Numbers 8:14

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.

Complete Jewish Bible:

In this way you will separate the L'vi'im from the people of Isra'el, and the L'vi'im will belong to me.

Berean Standard Bible:

In this way you shall separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and the Levites will belong to Me.

American Standard Version:

Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Thus shalt thou separate{H914} the Levites{H3881} from among{H8432} the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}: and the Levites{H3881} shall be mine.

Cross-References (KJV):

Numbers 3:45

  • Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I [am] the LORD.

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.

Malachi 3:17

  • And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Numbers 6:2

  • Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate [themselves] to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate [themselves] unto the LORD:

Galatians 1:15

  • But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace,

Hebrews 7:26

  • For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Numbers 16:9

  • [Seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

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Commentary for Numbers 8:14

Numbers 8:14 is a verse from the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically from the book of Numbers, which details the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The book is named for the census of the Israelite tribes that occurs at its beginning and end.

**Themes:**
1. **Holiness and Consecration:** The verse emphasizes the special status of the Levites, who are set apart from the other Israelite tribes to serve in the sanctuary. This reflects the theme of holiness, as the Levites are dedicated to God's service, embodying the idea of being set apart for sacred purposes.
2. **Divine Ownership:** The declaration "the Levites shall be mine" underscores the concept of divine ownership. The Levites are not just servants of the tabernacle but are personally claimed by God, highlighting the unique relationship between God and this tribe.
3. **Priesthood and Service:** The Levites' role is central to the religious life of Israel. They are responsible for the care of the tabernacle and its sacred objects, and they assist the priests (Aaron and his descendants) in their duties. This service is a form of worship and a means of maintaining the covenant between God and Israel.

**Historical Context:**
The historical context of Numbers 8:14 is the period following the Exodus, when the Israelites are organized into a nation under God's laws at Mount Sinai. The Levites are designated as the tribe responsible for the tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that served as God's dwelling place among the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings.

This verse comes after the instructions for the consecration of the Levites, which involved rituals of purification and sacrifices to set them apart for their sacred duties (Numbers 8:5-22). The Levites replaced the firstborn males of Israel, who were originally designated for priestly service but were redeemed after the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:25-29; Numbers 3:11-13, 40-51).

In summary, Numbers 8:14 reflects the themes of holiness, divine ownership, and priestly service within the historical context of the Israelites' formation as a nation and the establishment of their religious practices during their journey to the Promised Land.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H914
    There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּדַל
    Transliteration: bâdal
    Pronunciation: baw-dal'
    Description: a primitive root; to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.); (make, put) difference, divide (asunder), (make) separate (self, -ation), sever (out), [idiom] utterly.
  2. 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.
  3. Strong's Number: H8432
    There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
    Transliteration: tâvek
    Pronunciation: taw'-vek
    Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in).
  4. 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.
  5. Strong's Number: H3478
    There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
    Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
    Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
    Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.