the unique role of the Levites among the tribes of Israel. After the incident with the golden calf, the Levites demonstrated their loyalty to God by executing judgment on those who had sinned (Exodus 32:26-29). Consequently, they were chosen to serve God in a special capacity, taking the place of the firstborn males of Israel who were originally meant to serve as priests (Numbers 3:11-13).
The themes present in Numbers 8:13 include consecration, service, and the structure of priestly and Levitical duties. The verse underscores the importance of dedicating oneself to the service of God, a principle that extends beyond the Levitical priesthood to the broader spiritual truth of offering oneself as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). It also reflects the orderly and hierarchical nature of worship in ancient Israel, with the Levites serving under the authority of the priests, who were direct descendants of Aaron. This structure was designed to maintain the purity and sanctity of worship and to ensure that the rituals prescribed by God were carried out with precision and reverence.
*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: H5975
There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָמַד
Transliteration: ʻâmad
Pronunciation: aw-mad'
Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry. - Strong's Number: H3881
There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵוִיִּי
Transliteration: Lêvîyîy
Pronunciation: lay-vee-ee'
Description: or לֵוִי; patronymically from לֵוִי; a Levite or descendant of Levi; Leviite. - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H175
There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
Pronunciation: a-har-one'
Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H5130
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נוּף
Transliteration: nûwph
Pronunciation: noof
Description: a primitive root; to quiver (i.e. vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in a great variety of applications (including sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing, bastinadoing, sawing, waving, etc.); lift up, move, offer, perfume, send, shake, sift, strike, wave. - 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: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.