Numbers 18:23

Authorized King James Version

But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְעָבַ֨ד
shall do
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
#2
הַלֵּוִ֜י
But the Levites
a levite or descendant of levi
#3
ה֗וּא
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#4
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#5
עֲבֹדַת֙
the service
work of any kind
#6
אֹ֣הֶל
of the tabernacle
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
#7
מוֹעֵ֔ד
of the congregation
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
#8
וְהֵ֖ם
they (only used when emphatic)
#9
יִשְׂא֣וּ
and they shall bear
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
#10
עֲוֹנָ֑ם
their iniquity
perversity, i.e., (moral) evil
#11
חֻקַּ֤ת
it shall be a statute
a statute
#12
עוֹלָם֙
for ever
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
#13
לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם
throughout your generations
properly, a revolution of time, i.e., an age or generation; also a dwelling
#14
וּבְתוֹךְ֙
that among
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
#15
בְּנֵ֣י
the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#16
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#17
לֹ֥א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#18
יִנְחֲל֖וּ
they have
to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to bequeath, or (generally) distribute, instate
#19
נַֽחֲלָֽה׃
no inheritance
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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