But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

NUMBERS 18:24KJV
Know the Bible

Numbers 18:24 (KJV)

What does Numbers 18:24 mean?

Numbers 18:24 explains that the tithes collected from the Israelites, which they present as a special offering to the LORD, are given to the Levites as their share or inheritance. Because of this, the Levites do not receive a land inheritance among the other tribes of Israel.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, instructing him about the arrangements for the Levites. The Levites are set apart for service in the tabernacle, and instead of receiving land like the other tribes, their portion is the tithes (a tenth of the produce and goods) given by the rest of Israel. This arrangement highlights the unique role and dependence of the Levites on the community’s offerings rather than on land ownership.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 18:24

  • "tithes" (מַעֲשֵׂר, ma‘ăsēr): This word refers to a tenth part, specifically the portion of produce or goods set aside for religious purposes. Here, it emphasizes that the Levites’ support comes from the people’s offerings, not from land.
  • "inherit" and "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה, naḥălāh): This word means a possession or portion, usually land passed down through families. The verse uses it to stress that the Levites’ inheritance is not land, but the tithes.
  • "Levites" (לֵוִי, Lēwī): This identifies the tribe set apart for religious duties. Their unique status is underlined by their different kind of inheritance.
  • "offer" (רוּם, rūm): This verb means to lift up or present, describing the act of giving the tithes as a special, elevated offering to God.

Why Numbers 18:24 matters

  • Numbers 18:24 clears up why the Levites did not receive land like the other tribes; their inheritance was the tithes, not territory.
  • The verse reveals the practical arrangement God set up to provide for those serving in the tabernacle, showing the community’s responsibility to support them.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by explaining the ongoing relationship between the Levites and the rest of Israel, setting a pattern for how religious service was supported in ancient Israel.

Where else these words appear

“tithes” Hebrew H4643 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
  • Deuteronomy 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:
  • Nehemiah 10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

“have” Hebrew H5157 · used in 59 verses

  • Exodus 23:30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
  • Deuteronomy 19:14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
  • Proverbs 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

“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.