Deuteronomy 31:25
New International Version
he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD:

New Living Translation
he gave this command to the Levites who carried the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant:

English Standard Version
Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD,

Berean Standard Bible
he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD:

King James Bible
That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

New King James Version
that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying:

New American Standard Bible
that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

NASB 1995
that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

NASB 1977
that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

Legacy Standard Bible
that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, saying,

Amplified Bible
he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

Christian Standard Bible
he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the LORD’s covenant,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the LORD’s covenant, “

American Standard Version
that Moses commanded the Levites, that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, saying,

Contemporary English Version
then he went to the Levites who carried the sacred chest and said:

English Revised Version
that Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the LORD's promise:

Good News Translation
When he finished, he said to the levitical priests, who were in charge of the LORD's Covenant Box,

International Standard Version
he gave this charge to the descendants of Levi who carried the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD:

Majority Standard Bible
he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD:

NET Bible
he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the LORD's covenant,

New Heart English Bible
that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
That Moses commanded the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

World English Bible
Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, saying,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
that Moses commands the Levites carrying the Ark of the Covenant of YHWH, saying,

Young's Literal Translation
that Moses commandeth the Levites bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, saying,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Moses will command the Levites lifting up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, saying,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He commanded the Levites, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord. saying:

Catholic Public Domain Version
he instructed the Levites, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying:

New American Bible
Moses gave the Levites who carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD this order:

New Revised Standard Version
Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Moshe commanded the Levites who carried the Ark of the covenant of LORD JEHOVAH and he said to them:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
that Moses commanded the Levites, that bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
then he charged the Levites who bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Law Placed in the Ark
24When Moses had finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, 25he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD: 26“Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.…

Cross References
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

2 Kings 22:8-11
Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it. / And Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants have paid out the money that was found in the temple and have put it into the hands of the workers and supervisors of the house of the LORD.” / Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. ...

Nehemiah 8:1-3
At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. / On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. / So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

2 Chronicles 34:14-19
While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses. / And Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan. / Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing all that has been placed in their hands. ...

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Isaiah 30:8
Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the days to come, a witness forever and ever.

Jeremiah 36:2-4
“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today. / Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.” / So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and at the dictation of Jeremiah, Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words that the LORD had spoken to Jeremiah.

Ezekiel 2:9-10
Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll, / which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.

Daniel 9:2
in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.

Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Luke 4:16-21
Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, / the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: / “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, ...

John 5:39
You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,


Treasury of Scripture

That Moses commanded the Levites, which bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

bare the ark

Deuteronomy 31:9
And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.

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Agreement Ark Bare Bearing Bore Carried Command Commanded Commandeth Covenant Levites Moses Responsible
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Agreement Ark Bare Bearing Bore Carried Command Commanded Commandeth Covenant Levites Moses Responsible
Deuteronomy 31
1. Moses encourages the people
7. He encourages Joshua
9. He delivers the law unto the priests to be read in the seventh year
14. God gives a charge to Joshua
19. and a song to testify against the people
24. Moses delivers the book of the law to the Levites to keep
28. He makes a protestation














he gave this command
This phrase indicates a direct and authoritative instruction. The Hebrew root for "command" is "צָוָה" (tsavah), which implies a charge or commission. In the context of Deuteronomy, Moses is the one giving the command, acting as God's appointed leader. This highlights the importance of divine authority and obedience in the life of Israel. The command is not merely a suggestion but a directive that carries the weight of God's will, emphasizing the seriousness with which God's instructions should be taken.

to the Levites
The Levites were a distinct tribe in Israel, set apart for religious duties. The Hebrew root "לֵוִי" (Levi) signifies "joined" or "attached," reflecting their special role in being joined to the service of the Lord. Historically, the Levites were responsible for the tabernacle and later the temple, serving as priests and caretakers of holy things. This phrase underscores the Levites' unique position and responsibility in maintaining the spiritual life of the nation, serving as intermediaries between God and the people.

who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD
The "ark of the covenant" was the most sacred object in Israel, symbolizing God's presence and His covenant with His people. The Hebrew word for "ark" is "אֲרוֹן" (aron), meaning a chest or box, and "covenant" is "בְּרִית" (berit), denoting a solemn agreement. The Levites' role in carrying the ark signifies their duty to uphold and protect the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The ark contained the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and manna, each representing God's guidance, authority, and provision. This phrase reminds believers of the importance of reverence and faithfulness in their relationship with God, as the ark was a tangible reminder of His promises and presence.

Verse 25. - The Levites, which bare the ark; i.e. the priests whose business it was to guard and to carry the ark of the covenant; "the priests the sons of Levi," as in ver. 9. According to Numbers 4:4, etc., it was the Kohathites who carried the ark on the journey through the desert; but they seem merely to have acted in this respect as the servants or helpers of the priests, who alone might touch the ark, and by whom it was carefully wrapped up before it was handed to the Kohathites. On special occasions the priests themselves carried the ark (cf. Joshua 3:3, etc.; Joshua 4:9, 10; 6:6, 12; 8:33; 1 Kings 8:3).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
he gave this command to
וַיְצַ֤ו (way·ṣaw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

the Levites
הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

who carried
נֹ֥שְׂאֵ֛י (nō·śə·’ê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

the ark
אֲר֥וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the covenant
בְּרִית־ (bə·rîṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1285: A covenant

of the LORD:
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 31:25 That Moses commanded the Levites who bore (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 31:24
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