Deuteronomy 18:5

5 for the LORD your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the LORD’s name always.

Deuteronomy 18:5 in Other Translations

5 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.

5 For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for all time.

5 For the LORD your God chose the tribe of Levi out of all your tribes to minister in the LORD ’s name forever.

5 because God, your God, has chosen only them and their children out of all your tribes to be present and serve always in the name of God, your God.

5 For the Lord your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes to stand and minister in the Lord's name from now on.

Deuteronomy 18:5 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 18:5

For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes,
&c.] That is, has chosen the tribe of Levi out of all the other tribes of Israel:

to stand to minister in the name of the Lord;
the priests to minister to the Lord by offering sacrifices, and the Levites to minister to the priests in assisting them in their service; and both their ministry were in the name of the Lord, and for his glory, and done standing; for there was no sitting in the sanctuary ^F23; the priestly ministry was only performed standing ^F24, whatever was done sitting was rejected {y}; see ( Hebrews 10:11 ) ,

him and his sons for ever;
Levi and his posterity, or the posterity of the tribe of Levi, were chosen by the Lord to this service, to be employed in it as long as the ceremonial law continued, on which stood the Levitical priesthood; but both are now abolished by Christ, having their accomplishment in him, ( Hebrews 7:11 ) ( 12:18 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 Maimon. in Misn. Zebachim, c. 2. sect. 1.
F24 Bartenora in ib.
F25 Misn. ib.

Deuteronomy 18:5 In-Context

3 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.

4 You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep,

5 for the LORD your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the LORD’s name always.

6 If a Levite moves from one of your towns anywhere in Israel where he is living, and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose,

7 he may minister in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who serve there in the presence of the LORD.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 28:1
• 2. Deuteronomy 10:8
• 3. S Exodus 29:9