Deuteronomy 18:8

Deuteronomy 18:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.
• New International Version (NIV)He is to share equally in their benefits, even though he has received money from the sale of family possessions.
• English Standard Version (ESV)then he may have equal portions to eat, besides what he receives from the sale of his patrimony.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what comes from the sale of his inheritance.

Context of Deuteronomy 18:8

6“Now if a Levite comes from any of your cities throughout Israel where he resides, and comes whenever he wishes to [the sanctuary] the place which the Lord chooses; 7then he shall serve in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the Lord. They shall have equal portions to eat, except what they receive from the sale of their fathers’ estates. 9“When you enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable (repulsive) practices of those nations. 10There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire [as a sacrifice], one who uses divination and fortune-telling, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,

Deuteronomy 18:8 word by word

חֵ֥לֶק כְּחֵ֖לֶק יֹאכֵ֑לוּ לְבַ֥ד מִמְכָּרָ֖יו עַל־הָאָבֽוֹת׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• They shall have like portionsחֵ֫לֶקchêleq · portionH2506
• to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• beside that which cometh of the saleמִמְכָּרmimkâr · saleH4465
• of his patrimonyאָב'âb · fatherH1

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 18:8

• Leviticus 7:8The priest who presents any man’s burnt offering shall have for himself the hide of the burnt offering which he has presented.
• Nehemiah 12:44On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and the Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served.
• Luke 10:7Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not move from house to house.
• 1 Corinthians 9:7[Consider this:] Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?
• 1 Timothy 5:17The elders who perform their leadership duties well are to be considered worthy of double honor (financial support), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching [the word of God concerning eternal salvation through Christ].

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 18:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8The sale of his patrimony - So we find that, though the Levites might have no part of the land by lot, yet they were permitted to make purchases of houses, goods, and cattle, yea, of fields also. See the case of Abiathar, 1 Kings 2:26; (note), and of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 32:7-8; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6-8Verses 6-8 These verses presuppose that part of the Levites only will be in residence and officiating at the place of the sanctuary, the others of course dwelling at their own homes in the Levitical cities, or “sojourning” elsewhere; compare the marginal references. But if any Levite out of love for the service of the sanctuary chose to resort to it when he might reside in his own home, he was to have his share in the maintenance which was provided for…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8received money from the sale of his father’s estate: The Levites served full-time at the tabernacle and later at the temple. Even so, they could still own property, such as towns and pastureland (see Numbers 35:1–8). The Levites were to receive support from the regular offerings that God set apart for them. They did not have to give up their own property in order to serve.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-86-8. if a Levite ... come with all the desire of his mind--It appears that the Levites served in rotation from the earliest times; but, from their great numbers, it was only at infrequent intervals they could be called into actual service. Should any Levite, however, under the influence of eminent piety, resolve to devote himself wholly and continually to the sacred duties of the sanctuary, he was allowed to realize his ardent wishes; and as he was…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 18:8

• Levites
• Liberality

In the dictionaries

• Consulter
• Midst
• Raise
• Atonement, Day of
• Criticism
• Deuteronomy
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• Give
• Levitical Cities

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings