What Does Numbers 18:26 Mean in the King James?
Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Levites’ inheritance is itself a gift in motion: they receive a tithe, then lift a tenth of that very tithe to the LORD.
THE MEANING
You see receiving and returning held together: the Levites receive Israel’s tithe as their inheritance, and a tenth of what they receive is lifted to the LORD. The gift becomes provision without becoming an endpoint; it carries a portion set apart for return.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that receiving makes the whole portion exclusively yours: even what is given as inheritance contains a share to be offered onward.
THE ROOT
מַעֲשֵׂר
ma'aser
GROWS FROM
עשר
Ten; the tithe is a portion measured from ten.
The Hebrew repeats ma’aser: a tithe is taken from the tithe. The root keeps the portion visibly measured against ten, so the Levites’ share is apportioned from what they receive.
ALSO GROWS
ʿeser: Ten.
עֶשֶׂר
The root’s number remains audible in the tithe: the portion is defined by a tenth.
ʿasiri: Tenth, as an ordinal form.
עֲשִׂירִי
It makes the fractional measure explicit: what is lifted is a tenth of the received tithe.
תְּרוּמָה
terumah
GROWS FROM
רום
Rise or be high; in causative forms, raise or lift.
“heave offering” in this verse is terumah. The Hebrew names this contribution as a lifted portion. The Levites lift it from the very provision they have received, so dedication is a movement within the gift.
ALSO GROWS
ram: High or elevated.
רָם
The same root carries the sense of elevation inside the name of the offering.
herim: Raised or lifted up.
הֵרִים
This verbal form shows the lifting action embedded in terumah.
נָתַתִּי
natatti
GROWS FROM
נתן
Give, set, or place.
The LORD describes the tithe as something placed into the Levites’ hands for their inheritance. The later offering comes from what has already been given, keeping receipt and onward giving in one movement.
ALSO GROWS
natan: To give, set, or place.
נָתַן
This is the root behind “I have given you,” framing the Levites’ portion as received provision.
mattanah: A gift.
מַתָּנָה
The noun from this root keeps the character of gift present in what becomes the Levites’ inheritance.
THE PATTERN
What is received for provision remains accountable to be apportioned in service.
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.THE THREAD
When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;Both verses use נתן (natan, give or place) for what moves into another’s hands: Numbers says the LORD has given the tithe to the Levites, while Deuteronomy describes the tithe given to the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow. The shared root makes the portion’s movement visible, from receipt to provision.
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