Numbers 18:9
This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of their's, every meat offering of their's, and every sin offering of their's, and every trespass offering of their's, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.
Original Language Analysis
יִהְיֶ֥ה
H1961
יִהְיֶ֥ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 23
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים
This shall be thine of the most
H6944
קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים
This shall be thine of the most
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
4 of 23
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים
This shall be thine of the most
H6944
קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים
This shall be thine of the most
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
5 of 23
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
6 of 23
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
קָ֠רְבָּנָם
every oblation
H7133
קָ֠רְבָּנָם
every oblation
Strong's:
H7133
Word #:
9 of 23
something brought near the altar, i.e., a sacrificial present
לְֽכָל
H3605
לְֽכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִנְחָתָ֞ם
of theirs every meat offering
H4503
מִנְחָתָ֞ם
of theirs every meat offering
Strong's:
H4503
Word #:
11 of 23
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
וּלְכָל
H3605
וּלְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חַטָּאתָ֗ם
of theirs and every sin offering
H2403
חַטָּאתָ֗ם
of theirs and every sin offering
Strong's:
H2403
Word #:
13 of 23
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
וּלְכָל
H3605
וּלְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
14 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשָׁמָם֙
of theirs and every trespass offering
H817
אֲשָׁמָם֙
of theirs and every trespass offering
Strong's:
H817
Word #:
15 of 23
guilt; by implication, a fault; also a sin-offering
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
16 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יָשִׁ֣יבוּ
of theirs which they shall render
H7725
יָשִׁ֣יבוּ
of theirs which they shall render
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
17 of 23
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים
This shall be thine of the most
H6944
קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים
This shall be thine of the most
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
19 of 23
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים
This shall be thine of the most
H6944
קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים
This shall be thine of the most
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
20 of 23
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
Cross References
Leviticus 7:7As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.Leviticus 4:22When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;Leviticus 4:27And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;Leviticus 14:13And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:
Historical Context
This instruction came after Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16-17) when God reaffirmed Aaron's priesthood and defined priestly prerogatives precisely. In ancient Near Eastern temples, priests typically consumed portions of sacrifices, but Israel's system was unique in tying priestly support directly to atonement offerings. Unlike Egyptian or Mesopotamian priests who often accumulated vast wealth and land, Israel's priests were sustained solely through designated sacrificial portions and tithes, preventing them from becoming a landed aristocracy. This arrangement continued throughout the temple period until AD 70.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the principle of supporting spiritual workers 'from the altar' apply to supporting pastors and missionaries today?
- What does it mean that those who minister holy things must be sustained by holy provision rather than secular wealth?
- How does eating from atonement offerings daily remind ministers that they live by grace, not merit?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons. God designates specific sacrificial portions for priestly support. The phrase qodesh haqqodashim (קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים, "most holy things") indicates supreme consecration—these offerings belonged to the highest category of holiness.
"Reserved from the fire" (min ha-esh, מִן־הָאֵשׁ) means the portions not consumed on the altar. While most sacrifice was burned, specific parts became priestly food. The four categories—minchah (grain offering), chattat (sin offering), and asham (trespass/guilt offering)—represent the primary non-burnt sacrifices whose remains sustained the priesthood. This established the principle that those who serve the altar share in its provisions (1 Corinthians 9:13-14).
This divinely-ordained support system prevented priests from needing secular employment, freeing them for full-time ministry. The holy nature of their sustenance reminded them constantly that they lived on grace—their food came from offerings bringing reconciliation between God and His people. Paul later applied this principle: those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14).