Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 18:1–8

1The Levitical priests — indeed the whole tribe of Levi — shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the food offerings to the LORD; that is their inheritance. 2Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.

3This 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. 4You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the first wool sheared from your flock. 5For the LORD your God has chosen Levi and his sons out of all your tribes to stand and minister in His name for all time.

6Now if a Levite moves from any town of residence throughout Israel and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose, 7then he shall serve in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD. 8They shall eat equal portions, even though he has received money from the sale of his father’s estate.

Read all of Deuteronomy 18

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Deuteronomy 18:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The Leviticalהַלְוִיִּ֜םhal·wî·yimArticle; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH3881 Levite
priestsלַכֹּהֲנִ֨יםlak·kō·hă·nîmPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH3548 priest
indeed the wholeכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
tribeשֵׁ֧בֶטšê·ḇeṭNoun - masculine singular constructH7626 rod, staff, club, sceptre
of Leviלֵוִ֛יlê·wîNoun - proper - masculine singularH3878 Levi
shall haveיִ֠הְיֶהyih·yehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
noלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
portionחֵ֥לֶקḥê·leqNoun - masculine singularH2506 portion, tract, territory
or inheritanceוְנַחֲלָ֖הwə·na·ḥă·lāhConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH5159 possession, property, inheritance
withעִם־‘im-PrepositionH5973 with
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
They are to eatיֹאכֵלֽוּן׃yō·ḵê·lūnVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; Paragogic nunH398 eat
the food offeringsאִשֵּׁ֧י’iš·šêNoun - masculine plural constructH801 an offering made by fire
to the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
that is their inheritanceוְנַחֲלָת֖וֹwə·na·ḥă·lā·ṯōwConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH5159 possession, property, inheritance

Deuteronomy 18:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Although they haveיִֽהְיֶה־yih·yeh-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
noלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
inheritanceוְנַחֲלָ֥הwə·na·ḥă·lāhConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH5159 possession, property, inheritance
amongבְּקֶ֣רֶבbə·qe·reḇPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH7130 inward part, midst
their brothersאֶחָ֑יו’e·ḥāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
their inheritanceנַחֲלָת֔וֹna·ḥă·lā·ṯōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH5159 possession, property, inheritance
asכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
He promisedדִּבֶּר־dib·ber-Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1696 speak
themלֽוֹ׃סlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular

Deuteronomy 18:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thisוְזֶ֡הwə·zehConjunctive waw; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
shall beיִהְיֶה֩yih·yehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
the priests’הַכֹּהֲנִ֜יםhak·kō·hă·nîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH3548 priest
shareמִשְׁפַּ֨טmiš·paṭNoun - masculine singular constructH4941 judgment
from the peopleהָעָ֗םhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
who offerזֹבְחֵ֥יzō·ḇə·ḥêVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructH2076 slaughter for sacrifice
a sacrificeהַזֶּ֖בַחhaz·ze·ḇaḥArticle; Noun - masculine singularH2077 sacrifice
whetherאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
a bullשׁ֣וֹרšō·wrNoun - masculine singularH7794 head of cattle
orאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
a sheepשֶׂ֑הśehNoun - masculine singularH7716 one of a flock, a sheep (or goat)
the priestsלַכֹּהֵ֔ןlak·kō·hênPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3548 priest
are to be givenוְנָתַן֙wə·nā·ṯanConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
the shoulderהַזְּרֹ֥עַhaz·zə·rō·a‘Article; Noun - feminine singularH2220 arm, shoulder, strength
the jowlsוְהַלְּחָיַ֖יִםwə·hal·lə·ḥā·ya·yimConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - fdH3895 jaw, cheek
and the stomachוְהַקֵּבָֽה׃wə·haq·qê·ḇāhConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine singularH6896 stomach, belly

Deuteronomy 18:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
You are to giveתִּתֶּן־tit·ten-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
themלּֽוֹ׃lōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
the firstfruitsרֵאשִׁ֨יתrê·šîṯNoun - feminine singular constructH7225 beginning, chief
of your grainדְּגָֽנְךָ֜də·ḡā·nə·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH1715 corn, grain
new wineתִּֽירֹשְׁךָ֣tî·rō·šə·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH8492 must, fresh or new wine
and oilוְיִצְהָרֶ֗ךָwə·yiṣ·hā·re·ḵāConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH3323 fresh oil
and the firstוְרֵאשִׁ֛יתwə·rê·šîṯConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular constructH7225 beginning, chief
wool shearedגֵּ֥זgêzNoun - masculine singular constructH1488 shearing, mowing
from your flockצֹאנְךָ֖ṣō·nə·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks

Deuteronomy 18:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Forכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the LORDיְהוָ֥הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
your Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH430 God
has chosenבָּחַ֛רbā·ḥarVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH977 choose
and his sonsוּבָנָ֖יוū·ḇā·nāwConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH1121 son
out of allמִכָּל־mik·kālPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
your tribesשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָšə·ḇā·ṭe·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH7626 rod, staff, club, sceptre
to standלַעֲמֹ֨דla·‘ă·mōḏPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH5975 take one's stand, stand
and ministerלְשָׁרֵ֧תlə·šā·rêṯPreposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructH8334 minister, serve
inיְהוָ֛הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
nameבְּשֵׁם־bə·šêm-Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH8034 name
for allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
timeהַיָּמִֽים׃סhay·yā·mîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH3117 day

Deuteronomy 18:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now ifוְכִֽי־wə·ḵî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
a Leviteהַלֵּוִ֜יhal·lê·wîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3881 Levite
movesיָבֹ֨אyā·ḇōVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
from anyמֵאַחַ֤דmê·’a·ḥaḏPreposition-m; Number - masculine singular constructH259 one
townשְׁעָרֶ֙יךָ֙šə·‘ā·re·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH8179 gate
of residenceגָּ֣רgārVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH1481 sojourn
throughoutשָׁ֑םšāmAdverbH8033 there, thither
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
and comesוּבָא֙ū·ḇāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
in allבְּכָל־bə·ḵālPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
earnestnessאַוַּ֣ת’aw·waṯNoun - feminine singular constructH185 desire
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the placeהַמָּק֖וֹםham·mā·qō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4725 standing, spot, condition
the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
will chooseיִבְחַ֥רyiḇ·ḥarVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH977 choose

Deuteronomy 18:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
then he shall serveוְשֵׁרֵ֕תwə·šê·rêṯConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH8334 minister, serve
in the nameבְּשֵׁ֖םbə·šêmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH8034 name
of the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
his Godאֱלֹהָ֑יו’ĕ·lō·hāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH430 God
like allכְּכָל־kə·ḵāl-Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
his fellowאֶחָיו֙’e·ḥāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
Levitesהַלְוִיִּ֔םhal·wî·yimArticle; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH3881 Levite
who standהָעֹמְדִ֥יםhā·‘ō·mə·ḏîmArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH5975 take one's stand, stand
thereשָׁ֖םšāmAdverbH8033 there, thither
beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlip̄·nêPreposition-l; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh

Deuteronomy 18:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
They shall eatיֹאכֵ֑לוּyō·ḵê·lūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH398 eat
equal portionsחֵ֥לֶקḥê·leqNoun - masculine singularH2506 portion, tract, territory
even thoughלְבַ֥דlə·ḇaḏPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular constructH905 separation
he has receivedעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the saleמִמְכָּרָ֖יוmim·kā·rāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH4465 sale, ware
of his father’s estateהָאָבֽוֹת׃סhā·’ā·ḇō·wṯArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH1 father

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Deuteronomy 18:1 Numbers 18:8–9 · Deuteronomy 10:9 · 1 Corinthians 9:13–14 · Deuteronomy 12:19 · Numbers 18:20 · Joshua 13:14 · Joshua 13:33 · Numbers 26:62

Deuteronomy 18:3 Leviticus 7:30–34 · Deuteronomy 12:27

Deuteronomy 18:4 Nehemiah 12:44–47 · 2 Chronicles 31:4–10 · Exodus 22:29 · Exodus 23:19 · Numbers 18:12–24 · Leviticus 23:10 · Leviticus 23:17

Deuteronomy 18:5 Deuteronomy 10:8 · Numbers 3:10

Deuteronomy 18:6 Numbers 35:2–3 · Deuteronomy 12:5

Deuteronomy 18:8 Nehemiah 12:44 · Nehemiah 12:47 · Luke 10:7 · 2 Chronicles 31:4

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.