Numbers 8:10
New International Version
You are to bring the Levites before the LORD, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them.

New Living Translation
When you present the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them.

English Standard Version
When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites,

Berean Standard Bible
You are to present the Levites before the LORD and have the Israelites lay their hands upon them.

King James Bible
And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:

New King James Version
So you shall bring the Levites before the LORD, and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites;

New American Standard Bible
and present the Levites before the LORD; and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites.

NASB 1995
and present the Levites before the LORD; and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites.

NASB 1977
and present the Levites before the LORD; and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites.

Legacy Standard Bible
and bring the Levites near before Yahweh; and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites.

Amplified Bible
and present the Levites before the LORD, and the Israelites shall lay their hands on the Levites.

Christian Standard Bible
Then present the Levites before the LORD, and have the Israelites lay their hands on them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then present the Levites before the LORD, and have the Israelites lay their hands on them.

American Standard Version
and thou shalt present the Levites before Jehovah. And the children of Israel shall lay their hands upon the Levites:

Contemporary English Version
where the people will place their hands on them.

English Revised Version
and thou shalt present the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall lay their hands upon the Levites:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then bring the Levites into the LORD's presence, and the Israelites will place their hands on them.

Good News Translation
The people of Israel are to place their hands on the heads of the Levites,

International Standard Version
Bring the descendants of Levi into the LORD's presence and have the Israelis lay their hands on the descendants of Levi.

Majority Standard Bible
You are to present the Levites before the LORD and have the Israelites lay their hands upon them.

NET Bible
Then you are to bring the Levites before the LORD, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on the Levites;

New Heart English Bible
You shall present the Levites before the LORD. The children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites,

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:

World English Bible
You shall present the Levites before Yahweh. The children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have brought the Levites near before YHWH, and the sons of Israel have laid their hands on the Levites,

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast brought near the Levites before Jehovah, and the sons of Israel have laid their hands on the Levites,

Smith's Literal Translation
And bring near the Levites before Jehovah: and the sons of Israel placed their hands upon the Levites.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the Levites are before the Lord, the children of Israel shall put their hands upon them:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when the Levites are before the Lord, the sons of Israel shall place their hands upon them.

New American Bible
When you have brought the Levites before the LORD, the Israelites shall lay their hands upon them.

New Revised Standard Version
When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the Israelites shall lay their hands on the Levites,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then you shall bring the Levites before the LORD; and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And bring the Levites before LORD JEHOVAH and the children of Israel shall put their hands on the Levites.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And thou shalt present the Levites before the LORD; and the children of Israel shall lay their hands upon the Levites.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord; and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands upon the Levites.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Cleansing the Levites
9Bring the Levites before the Tent of Meeting and assemble the whole congregation of Israel. 10You are to present the Levites before the LORD and have the Israelites lay their hands upon them. 11Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the sons of Israel, so that they may perform the service of the LORD.…

Cross References
Leviticus 8:6-13
Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. / He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him. / Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. ...

Exodus 29:10-19
You are to present the bull at the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head. / And you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. / Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. ...

Leviticus 16:21
Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task.

Acts 6:6
They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

1 Timothy 4:14
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.

2 Timothy 1:6
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Acts 13:2-3
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” / And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Hebrews 6:2
instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Acts 8:17
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:6
And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:33-40
For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints. / Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. / If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church. ...

Numbers 27:18-23
And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. / Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight. / Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him. ...

Deuteronomy 34:9
Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

1 Kings 19:19-21
So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. / So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” / So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands on the Levites:

Numbers 3:45
Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 1:4
And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Acts 6:6
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

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Numbers 8
1. How the lamps are to be lighted
5. The consecration of the Levites
23. The age and time of their service














You are to present
The Hebrew root for "present" is "qarab," which means to bring near or to offer. This act of presenting the Levites signifies a formal dedication or consecration to the service of the LORD. In the ancient Near Eastern context, presenting someone or something before a deity was a common practice to denote offering or dedication. Here, it underscores the Levites' special role as intermediaries between God and the Israelites, highlighting their sacred duty and the solemnity of their calling.

the Levites
The Levites were descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Historically, the tribe of Levi was set apart for religious duties, serving in the tabernacle and later in the temple. This separation is rooted in their zealous defense of God's holiness, as seen in the aftermath of the golden calf incident (Exodus 32). The Levites' role is a reminder of the importance of holiness and dedication in service to God, serving as a model for all believers in their spiritual service.

before the LORD
The phrase "before the LORD" indicates a position of accountability and reverence. In the Hebrew context, being "before the LORD" implies being in His presence, under His scrutiny, and for His purposes. This phrase emphasizes the divine approval and oversight of the Levites' consecration. It serves as a reminder that all service and dedication are ultimately for God's glory and under His watchful eye.

and the Israelites
The term "Israelites" refers to the descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel. This collective term emphasizes the communal aspect of the covenant relationship with God. The involvement of the entire community in the consecration of the Levites highlights the shared responsibility and unity of the people in supporting and recognizing those set apart for divine service.

are to lay their hands upon them
The act of laying hands is a significant ritual in the Hebrew tradition, symbolizing the transfer of authority, blessing, or responsibility. In this context, it represents the Israelites' acknowledgment and support of the Levites' role. This gesture also signifies a communal endorsement and a shared commitment to uphold the Levites in their duties. It reflects the interconnectedness of the community and the importance of mutual support in fulfilling God's purposes.

(10) Shall put their hands upon the Levites.--The same phrase is here used as in Numbers 8:12, and elsewhere, of the offerer who was required to lay his hand upon the victim which he offered in sacrifice. By this symbolical act the obligation which rested upon the whole nation in regard to the dedication of the firstborn was transferred to the Levites, who were thenceforth to be dedicated to the service of the Lord, and given over to the priests as the representatives of the Lord.

Verse 10. - Before the Lord. As in chapter Numbers 5:16, either near the brazen altar, or more probably before the entrance of the tabernacle. And the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites. Presumably by means of their representatives, probably the tribe princes. This laying on of hands signified that the obligation to assist personally in the service of the sanctuary was transferred from the whole congregation to the Levites.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You are to present
וְהִקְרַבְתָּ֥ (wə·hiq·raḇ·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

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

before
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

and have the Israelites
בְנֵי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

lay
וְסָמְכ֧וּ (wə·sā·mə·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5564: To prop, to lean upon, take hold of

their hands
יְדֵיהֶ֖ם (yə·ḏê·hem)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

upon
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

[them].
הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi


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OT Law: Numbers 8:10 You shall present the Levites before Yahweh (Nu Num.)
Numbers 8:9
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