New King James Version
Deuteronomy 18:8
8They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what comes from the sale of his inheritance.
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 Living Translation (NLT)He may eat his share of the sacrifices and offerings, even if he also receives support from his family.
Context of Deuteronomy 18:8
6“So if a Levite comes from any of your gates, from where he dwells among all Israel, and comes with all the desire of his mind to the place which the Lord chooses, 7then he may serve in the name of the Lord his God as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before the Lord. They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what comes from the sale of his inheritance. 9“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
Read all of Deuteronomy 18Deuteronomy 18:8 word by word
חֵ֥לֶק כְּחֵ֖לֶק יֹאכֵ֑לוּ לְבַ֥ד מִמְכָּרָ֖יו עַל־הָאָבֽוֹת׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 18:8
- Leviticus 7:8And the priest who offers anyone’s burnt offering, that priest shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has offered.
- Nehemiah 12:44And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.
- Luke 10:7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
- 1 Corinthians 9:7Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
- 1 Timothy 5:17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries