Numbers 18:18
New International Version
Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours.

New Living Translation
The meat of these animals will be yours, just like the breast and right thigh that are presented by lifting them up as a special offering before the altar.

English Standard Version
But their flesh shall be yours, as the breast that is waved and as the right thigh are yours.

Berean Standard Bible
And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast and right thigh of the wave offering belong to you.

King James Bible
And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine.

New King James Version
And their flesh shall be yours, just as the wave breast and the right thigh are yours.

New American Standard Bible
However, their meat shall be yours; it shall be yours like the breast of a wave offering and like the right thigh.

NASB 1995
“Their meat shall be yours; it shall be yours like the breast of a wave offering and like the right thigh.

NASB 1977
“And their meat shall be yours; it shall be yours like the breast of a wave offering and like the right thigh.

Legacy Standard Bible
And their meat shall be yours; it shall be yours like the breast of a wave offering and like the right thigh.

Amplified Bible
Their meat shall be yours, like the breast of a wave offering and like the right thigh.

Christian Standard Bible
But their meat belongs to you. It belongs to you like the breast of the presentation offering and the right thigh.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But their meat belongs to you. It belongs to you like the breast of the presentation offering and the right thigh.”

American Standard Version
And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be thine.

Contemporary English Version
You are allowed to eat the meat of those animals, just as you can eat the choice ribs and the right hind leg of the special sacrifices.

English Revised Version
And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right thigh, it shall be thine.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the meat is yours, like the breast and the right thigh that are presented.

Good News Translation
The meat from them belongs to you, like the breast and the right hind leg of the special offering.

International Standard Version
Their meat is to belong to you, just as the breast wave offering and the right thigh is yours.

Majority Standard Bible
And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast and right thigh of the wave offering belong to you.

NET Bible
And their meat will be yours, just as the breast and the right hip of the raised offering is yours.

New Heart English Bible
Their flesh shall be yours, as the wave offering breast and as the right thigh, it shall be yours.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave-breast and as the right shoulder are thine

World English Bible
Their meat shall be yours, as the wave offering breast and as the right thigh, it shall be yours.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and their flesh is yours, as the breast of the wave-offering and as the right leg are yours.

Young's Literal Translation
and their flesh is thine, as the breast of the wave-offering, and as the right leg, it is thine;

Smith's Literal Translation
And their flesh shall be to thee, as the breast of the lifting up, and as the right shoulder shall be to thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the flesh shall fall to thy use, as the consecrated breast, and the right shoulder shall be thine.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, the flesh shall fall to your use, just as the consecrated breast and the right shoulder shall be yours.

New American Bible
Their meat, however, shall be yours, just as the brisket of the elevated offering and the right thigh belong to you.

New Revised Standard Version
but their flesh shall be yours, just as the breast that is elevated and as the right thigh are yours.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But their meat shall be yours, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are yours.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And their flesh shall be for you as the breast of the offering and shall be like the right shoulder for you.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be thine.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the flesh shall be thine, as also the breast of the wave-offering and as the right shoulder, it shall be thine.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Offerings for Priests and Levites
17But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 18And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast and right thigh of the wave offering belong to you. 19All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD for you and your offspring.”…

Cross References
Leviticus 7:31-34
The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. / And you are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from your peace offering. / The son of Aaron who presents the blood and fat of the peace offering shall have the right thigh as a portion. ...

Deuteronomy 18:3
This 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.

Exodus 29:27-28
Consecrate for Aaron and his sons the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the heave offering that is lifted up from the ram of ordination. / This will belong to Aaron and his sons as a regular portion from the Israelites, for it is the heave offering the Israelites will make to the LORD from their peace offerings.

Leviticus 10:14-15
And you and your sons and daughters may eat the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution in a ceremonially clean place, because these portions have been assigned to you and your children from the peace offerings of the sons of Israel. / They are to bring the thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering, together with the fat portions of the food offerings, to wave as a wave offering before the LORD. It will belong permanently to you and your children, as the LORD has commanded.”

1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? / In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Hebrews 7:5
Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

Leviticus 3:3-5
From the peace offering he is to bring a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, / both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. / Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

1 Samuel 2:13-16
or for the custom of the priests with the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling / and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. / Even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.” ...

Leviticus 9:18-21
Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram as the people’s peace offering. His sons brought him the blood, and he splattered it on all sides of the altar. / They also brought the fat portions from the ox and the ram—the fat tail, the fat covering the entrails, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver— / and placed these on the breasts. Aaron burned the fat portions on the altar, ...

2 Chronicles 31:4-6
Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. / As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything. / And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

Nehemiah 10:37-39
Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God the firstfruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. A tenth of our produce belongs to the Levites, so that they shall receive tithes in all the towns where we labor. / A priest of Aaron’s line is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of these tithes to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God. / For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.”

Malachi 3:8-10
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. / You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. / Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

Romans 15:27
They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.


Treasury of Scripture

And the flesh of them shall be yours, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are yours.

Exodus 29:26-28
And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before the LORD: and it shall be thy part…

Leviticus 7:31-34
And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'…

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Numbers 18
1. The charge of the priests and Levites
8. The priests, portion
21. The Levites,
25. The heave offering to the priests out of the Levites' portion














And their meat shall be yours
This phrase signifies the provision and sustenance that God provides for the priests. The Hebrew word for "meat" here is "בָּשָׂר" (basar), which generally refers to flesh or food. In the context of the Levitical priesthood, this is a direct command from God, ensuring that the priests, who serve in the tabernacle, are provided for through the offerings of the people. This provision underscores the principle that those who serve God and His people are worthy of their sustenance from the work they do, a theme echoed in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 9:13-14).

just as the breast and right thigh
The "breast" and "right thigh" refer to specific portions of the sacrificial offerings that were designated for the priests. The Hebrew words are "חָזֶה" (chazeh) for breast and "שׁוֹק" (shoq) for thigh. These parts were considered choice cuts, symbolizing honor and respect for the priestly role. Historically, these portions were seen as a sign of God's favor and a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and the priesthood. The allocation of these parts to the priests highlights the importance of honoring those who mediate between God and His people.

of the wave offering
The "wave offering" is a specific type of offering in the Hebrew sacrificial system, known as "תְּנוּפָה" (tenufah). This offering involved the physical act of waving the sacrifice before the Lord, symbolizing the presentation and dedication of the offering to God. The wave offering was a way to acknowledge God's sovereignty and provision. It served as a reminder of the Israelites' dependence on God for their sustenance and the priests' role in facilitating this relationship. The wave offering, therefore, is not just a ritual act but a profound expression of worship and gratitude.

belong to you
The phrase "belong to you" emphasizes the rightful inheritance and provision for the priests. The Hebrew root "לָכֶם" (lachem) indicates possession and entitlement. This divine allocation underscores the principle of divine provision for those who are set apart for God's service. It reflects the broader biblical theme of God as the provider, ensuring that His servants are cared for. This provision is not merely a physical necessity but a spiritual affirmation of the priests' role and their special relationship with God. It serves as a reminder of the faithfulness of God in meeting the needs of His people, especially those who dedicate their lives to His service.

(18) And the flesh of them shall be thine . . . --In Deuteronomy 12:17-18, the firstlings of the herd and of the flock are directed to be eaten by the owners in the place which the Lord should choose. Either the law as prescribed in Numbers was subsequently modified, or the second clause of this verse explains and qualifies the preceding clause, and assigns only the wave breast and the right shoulder (or, rather, leg) to the priests. (Comp. Leviticus 10:14-15.)

Verse 18. - The flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine. This is on the face of it inconsistent with the direction given in Deuteronomy 15:19, 20, that the flesh of the first-lings should be eaten by the offerers in the holy place (cf. also Deuteronomy 12:17, 18). Two explanations have been proposed.

1. That the firstlings were given to the priest in the same sense as the peace offerings, i.e., only as regarded the breast and shoulder, while the rest went to the offerer. This, however, does obvious violence to the language, and is not supported by the Septuagint.

2. That as the priest was bound to consume the firstlings with his family, and could not sell them, he would be certainly disposed to invite the offerer to join him in the sacred meal. This may have been usually the case, but it was entirely within the option of the priest, and could scarcely be made the basis of a direct command, like that of Deuteronomy 15:19, still less of an indirect assumption, like that of Deuteronomy 12:17, 18, that the firstlings stood upon the same footing as free-will offerings and heave offerings. It is easier to suppose that the law was actually modified in this, as in some other particulars.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And their meat
וּבְשָׂרָ֖ם (ū·ḇə·śā·rām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

belongs to you,
יִהְיֶה־ (yih·yeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

just as the breast
כַּחֲזֵ֧ה (ka·ḥă·zêh)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2373: Breast (of animals)

and right
הַיָּמִ֖ין (hay·yā·mîn)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south

thigh
וּכְשׁ֥וֹק (ū·ḵə·šō·wq)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7785: The, leg

of the wave offering
הַתְּנוּפָ֛ה (hat·tə·nū·p̄āh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8573: A brandishing, tumult, the official undulation of sacrificial offerings

belong to you.
יִהְיֶֽה׃ (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be


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OT Law: Numbers 18:18 Their flesh shall be yours as (Nu Num.)
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