Deuteronomy 18:5
Deuteronomy 18:5 in Multiple Translations
For 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.
For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.
For Jehovah thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of Jehovah, him and his sons for ever.
For he, and his sons after him for ever, have been marked out by the Lord your God from all your tribes, to do the work of priests in the name of the Lord.
For the Lord your God has chosen Levi and his descendants from all your tribes to stand before him and serve in his name forever.
For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stande and minister in the Name of the Lord, him, and his sonnes for euer.
for on him hath Jehovah thy God fixed, out of all thy tribes, to stand to serve in the name of Jehovah, He and his sons continually.
For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the LORD’s name, him and his sons forever.
For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.
For the Lord thy God hath chosen him of all thy tribes, to stand and to minister to the name of the Lord, him and his sons for ever.
You must do this because Yahweh our God has chosen the tribe of Levi from all of your tribes, in order that men from that tribe would always be the priests who would serve him.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 18:5
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Deuteronomy 18:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 18:5
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 18:5
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 18:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 18:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 18:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:5
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 18:5
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 18:5
Context — Provision for Priests and Levites
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.
6Now if a Levite moves from any town of residence throughout Israel and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose, 7then he shall serve in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. |
| 2 | Numbers 3:10 | So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.” |
| 3 | Exodus 28:1–14 | “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. Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor. You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest. These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests. They shall use gold, along with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen. They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. It shall have two shoulder pieces attached at two of its corners, so it can be fastened. And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod must be of one piece, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen. Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, in the order of their birth. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings. Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the LORD. Fashion gold filigree settings and two chains of pure gold, made of braided cord work; and attach these chains to the settings. |
| 4 | Numbers 16:9–10 | Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them? He has brought you near, you and all your fellow Levites, but you are seeking the priesthood as well. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 17:12 | But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel. |
| 6 | Numbers 17:5–9 | The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.” So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff—one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them. Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony. The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff. |
| 7 | Numbers 16:5 | Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses, He will bring near to Himself. |
| 8 | Numbers 25:13 | It will be a covenant of permanent priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.” |
Deuteronomy 18:5 Summary
This verse tells us that God chose the tribe of Levi to be His special servants, standing and ministering in His name forever. This means they got to represent God and help the other tribes worship Him. It's like how Jesus chose His disciples to be His special helpers, as seen in Matthew 10:1-4. We can learn from the Levites' example by being faithful and willing to serve God in our own ways, whether that's through volunteering, prayer, or simply being a good friend to those around us (see Galatians 5:13).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did God choose the tribe of Levi for special service?
God chose the Levites to serve as priests and ministers because of their faithfulness and willingness to stand with Him, as seen in Exodus 32:26 and Numbers 3:6-10. This choice was a demonstration of God's sovereign will and purpose.
What does it mean to 'stand and minister in His name'?
To stand and minister in God's name means to represent Him and serve as His ambassadors, carrying out the tasks and responsibilities He has assigned to us, as seen in Deuteronomy 10:8 and 1 Peter 2:9.
Is this verse still relevant today, or was it only for the Israelites?
While this verse was specifically addressed to the Israelites, the principle of God choosing and calling certain individuals or groups for special service is still relevant today, as seen in Romans 1:1 and 1 Corinthians 1:1, where the apostle Paul describes himself as a called servant of Jesus Christ.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual leadership?
This verse highlights the importance of spiritual leadership and the role of those who are called to serve God and His people, as seen in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Hebrews 13:17, which provide guidance on the qualifications and responsibilities of spiritual leaders.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean to be 'chosen' by God, and how does this affect my sense of identity and purpose?
- How can I, like the Levites, 'stand and minister' in God's name in my daily life and relationships?
- What are some ways I can demonstrate faithfulness and willingness to serve God, like the Levites did?
- How does this verse encourage or challenge me to re-examine my own role in serving God and His people?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 18:5
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 18:5
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:5
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:5
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 18:5
Sermons on Deuteronomy 18:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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A Burden Under Badger Skins by Allan Halton | Allan Halton preaches on the importance of bearing one another's burdens, emphasizing the beautiful law of Christ where we carry each other's burdens, reflecting Christ's act of ca |
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(K-Char-03) Strange Fire by Art Katz | In this sermon transcript, T. Austin Sparks discusses the concept of false life and false fire. He emphasizes the difference between spiritual eternal life and soul life, stating t |
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A Touch From God - Part 2 by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the importance of responding to God's call to come up and come out, using Moses as an example of someone who drew near to God and pursued a life of prayer. I |
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(Exodus) Exodus 28:1-3 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of seeing God in everything, including the instructions given in the Bible. The speaker compares the Bible to a picture book, |
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The Cost of Worship by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the humility and simplicity of Jesus Christ. He compares Jesus to the apostle Paul, who often said "finally" but continued to write more cha |
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Aaron & His Sons: The Holy Priesthood by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the qualities of a man after God's own heart. He emphasizes the importance of being what God wants us to be, a man in Christ, in order for God |
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Money, Mules and Travel by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of reaching out to the lost and sharing the message of salvation. He highlights that the purpose of the church is to bring pe |







