Deuteronomy 12:19
17 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:
18 But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.
Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
20 When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
21 If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
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
- and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.
- KJV
- Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
- WEB
- Be careful that you don’t forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
- ASV
- Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest in thy land.
- DARBY
- Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite all the days thou shalt be in thy land.
- BLB
- Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
- ÅB
- Vokt deg at du ikke glemmer levitten, så lenge du lever i ditt land!
- OTB
- Vær oppmerksom på å støtte levittene så lenge dere lever i deres land.
- B1930
- Vokt dig at du ikke glemmer levitten, så lenge du lever i ditt land!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Chronicles 31:4–21
Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.
Read in contextNehemiah 10:34–39
And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:
Read in context2 Chronicles 11:13–14
And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
Read in context1 Corinthians 9:10–14
Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 14:27–29
And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
Read in context