Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die. New Living Translation But as the Levites go about all their assigned duties at the Tabernacle, they must be careful not to go near any of the sacred objects or the altar. If they do, both you and they will die. English Standard Version They shall keep guard over you and over the whole tent, but shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar lest they, and you, die. Berean Standard Bible And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die. Berean Literal Bible And they shall attend to your needs and the needs of all the tabernacle. However, to the articles of the sanctuary and the altar they shall not come near, lest they die—both they and also you⁺. King James Bible And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die. New King James Version They shall attend to your needs and all the needs of the tabernacle; but they shall not come near the articles of the sanctuary and the altar, lest they die—they and you also. New American Standard Bible And they shall perform duties for you and the duties of the whole tent, but they shall not come near the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die. NASB 1995 “And they shall thus attend to your obligation and the obligation of all the tent, but they shall not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die. NASB 1977 “And they shall thus attend to your obligation and the obligation of all the tent, but they shall not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, lest both they and you die. Legacy Standard Bible And they shall thus keep your responsibility and the responsibility of all the tent, but they shall not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, so that neither they nor you will die. Amplified Bible And the Levites shall attend to your duty [as assistants] and to the duties of all the tent (tabernacle); only they shall not approach the articles of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die. Berean Annotated Bible And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you⁺ will die. Christian Standard Bible They are to perform duties for you and for the whole tent. They must not come near the sanctuary equipment or the altar; otherwise, both they and you will die. Holman Christian Standard Bible They are to perform duties for you and for the whole tent. They must not come near the sanctuary equipment or the altar; otherwise, both they and you will die. American Standard Version And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the Tent: only they shall not come nigh unto the vessels of the sanctuary and unto the altar, that they die not, neither they, nor ye. Contemporary English Version You must see that they perform their duties. But if they go near any of the sacred objects or the altar, all of you will die. English Revised Version And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the Tent: only they shall not come nigh unto the vessels of the sanctuary and unto the altar, that they die not, neither they, nor ye. GOD'S WORD® Translation They will work for you, doing whatever work is necessary for the whole tent. But they must not come near the altar or the furnishings in the holy place, or they will die, and you will die, too. Good News Translation They are to fulfill their duties to you and their responsibilities for the Tent, but they must not have any contact with sacred objects in the Holy Place or with the altar. If they do, both they and you will be put to death. International Standard Version They are to take care of your concerns and all the responsibilities involved with the tent. But they're not to approach the holy vessels or the altar. That way, neither you nor they will die. NET Bible They must be responsible to care for you and to care for the entire tabernacle. However, they must not come near the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die. New Heart English Bible They shall keep your commands, and the duty of all the Tent: only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar, that they not die, neither they, nor you. Webster's Bible Translation And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die. World English Bible They shall keep your commands and the duty of the whole Tent; only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar, that they not die, neither they nor you. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they have kept your charge, and the charge of all the tent; only, they do not come near to the vessels of the holy place and to the altar, and they do not die, either they or you; Berean Literal Bible And they shall attend to your needs and the needs of all the tabernacle. However, to the articles of the sanctuary and the altar they shall not come near, lest they die—both they and also you⁺. Young's Literal Translation 'And they have kept thy charge, and the charge of all the tent; only, unto the vessels of the sanctuary and unto the altar they do not come near, and they die not, either they or you; Smith's Literal Translation And they watched thy watches, and the watches of all the tent: but to the vessels of the holy place, and to the altar they shall not come near, and they shall not die, also they, also ye. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the Levites shall watch to do thy commands, and about all the works of the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary nor the altar, lest both they die, and you also perish with them. Catholic Public Domain Version And the Levites shall stand watch by your precepts, and for all the works of the tabernacle; yet in such a manner that they shall not approach the vessels of the Sanctuary and of the altar, lest both they die, and you perish, at the same time. New American Bible They shall discharge your obligations and those with respect to the whole tent; however, they shall not come near the utensils of the sanctuary or the altar, or else both they and you will die. New Revised Standard Version They shall perform duties for you and for the whole tent. But they must not approach either the utensils of the sanctuary or the altar, otherwise both they and you will die. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd they shall keep your charge and the charge of all the tabernacle; but they shall not come near the vessels of the sanctuary and the vessels of the altar, that neither they, nor you also, die. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they shall keep your guard and the guard of all the Tabernacle, however do not let them approach the holy garments and the articles of the altar, lest they and also you will die. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the Tent; only they shall not come nigh unto the holy furniture and unto the altar, that they die not, neither they, nor ye. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they shall keep thy charges, and the charges of the tabernacle; only they shall not approach the holy vessels and the altar, so both they and you shall not die. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Duties of Priests and Levites…2But bring with you also your brothers from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and assist you and your sons before the Tent of the Testimony. 3And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die. 4They are to join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting, doing all the work at the Tent; but no outsider may come near you.… Cross References And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; Numbers 3:7-8 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle. / They shall take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill obligations for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle. Numbers 1:53 But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.” Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day. but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, Numbers 4:15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting. Numbers 4:19-20 In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. / But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.” Leviticus 16:2 And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat. or both they and you will die. Numbers 17:13 Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?” Exodus 30:20-21 Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die. / Thus they are to wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this shall be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.” Exodus 28:43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants. Exodus 28:1-4 “Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests. / Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor. / You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest. … Leviticus 10:1-2 Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD. 1 Chronicles 23:28-32 but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God, / as well as for the rows of the showbread, the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size. / They were also to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD, and likewise in the evening. … 2 Chronicles 29:11 Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.” Hebrews 9:6-7 When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. / But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:13 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? Treasury of Scripture And they shall keep your charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come near the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor you also, die. only they Numbers 3:25,31,36 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, … Numbers 4:19,20 But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden: … Numbers 16:40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses. neither Numbers 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. Jump to Previous Altar Attend Charge Commands Death Die Duties Duty Holy Kept Nigh Obligation Orders Overtake Perform Responsible Sanctuary Tabernacle Tent They Vessels Whole WorkJump to Next Altar Attend Charge Commands Death Die Duties Duty Holy Kept Nigh Obligation Orders Overtake Perform Responsible Sanctuary Tabernacle Tent They Vessels Whole WorkNumbers 18 1. The charge of the priests and Levites8. The priests, portion 21. The Levites, 25. The heave offering to the priests out of the Levites' portion And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; This phrase refers to the responsibilities assigned to the Levites, who were set apart to assist the priests, specifically Aaron and his sons, in the service of the Tabernacle, also known as the Tent of Meeting. The Levites were tasked with various duties, including the care and transportation of the Tabernacle and its furnishings during the Israelites' wilderness journey. This division of labor highlights the importance of order and structure in worship, as well as the need for a dedicated group to support the priestly functions. The Levites' role is a precursor to the New Testament concept of the church body, where different members have different gifts and roles (1 Corinthians 12:4-31). but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die. Persons / Places / Events 1. AaronThe high priest and brother of Moses, responsible for the sanctuary and its services. 2. Levites The tribe set apart to assist the priests in the service of the tabernacle, but not allowed to perform priestly duties. 3. Sanctuary The holy place where God's presence dwelt, containing sacred furnishings and the altar. 4. Altar A sacred structure used for sacrifices and offerings to God, central to Israelite worship. 5. Tabernacle The portable dwelling place for the divine presence, where the Israelites worshiped during their journey in the wilderness. Teaching Points The Importance of Roles and BoundariesGod assigns specific roles and responsibilities within His community. Understanding and respecting these roles is crucial for maintaining order and holiness. The Holiness of God The restrictions placed on the Levites highlight the holiness of God and the need for reverence when approaching Him. This calls for a heart of worship and respect in our own spiritual practices. Consequences of Disobedience The warning of death for improper approach to the sanctuary serves as a reminder of the seriousness of disobedience to God's commands. It encourages us to seek obedience in our daily walk with God. Service in the Church Just as the Levites were called to serve, every believer is called to serve in the body of Christ. Identifying and fulfilling our God-given roles is essential for the health of the church. Christ as Our High Priest While the Levites and priests had specific duties, Jesus Christ fulfills the ultimate role of high priest, granting us access to God. This truth should deepen our appreciation for His sacrifice and intercession. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 18:3?2. How does Numbers 18:3 emphasize the importance of respecting sacred duties and boundaries? 3. What roles are assigned to the Levites in Numbers 18:3, and why? 4. How can we apply the principle of delegated responsibility in our church today? 5. How does Numbers 18:3 connect to the New Testament concept of spiritual gifts? 6. What lessons on obedience and service can we learn from Numbers 18:3? 7. What does Numbers 18:3 imply about the role of the Levites in temple service? 8. How does Numbers 18:3 reflect the division of sacred duties among the Israelites? 9. Why were the Levites prohibited from approaching the sanctuary furnishings in Numbers 18:3? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 18? 11. What was the minimum age for a priest? 12. Why does Numbers 8:24-25 state Levites begin serving at age 25, while Numbers 4:3 says they start at age 30? 13. If the Levites had no land inheritance (Joshua 21:2), how could they sustainably live in the granted cities without farmland? 14. Deuteronomy 33:8-11 assigns the Levites to priestly duties, yet biblical accounts elsewhere suggest shifts in priestly lines; how do we resolve this discrepancy? What Does Numbers 18:3 Mean And they shall attend to your dutiesNumbers 18 opens with the Lord assigning Aaron and his sons the primary responsibility for the sanctuary. In v. 3 the “they” are the Levites, who are to assist the priests. • This assistance is not optional; it is a sacred charge (compare Numbers 3:6–9; 1 Chron 23:28). • The Levites do not replace Aaron and his sons; they work under them, reflecting God-given order (Numbers 18:2,7). • The arrangement safeguards holiness and prevents unauthorized approach, echoing Exodus 28:1 and Leviticus 8:1–3 where priestly roles were first established. And to all the duties of the Tent The Tent of Meeting required constant care—setting up, taking down, transporting, guarding, and cleaning (Numbers 4:4–15). • Levites handled the fabric, frames, cords, and exterior service (Numbers 1:50–53). • Priests focused on sacrifices, incense, and lampstand (Exodus 27:20–21). • By sharing the workload, every daily and seasonal ritual could be kept exactly as God prescribed (Leviticus 23:1–44; Joshua 3:3). Cross reference: Deuteronomy 10:8 reminds Israel that God “set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant… to stand before the LORD to serve Him.” They must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar The furnishings—the ark, table, lampstand, altars—were consecrated by God’s presence (Exodus 30:29). • Only priests could handle or even see these items unveiled (Numbers 4:19–20). • When Uzzah touched the ark, he died for the breach (2 Samuel 6:6–7), illustrating the unchanging seriousness of this command. • This boundary preserved both the Levites and the holiness of worship, foreshadowing the mediator role later fulfilled perfectly by Christ (Hebrews 9:6–12). Or both they and you will die God holds leaders accountable for those under their charge (Ezekiel 3:17–18; James 3:1). • If Levites violated the boundary, the penalty fell on them and on Aaron’s house, reminding everyone that holiness is communal, not merely individual. • The death penalty reflects the absolute purity of God (Leviticus 10:1–3) and teaches that privilege in service brings greater responsibility (Luke 12:48). • Grace does not nullify order; rather, divine order protects life and worship (Numbers 1:53). summary Numbers 18:3 establishes a clear, divinely ordered partnership: Levites help priests, priests guard the holy things, and everyone respects God’s boundaries. The verse underscores that true service flows from obedience, that holiness is serious enough to cost a life, and that leadership carries weighty accountability. Verse 3. - They shall keep thy charge, etc. See on Numbers 3:7, 8. That neither they, nor ye also, die. This warning does not seem to refer to the danger of the Kohathites seeing the sacred things (Numbers 4:15), but of the other Levites coming near them; the further warning, "nor ye also," is added because if the carelessness or profanity of the priest led to sacrilege and death in the case of the Levite, it would be laid to his charge (cf. Numbers 4:18).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And they shall attendוְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ (wə·šā·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to to your duties מִֽשְׁמַרְתְּךָ֔ (miš·mar·tə·ḵā) Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 4931: A guard, watch, charge, function and all the duties וּמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת (ū·miš·me·reṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 4931: A guard, watch, charge, function of the Tent; הָאֹ֑הֶל (hā·’ō·hel) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 168: A tent but אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to they must not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no come near יִקְרָ֔בוּ (yiq·rā·ḇū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7126: To come near, approach to the furnishings כְּלֵ֨י (kə·lê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus of the sanctuary הַקֹּ֤דֶשׁ (haq·qō·ḏeš) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity or the altar, הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4196: An altar or וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no both גַם־ (ḡam-) Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and they הֵ֖ם (hêm) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They and גַּם־ (gam-) Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and you אַתֶּֽם׃ (’at·tem) Pronoun - second person masculine plural Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you will die. יָמֻ֥תוּ (yā·mu·ṯū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 4191: To die, to kill Links Numbers 18:3 NIVNumbers 18:3 NLT Numbers 18:3 ESV Numbers 18:3 NASB Numbers 18:3 KJV Numbers 18:3 BibleApps.com Numbers 18:3 Biblia Paralela Numbers 18:3 Chinese Bible Numbers 18:3 French Bible Numbers 18:3 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 18:3 They shall keep your commands and (Nu Num.) |
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