1 Corinthians 9:13

¹¹ If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?

¹² If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

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?

¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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?
KJV: Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
WEB: Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
ASV: Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?
DARBY: Do ye not know that they who labour [at] sacred things eat of the [offerings offered in the] temple; they that attend at the altar partake with the altar?
BLB: Do you⁺ not know that those working [in] the temple eat the [things] of the temple, [and] those attending at the altar partake in the altar?

ÅB: Vet dere ikke at de som gjør tjeneste i templet, får sin føde av templet, og de som tjener ved alteret, deler med alteret?
OTB: Vet dere ikke at de som utfører hellige tjenester spiser av tempelofringene, og de som regelmessig tjener ved alteret får del i det som ofres på alteret?
B1930: Vet I ikke at de som gjør tjeneste i templet, får sin føde av templet, og de som tjener ved alteret, deler med alteret?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Numbers 5:9–10
Every sacred contribution the Israelites bring to the priest shall belong to him.
Read in context
Leviticus 6:26
The priest who offers it shall eat it; it must be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.
Read in context
Numbers 18:8–20
Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.
Read in context
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 offerings of the Israelites made by fire.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 10:18
Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?
Read in context
Deuteronomy 18:1–5
The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They are to eat the offerings made by fire to the LORD; that is their inheritance.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 10:9
That is why Levi has no portion or inheritance among his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God promised him.
Read in context
Leviticus 7:6–8
Every male among the priests may eat of it. It must be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy.
Read in context