And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.

NUMBERS 18:11KJV
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Numbers 18:11 (KJV)

What does Numbers 18:11 mean?

Numbers 18:11 explains that certain offerings given by the Israelites—specifically the heave and wave offerings—are given by God to Aaron, his sons, and his daughters as a permanent share. Anyone in Aaron’s household who is ceremonially clean is allowed to eat these offerings.

In context, God is speaking to Aaron, the high priest, about the special rights and responsibilities of the priests and their families. This verse sets out how some of the gifts brought by the people of Israel (the children of Israel) are not just for ritual use, but are also meant to provide for the priests’ families, as long as they follow the rules about ceremonial cleanliness.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 18:11

  • "offering" (תְּרוּמָה, terumah): This word refers to a portion that is lifted up or set aside as a special gift to God, then given to the priests. It highlights that what is given to the priests is considered holy and set apart.
  • "statute" (חֹק, choq): This term means a fixed rule or ordinance. Its use here emphasizes that this arrangement is not temporary but is meant to be a lasting law for the priestly families.
  • "clean" (טָהוֹר, tahor): This word means ritually pure. Only those in the priest’s household who are ceremonially clean can eat the offerings, stressing the importance of purity in handling holy things.

Why Numbers 18:11 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the support of priests comes directly from the offerings of the people, showing a practical side to the sacrificial system.
  • It highlights the ongoing, permanent nature of this provision (“by a statute for ever”), connecting it to the broader laws about the priesthood in Israel.
  • The requirement that only those who are “clean” may eat these offerings underlines the seriousness of ritual purity in Israel’s worship practices.

Where else these words appear

“gift” Hebrew H4976 · used in 5 verses

  • Genesis 34:12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
  • Proverbs 18:16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
  • Proverbs 19:6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

“offerings” Hebrew H8573 · used in 28 verses

  • Exodus 29:24 And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the LORD.
  • Leviticus 8:29 And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part; as the LORD commanded Moses.
  • Leviticus 23:20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.

“offering” Hebrew H8641 · used in 63 verses

  • Exodus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
  • Numbers 15:19 Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD.
  • Nehemiah 10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

“clean” Hebrew H2889 · used in 87 verses

  • Genesis 7:2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
  • Exodus 39:25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates;
  • Deuteronomy 12:15 Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.