Numbers 3:8
New International Version
They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle.

New Living Translation
They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent, serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites.

English Standard Version
They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle.

Berean Standard Bible
They shall take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill obligations for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

King James Bible
And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

New King James Version
Also they shall attend to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of the tabernacle.

New American Standard Bible
They shall also take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

NASB 1995
“They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

NASB 1977
“They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Legacy Standard Bible
They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the responsibility of the sons of Israel, to perform the service of the tabernacle.

Amplified Bible
They shall also take care of all the furnishings and utensils of the Tent of Meeting, and [attend to] the duties of the Israelites, doing the service of the tabernacle.

Christian Standard Bible
They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and perform duties for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and perform duties for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

American Standard Version
And they shall keep all the furniture of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Contemporary English Version
The Levites will serve the community by being responsible for the furnishings of the tent.

English Revised Version
And they shall keep all the furniture of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent.

Good News Translation
They shall take charge of all the equipment of the Tent and perform the duties for the rest of the Israelites.

International Standard Version
They are to take charge of the utensils at the Tent of Meeting and meet the needs of the Israelis by performing duties on behalf of the tent.

Majority Standard Bible
They shall take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill obligations for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

NET Bible
And they are responsible for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and for the needs of the Israelites, as they serve in the tabernacle.

New Heart English Bible
They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

World English Bible
They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they have kept all the vessels of the Tent of Meeting, and the charge of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the Dwelling Place;

Young's Literal Translation
and they have kept all the vessels of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle;

Smith's Literal Translation
And they shall watch all the vessels of the tent of appointment, and the watches of the sons of Israel, to do the work of the dwelling.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And let them keep the vessels of the tabernacle, serving in the ministry thereof.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and let them take care of the vessels of the tabernacle, serving in its ministry.

New American Bible
They shall have responsibility for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and discharge the obligations of the Israelites by maintaining the tabernacle.

New Revised Standard Version
they shall be in charge of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and attend to the duties for the Israelites as they do service at the tabernacle.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they shall keep all the implements of the Time Tent and the guarding of the children of Israel to do the service of the Tabernacle.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they shall keep all the furniture of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they shall keep all the furniture of the tabernacle of witness, and the charges of the children of Israel as to all the works of the tabernacle.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Duties of the Levites
7They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle. 8They shall take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill obligations for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle. 9Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been given exclusively to him from among the Israelites.…

Cross References
Exodus 25:9
You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I show you.

Exodus 25:40
See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

Exodus 27:21
In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.

Exodus 30:7-8
And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. / When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.

Exodus 38:21
This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

Leviticus 8:35
You must remain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days and keep the LORD’s charge so that you will not die, for this is what I have been commanded.”

Leviticus 24:3
Outside the veil of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps continually before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come.

Deuteronomy 10:8
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.

1 Chronicles 23:32
So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, the service of the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 13:10-11
But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not forsaken Him; the priests who minister to the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties. / Every morning and every evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the rows of showbread on the ceremonially clean table, and every evening they light the lamps of the gold lampstand. We are carrying out the requirements of the LORD our God, while you have forsaken Him.

Nehemiah 10:39
For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.”

Hebrews 8:5
The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

Hebrews 9:1-5
Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. / A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. / Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, ...

Hebrews 9:6-10
When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. / But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. / By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. ...

Hebrews 9:23
So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.


Treasury of Scripture

And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Numbers 4:15,28,33
And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation…

Numbers 10:17,21
And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle…

1 Chronicles 26:20-28
And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things…

Jump to Previous
Attend Care Charge Children Congregation Duties Fulfilling Furnishings Furniture House Instruments Israel Israelites Kept Meeting Minister Necessary Obligations Service Tabernacle Tent Utensils Vessels Work
Jump to Next
Attend Care Charge Children Congregation Duties Fulfilling Furnishings Furniture House Instruments Israel Israelites Kept Meeting Minister Necessary Obligations Service Tabernacle Tent Utensils Vessels Work
Numbers 3
1. The sons of Aaron
5. The Levites are given to the priests instead of the firstborn
14. Are numbered by their families
21. The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites
27. Of the Kohathites
33. Of the Merarites
38. The place and charge of Moses and Aaron
40. The firstborn are freed by the Levites
44. The balances are refunded














And they shall attend
The Hebrew root for "attend" is "שָׁמַר" (shamar), which means to keep, guard, or watch over. This word conveys a sense of diligent care and responsibility. In the context of the Levites, it emphasizes their role as guardians of the sacred space, ensuring that everything is maintained according to God's commands. This duty reflects the broader biblical theme of stewardship, where God's people are called to faithfully manage what has been entrusted to them.

to all the furnishings
The term "furnishings" refers to the sacred objects within the Tent of Meeting, including the altar, the lampstand, and the table of showbread. Each item had specific instructions for its use and care, as detailed in earlier chapters of Exodus. The Hebrew word "כְּלִי" (kli) can mean vessel or instrument, highlighting the functional and symbolic roles these items played in worship. The Levites' responsibility for these furnishings underscores the importance of reverence and precision in worship practices.

of the Tent of Meeting
The "Tent of Meeting," or "אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד" (ohel moed) in Hebrew, was the portable sanctuary where God met with Moses and the Israelites. It served as the central place of worship and divine communication during the wilderness journey. The Tent of Meeting symbolizes God's desire to dwell among His people and the need for a consecrated space for His presence. This concept is foundational to understanding the holiness required in approaching God.

and fulfill the obligations
The phrase "fulfill the obligations" translates the Hebrew "שָׁרַת" (sharat), meaning to minister or serve. This service was not merely a set of tasks but a sacred duty that required dedication and purity. The Levites' role was to assist the priests and ensure that the worship of God was conducted according to His statutes. This service reflects the broader biblical principle that true worship involves both heart and action, aligning with God's will.

of the Israelites
The Levites served on behalf of the entire nation of Israel, acting as intermediaries between God and His people. This role highlights the communal aspect of worship and the interconnectedness of the Israelite community. The Levites' service was a reminder that the spiritual well-being of the nation depended on faithful adherence to God's commands and the proper functioning of the tabernacle.

doing the work of the tabernacle
The "work of the tabernacle" encompasses all activities related to the maintenance and operation of the sacred space. The Hebrew word "עֲבֹדָה" (avodah) means work or service, often used in the context of worship. This work was not mundane but a holy vocation, requiring the Levites to be set apart for God's purposes. It serves as a reminder that all work done for the Lord, no matter how seemingly ordinary, is sacred and significant in His eyes.

Verse 8. - Instruments. Vessels and furniture. Septuagint, σκεύη. Vulgate, vasa.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They shall take care of
וְשָׁמְר֗וּ (wə·šā·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

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

the furnishings
כְּלֵי֙ (kə·lê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

of the Tent
אֹ֣הֶל (’ō·hel)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 168: A tent

of Meeting
מוֹעֵ֔ד (mō·w·‘êḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4150: Appointed time, place, or meeting

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

fulfill obligations
מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת (miš·me·reṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4931: A guard, watch, charge, function

for the Israelites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

by attending
לַעֲבֹ֖ד (la·‘ă·ḇōḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

to the service
עֲבֹדַ֥ת (‘ă·ḇō·ḏaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5656: Work of any kind

of the tabernacle.
הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ (ham·miš·kān)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4908: A residence, the Tabernacle


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OT Law: Numbers 3:8 They shall keep all the furnishings (Nu Num.)
Numbers 3:7
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