Deuteronomy 12:19
New International Version
Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

New Living Translation
And be very careful never to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

English Standard Version
Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.

Berean Standard Bible
and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

King James Bible
Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.

New King James Version
Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.

New American Standard Bible
Be careful that you do not abandon the Levite as long as you live in your land.

NASB 1995
“Be careful that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.

NASB 1977
“Be careful that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.

Legacy Standard Bible
Beware lest you forsake the Levite all your days upon your land.

Amplified Bible
Be careful that you do not neglect the Levite [who serves God] as long as you live in your land.

Christian Standard Bible
and be careful not to neglect the Levite, as long as you live in your land.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and be careful not to neglect the Levite, as long as you live in your land.”

American Standard Version
Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest in thy land.

English Revised Version
Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon thy land.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't forget to take care of the Levites as long as you live in your land.

Good News Translation
Be sure, also, not to neglect the Levites, as long as you live in your land.

International Standard Version
Be careful not to forget the descendant of Levi while you live in the land.

Majority Standard Bible
and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

NET Bible
Be careful not to overlook the Levites as long as you live in the land.

New Heart English Bible
Be careful that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.

Webster's Bible Translation
Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.

World English Bible
Be careful that you don’t forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
take heed to yourself lest you forsake the Levite [for] all your days on your ground.

Young's Literal Translation
take heed to thee lest thou forsake the Levite all thy days on thy ground.

Smith's Literal Translation
Watch to thyself lest thou shalt forsake the Levite all thy days upon the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Take heed thou forsake not the Levite all the time that thou livest in the land.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Be careful, lest you abandon the Levite, at anytime while you are living in the land.

New American Bible
Be careful, also, that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.

New Revised Standard Version
Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Take heed to yourselves that you do not forsake the Levites as long as you live upon the earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Beware that you will not forsake the Levites all of your days in the land.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon thy land.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Take heed to thyself that thou do not desert the Levite all the time that thou livest upon the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
One Place for Worship
18Instead, you must eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates. Rejoice before the LORD your God in all you do, 19and be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land. 20When the LORD your God expands your territory as He has promised, and you crave meat and say, “I want to eat meat,” you may eat it whenever you want.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 14:27
And do not neglect the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.

Deuteronomy 14:29
Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance among you), the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come and eat and be satisfied. And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 16:11
and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.

Deuteronomy 16:14
And you shall rejoice in your feast—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.

Deuteronomy 26:11-13
So you shall rejoice—you, the Levite, and the foreigner dwelling among you—in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. / When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat and be filled within your gates. / Then you shall declare in the presence of the LORD your God, “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all the commandments You have given me. I have not transgressed or forgotten Your commandments.

Numbers 18:20-24
Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. / Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting. / No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die. ...

Nehemiah 13:10-13
I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields. / So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts, / and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms. ...

Malachi 3:8-10
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. / You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. / Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.

1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? / In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Galatians 6:6
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.

1 Timothy 5:17-18
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. / For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”

Hebrews 7:5
Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

2 Chronicles 31:4-5
Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. / As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything.

2 Chronicles 31:19
As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around each of their cities or in any other city, men were designated by name to distribute a portion to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed by the genealogies.

Ezekiel 44:28-30
In regard to their inheritance, I am their inheritance. You are to give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession. / They shall eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Everything in Israel devoted to the LORD will belong to them. / The best of all the firstfruits and of every contribution from all your offerings will belong to the priests. You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest, so that a blessing may rest upon your homes.


Treasury of Scripture

Take heed to yourself that you forsake not the Levite as long as you live on the earth.

Take

Deuteronomy 14:27-29
And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee…

2 Chronicles 11:13,14
And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts…

2 Chronicles 31:4-21
Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD…

as long [heb] all thy days.

Deuteronomy 12:1
These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.

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Careful Caring Earth Heed Levite Levites Neglect Thyself
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Careful Caring Earth Heed Levite Levites Neglect Thyself
Deuteronomy 12
1. Monuments of idolatry to be destroyed
4. The place of God's service to be kept
15. Blood is forbidden
17. Holy things must be eaten in the holy place
19. The Levite is not to be forsaken
20. Blood is again forbidden
26. and holy things must be eaten in the holy place
29. Idolatry is not to be enquired after














Be careful
The phrase "be careful" in Hebrew is "שָׁמַר" (shamar), which means to guard, keep, or observe. This word conveys a sense of vigilance and intentionality. In the context of Deuteronomy, it underscores the importance of being diligent in following God's commands. The Israelites are reminded to be attentive and deliberate in their actions, ensuring that they adhere to the covenantal laws given by God. This vigilance is not just a passive awareness but an active commitment to uphold God's statutes.

not to neglect
The Hebrew root for "neglect" is "עָזַב" (azab), which means to forsake, leave, or abandon. This term implies a conscious decision to disregard or overlook something. In the context of this verse, it serves as a warning against the potential oversight or disregard of the Levites' needs. The Levites, who were set apart for religious duties, depended on the support of the other tribes. Thus, neglecting them would not only be a failure in social responsibility but also a breach of the covenantal relationship with God.

the Levite
The Levites were members of the tribe of Levi, set apart for specific religious duties and services in the tabernacle and later in the temple. They did not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes, as their inheritance was the Lord Himself (Numbers 18:20-24). This unique role required the other tribes to support them through tithes and offerings. The Levites' service was integral to the spiritual life of Israel, and their well-being was directly linked to the nation's faithfulness to God.

as long as you live
This phrase emphasizes the enduring nature of the command. The Hebrew expression "כָּל־יָמֶיךָ" (kol yamecha) translates to "all your days," indicating a lifelong commitment. The Israelites were to continually remember and support the Levites throughout their entire lives. This perpetual obligation reflects the ongoing nature of God's covenant with His people, which required consistent faithfulness and obedience.

in your land
The phrase "in your land" refers to the Promised Land, which God gave to the Israelites as an inheritance. This land was not just a physical territory but a place where they were to live out their covenant relationship with God. The land was a gift from God, and living in it came with responsibilities, including the care for the Levites. The well-being of the Levites was tied to the Israelites' faithfulness in the land, serving as a reminder of their dependence on God's provision and their duty to uphold His commands.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and be careful
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר (hiš·šā·mer)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

not
פֶּֽן־ (pen-)
Conjunction
Strong's 6435: Removal, lest

to neglect
תַּעֲזֹ֖ב (ta·‘ă·zōḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

the Levites
הַלֵּוִ֑י (hal·lê·wî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

as
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

long as you live in
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your land.
אַדְמָתֶֽךָ׃ (’aḏ·mā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 12:19 Take heed to yourself that you don't (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 12:18
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