Numbers 3:6
New International Version
“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

New Living Translation
“Call forward the tribe of Levi, and present them to Aaron the priest to serve as his assistants.

English Standard Version
“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.

Berean Standard Bible
“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

King James Bible
Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

New King James Version
“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.

New American Standard Bible
“Bring the tribe of Levi forward and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.

NASB 1995
“Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.

NASB 1977
“Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Bring the tribe of Levi near and have them stand before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.

Amplified Bible
“Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest, so that they may serve him.

Christian Standard Bible
“Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to the priest Aaron to assist him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

American Standard Version
Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

Contemporary English Version
Assign the Levi tribe to Aaron the priest. They will be his assistants

English Revised Version
Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Bring the tribe of Levi, and have them stand in front of the priest Aaron to assist him.

Good News Translation
"Bring forward the tribe of Levi and appoint them as servants of Aaron the priest.

International Standard Version
"Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest so they may serve him.

Majority Standard Bible
“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

NET Bible
"Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.

New Heart English Bible
"Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.

World English Bible
“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and you have caused it to stand before Aaron the priest, and they have served him,

Young's Literal Translation
'Bring near the tribe of Levi, and thou hast caused it to stand before Aaron the priest, and they have served him,

Smith's Literal Translation
Bring near the tribe of Levi, and make it stand before Aaron the priest; and they served him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Bring the tribe of Levi, and make them stand in the sight of Aaron the priest to minister to him, and let them watch,

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Bring forward the tribe of Levi, and cause them to stand in the sight of Aaron the priest, in order to minister to him. And let them keep watch outside,

New American Bible
Summon the tribe of Levi and station them before Aaron the priest to serve him.

New Revised Standard Version
Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, so that they may assist him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Bring the tribe of Levi and present it before Ahron the Priest and it shall serve him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Take the tribe of Levi, and thou shalt set them before Aaron the priest, and they shall minister to him,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Duties of the Levites
5Then the LORD said to Moses, 6“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. 7They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle.…

Cross References
Exodus 28:1
“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.

Deuteronomy 10:8
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.

1 Chronicles 23:13
The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.

Hebrews 5:4
No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

1 Samuel 2:28
And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites.

Exodus 32:26-29
So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. / He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’” / The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead. ...

Malachi 2:4-7
Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts. / “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, which I gave to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. / True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. ...

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Hebrews 7:11-12
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? / For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

2 Chronicles 29:11
Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”

Leviticus 8:6-13
Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. / He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him. / Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. ...

Acts 6:4
and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

1 Corinthians 9:13
Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?

2 Corinthians 3:6
And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Hebrews 9:6-7
When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. / But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.


Treasury of Scripture

Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.

Numbers 1:49-53
Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel: …

Numbers 2:17,33
Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards…

Numbers 8:6-15,22-26
Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them…

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Aaron Assist Caused Helpers Levi Minister Present Priest Serve Served Stand Tribe
Numbers 3
1. The sons of Aaron
5. The Levites are given to the priests instead of the firstborn
14. Are numbered by their families
21. The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites
27. Of the Kohathites
33. Of the Merarites
38. The place and charge of Moses and Aaron
40. The firstborn are freed by the Levites
44. The balances are refunded














Bring the tribe of Levi
The phrase "Bring the tribe of Levi" is a directive from God to Moses, emphasizing the special role of the Levites among the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "bring" is "קָרַב" (qarav), which means to draw near or present. This indicates a calling or setting apart for a specific purpose. The Levites were chosen to be close to God, serving in the tabernacle and later the temple. Historically, the tribe of Levi was set apart after the incident of the golden calf (Exodus 32), where they stood with Moses in loyalty to God. This act of faithfulness distinguished them for service. The Levites' role was not just a privilege but a responsibility to maintain the holiness and order of worship, reflecting their unique position in the community of Israel.

and present them to Aaron the priest
The instruction to "present them to Aaron the priest" signifies the Levites' subordination and service to Aaron and his sons, who were the high priests. The Hebrew word for "present" is "עָמַד" (amad), meaning to stand or place before. This denotes a formal presentation, indicating the Levites' dedication to assist the priesthood. Aaron, as the first high priest, represents the mediatory role between God and the people. The Levites' service to Aaron underscores the importance of order and hierarchy in worship, ensuring that the sacred duties were performed according to divine instructions. This presentation also symbolizes the Levites' consecration to God, as they were given to Aaron to aid in the spiritual leadership of Israel.

to assist him
The phrase "to assist him" highlights the supportive role of the Levites in the religious life of Israel. The Hebrew root "שָׁרַת" (sharat) means to minister or serve. This service was multifaceted, including duties such as maintaining the tabernacle, transporting it, and assisting in sacrifices. The Levites were essential in facilitating the worship and sacrificial system, which was central to Israel's covenant relationship with God. Their assistance ensured that the priests could perform their duties effectively, maintaining the sanctity and order required in the worship of Yahweh. This service was not merely functional but was an act of worship itself, reflecting the Levites' dedication to God and their integral role in the spiritual life of the nation.

Verse 6. - Bring the tribe of Levi near. Not by any outward act of presentation, but by assigning to them solemnly the duties following. The expression is often used of servants coming to receive orders from their masters.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Bring
הַקְרֵב֙ (haq·rêḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

the tribe
מַטֵּ֣ה (maṭ·ṭêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

of Levi
לֵוִ֔י (lê·wî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

and present
וְֽהַעֲמַדְתָּ֣ (wə·ha·‘ă·maḏ·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

them to
לִפְנֵ֖י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

Aaron
אַהֲרֹ֣ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

the priest
הַכֹּהֵ֑ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

to assist him.
וְשֵׁרְת֖וּ (wə·šê·rə·ṯū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8334: To attend as a, menial, worshipper, to contribute to


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OT Law: Numbers 3:6 Bring the tribe of Levi near (Nu Num.)
Numbers 3:5
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