They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.

DEUTERONOMY 18:8KJV
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Deuteronomy 18:8 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 18:8 mean?

Deuteronomy 18:8 says that a Levite who comes to serve at the place God chooses is to receive an equal share of food with the Levites already serving there. In the KJV, that share is his even if he also has proceeds from selling family property.

Moses is speaking to the people of Israel. After describing the Levite’s service in verse 7, Moses addresses how the Levite is to be fed. “Patrimony” refers to property received from one’s family.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 18:8

  • “portions” — חֵלֶק (ḥeleq): This word means a share or portion. Here it points to a share assigned alongside those of the other Levites.
  • “patrimony” — אָב (ʾav): This word commonly means “father.” The KJV’s “patrimony” brings out the connection with property from the Levite’s family line.

Why Deuteronomy 18:8 matters

  • A Levite’s service is treated as belonging among that of the other Levites. Verse 7 says he may serve “as all his brethren the Levites do,” and verse 8 gives him a like portion.
  • The food comes from what the people provide for the Levites. Earlier in the passage, verses 3–5 name portions of offerings and the first produce of the land among those provisions.

Where else these words appear

“sale” Hebrew H4465 · used in 10 verses

  • Leviticus 25:14 And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not oppress one another:
  • Leviticus 25:28 But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile: and in the jubile it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession.
  • Leviticus 25:50 And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.

“portions” Hebrew H2506 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 14:24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
  • 1 Samuel 30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.
  • Ecclesiastes 2:21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.