Deuteronomy 18:2
in Deuteronomy 18Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they shall have no inheritance among their brethren: Jehovah is their inheritance, as he hath spoken unto them.
KJV
Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the Lord is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.
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This verse in Deuteronomy 18
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThe Lord is their inheritance - He is the portion of their souls; and as to their bodies, they shall live by the offerings of the Lord made by fire, i. e., the meat-offering, the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering; and whatever was the Lord’s right, in these or other offerings, he gave to the priests.
This site's exposition
have no part nor inheritance
on Deuteronomy 18:1-2
Numbers 18:20 said it to Aaron first, I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel, and Joshua 13:14 and 13:33 record the land being divided with Levi left out of the division. The tribe that handles the offerings holds no ground. Verse 1 puts priests and Levites under one standing, and verse 2 states what they hold as a person rather than a property, the Lord is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Therefore shall they have none inheritance among their brethren,....
Care is likewise taken that they want not any of the comforts and conveniences of this life. Though God, who is a Spirit, is their inheritance, it does not therefore follow that they must live upon the air; no, 1.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
THE FIRE OFFERINGS OF THE ETERNAL — “the hallowed offerings of the Sanctuary. AND HIS INHERITANCE — these are hallowed gifts that may be consumed outside of the Sanctuary and Jerusalem, such as the heave-offerings and the tithes.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְנַחֲלָ֥ה | venachalah | and an inheritance | H5159 → | 222 times |
| לֹא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִֽהְיֶה־ | yihyeh- | it will belong | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| לּ֖וֹ | lo | to <the> him | ||
| בְּקֶ֣רֶב | bekerev | in [the] midst | H7130 → | 227 times |
| אֶחָ֑יו | ʾechav | countrymen his | H251 → | 630 times |
| יְהוָה֙ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| ה֣וּא | hu' | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| נַחֲלָת֔וֹ | nachalato | [is] inheritance his | H5159 → | 222 times |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| דִּבֶּר־ | diber- | he spoke | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| לֽוֹ׃ ס | lo | to <the> him |
וְנַחֲלָ֥הand an inheritance
venachalahH5159 →222 times
לֹא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
יִֽהְיֶה־it will belong
yihyeh-H1961 →3559 times
לּ֖וֹto <the> him
lo
בְּקֶ֣רֶבin [the] midst
bekerevH7130 →227 times
אֶחָ֑יוcountrymen his
ʾechavH251 →630 times
יְהוָה֙Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
ה֣וּאhe
hu'H1931 →1879 times
נַחֲלָת֔וֹ[is] inheritance his
nachalatoH5159 →222 times
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
דִּבֶּר־he spoke
diber-H1696 →1141 times
לֽוֹ׃ סto <the> him
lo
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:9–10
Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.
- Proverbs 2:7
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
- Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
- Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
- Psalms 85:12
The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
- Psalms 34:9–10
Through
Genesis 15:1After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Psalms 119:114
You are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word.
- Isaiah 41:10
Through
Psalms 16:5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.
it leads to
- Lamentations 3:24
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Lamentations 3:24
Where this verse is studied
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.