Deuteronomy 18:3

Deuteronomy 18:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.
• New International Version (NIV)This is the share due the priests from the people who sacrifice a bull or a sheep: the shoulder, the internal organs and the meat from the head.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it is bull or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach.

Context of Deuteronomy 18:3

1The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the food offerings to the LORD; that is their inheritance. 2Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them. This shall be the priests’ share from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether a bull or a sheep: the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jowls, and the stomach. 4You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the first wool sheared from your flock. 5For the LORD your God has chosen Levi and his sons out of all your tribes to stand and minister in His name for all time.

Deuteronomy 18:3 word by word

וְזֶ֡ה יִהְיֶה֩ מִשְׁפַּ֨ט הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים מֵאֵ֣ת הָעָ֗ם מֵאֵ֛ת זֹבְחֵ֥י הַזֶּ֖בַח אִם־שׁ֣וֹר אִם־שֶׂ֑ה וְנָתַן֙ לַכֹּהֵ֔ן הַזְּרֹ֥עַ וְהַלְּחָיַ֖יִם וְהַקֵּבָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• shall beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• the priestsאֵת'êth · withH854
• shareמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: customH4941
• from the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• who offerזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
• a sacrificeזֶ֫בַחzebach · sacrificeH2077
• whetherאִם'im · ifH518
• a bullשׁוֹרshôr · cattleH7794
• a sheepשֶׂהώeh ώêy · sheepH7716
• are to be givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• the shoulderזְרוֹעַzerôa‛ zerôa‛ zerô‛âh zerô‛âh · armH2220
• the jowlsלְחִיlechîy · jawH3895
• and the stomachקֵבָהqêbâh · stomachH6896

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 18:3

• Deuteronomy 12:27Present the meat and blood of your burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD your God. The blood of your other sacrifices must be poured out beside the altar of the LORD your God, but you may eat the meat.
• Leviticus 7:30With his own hands he is to bring the food offerings to the LORD; he shall bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 18:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Offer a sacrifice - הזבח זבחי zobechey hazzebach . The word זבח zebach is used to signify, not only an animal sacrificed to the Lord, but also one killed for common use. See Genesis 46:1; Proverbs 17:1; Ezekiel 39:17. And in this latter sense it probably should be understood here; and, consequently, the command in this verse relates to what the people were to allow the priests and Levites from the animals slain for common use. The parts to be given to the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For “maw” read stomach, which was regarded as one of the richest and choicest parts. As the animal slain may be considered to consist of three principal parts, head, feet, and body, a portion of each is by the regulation in question to be given to the priest, thus representing the consecration of the whole; or, as some ancient commentators think, the dedication of the words, acts, and appetites of the worshipper to God. The text probably refers to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3In ancient Israel, people considered the shoulder, cheeks, and stomach of oxen and sheep as the best cuts of meat. They honored God's priests by giving them these best parts (see Leviticus 7:28–34).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. this shall be the priest's due from the people--All who offered sacrifices of thanksgiving or peace offerings (Le 7:31-33) were ordered to give the breast and shoulder as perquisites to the priests. Here "the two cheeks" or head and "the maw" or stomach, deemed anciently a great dainty, are specified. But whether this is a new injunction, or a repetition of the old with the supplement of more details, it is not easy to determine.Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 18:3

• First Fruits
• Levites
• Liberality
• Priest

In the dictionaries

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

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