Numbers 18:27

And [this] your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though [it were] the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.

And this your heave offering {H8641} shall be reckoned {H2803} unto you, as though it were the corn {H1715} of the threshingfloor {H1637}, and as the fulness {H4395} of the winepress {H3342}.

The gift you set aside will be accounted to you as if it were grain from the thresh-ing-floor and grape juice from the wine vat.

Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress.

And your heave-offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the grain of the threshing-floor, and as the fulness of the winepress.

Commentary

Context

This verse is part of God's detailed instructions to Moses concerning the roles, responsibilities, and provisions for the priests and Levites in Israel. Since the tribe of Levi was set apart for service in the tabernacle and had no territorial inheritance like the other tribes, God established a system for their sustenance. The Levites were to receive the tithes (a tenth) from the produce of the other Israelite tribes (Numbers 18:24).

Numbers 18:27 specifically addresses the Levites' duty to give a tithe of the tithes they received. This "tithe of the tithes" was then to be given to the priests (the descendants of Aaron) as their portion. The immediate preceding verse, Numbers 18:26, explicitly commands this offering from the Levites.

Key Themes

  • Reciprocal Giving and Divine Provision: God established a system where those serving Him full-time (the Levites and priests) were supported by the community's offerings. However, this verse emphasizes that even the recipients of God's provision are called to be givers, demonstrating their own faithfulness and participation in the sacred economy. This principle resonates with bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse.
  • Equality of Offerings: The core message of this verse is that the Levites' "heave offering" (their tithe of the tithe) was considered by God to be just as valid and valuable as the primary agricultural offerings from the threshingfloor (grain) or the winepress (wine) given by the other Israelites. It signifies that God values the obedience and heart behind the gift, not just its source or initial quantity.
  • Faithfulness in Stewardship: The Levites, as stewards of the tithes they received, were also held accountable to steward a portion back to God. This highlights the universal call to faithfulness in handling all that God entrusts to us.

Linguistic Insights

The term "heave offering" comes from the Hebrew word terumah (ΧͺΦ°ΦΌΧ¨Χ•ΦΌΧžΦΈΧ”), meaning "a lifted up" or "set apart portion." It was an offering symbolically lifted up to the Lord, signifying its dedication and separation for sacred use. The phrase "shall be reckoned unto you" implies that this secondary offering would be formally credited or accounted for by God with the same full value and acceptance as the firstfruits from the land, such as the "corn of the threshingfloor" and the "fulness of the winepress."

Practical Application

Numbers 18:27 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Support for Ministry: It reinforces the biblical principle of supporting those who dedicate themselves to full-time ministry, just as the priests and Levites were supported.
  • Giving from What You Have: The Levites gave from what they had received. This teaches us that everyone, regardless of their financial standing or how they acquire their resources, has a part to play in giving to God's work. Our offering, whether of finances, time, or talent, is meaningful to God when given faithfully.
  • God Values the Heart: The comparison to the threshingfloor and winepress emphasizes that God values the faithfulness and obedience behind the offering. A genuine offering from a sincere heart, even if it's a "tithe of a tithe," is as precious to Him as the largest firstfruits. This echoes the principle seen in the widow's mite, where Jesus valued her small offering above the large gifts of the rich.
  • Stewardship and Accountability: We are all stewards of God's blessings. This verse reminds us that we are accountable to God for how we manage all our resources, including giving back a portion to Him as an act of worship and obedience.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 18:30

    Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.

  • Hosea 9:1

    ΒΆ Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as [other] people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.

  • Hosea 9:2

    The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.

  • Deuteronomy 15:14

    Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: [of that] wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.

  • Numbers 15:20

    Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough [for] an heave offering: as [ye do] the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.

  • 2 Kings 6:27

    And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

  • Leviticus 6:19

    And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
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