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Deuteronomy 21:5

Levi

3 Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work,

4 bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.

And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault.

6 Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,

7 and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.

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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 the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault.
KJV
And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:
WEB
The priests the sons of Levi shall come near, for them the LORD your God has chosen to minister to him, and to bless in the LORD’s name; and according to their word shall every controversy and every assault be decided.
ASV
And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them Jehovah thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of Jehovah; and according to their word shall every controversy and every stroke be.
DARBY
and the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them Jehovah thy God hath chosen to do service unto him, and to bless in the name of Jehovah; and according to their word shall be every controversy and every stroke.
BLB
And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near; for YHWH your God has chosen them to serve and to bless in the name of YHWH, and by their mouth shall be [settled] every controversy and every assault.
ÅB
Så skal prestene, Levis sønner, trede fram; for dem har Herren din Gud utvalgt til å tjene ham og til å velsigne i Herrens navn, og etter deres ord skal enhver tvist og enhver skade avgjøres.
OTB
Så skal de levittiske prestene tre frem, for Herren din Gud har utvalgt dem til å tjene Ham og til å velsigne i Herrens navn, og til å avgjøre alle tvister og tilfeller av overfall.
B1930
Så skal prestene, Levis sønner, trede frem; for dem har Herren din Gud utvalgt til å tjene ham og til å velsigne i Herrens navn, og efter deres ord skal enhver tvist og enhver skade avgjøres.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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.

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  • Malachi 2:7

    For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

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  • 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.

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  • Deuteronomy 19:17

    both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.

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  • Numbers 6:22–27

    Then the LORD said to Moses,

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  • Deuteronomy 18:5

    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.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 17:8–12

    If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose.

    Read in context