King James Version

Numbers 1:53

But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

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Hebrew

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וְהַלְוִיִּ֞םvehalviyimand the Leviiteלֵוִיִּיconjunction, definite article, noun, gentilic, masculine, plural, absolute — “and the Leviite”, the ordinary formH3881a Levite or descendant of LeviLeviite.יַחֲנ֤וּyachanvencampחָנָהverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “encamp”, an unfinished actionH2583properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege)abide (in tents), camp, dwell, encamp, grow to an end, lie, pitch (tent), rest in tent.סָבִיב֙savivaboutסָבִיבnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “about”, the ordinary formH5439(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around(place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side.לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ןlemishkanto tabernacleמִשְׁכָּןpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “to tabernacle”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4908a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden walls)dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent.הָעֵדֻ֔תhaedutthe testimonyעֵדוּתdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the testimony”, the ordinary formH5715testimonytestimony, witness.וְלֹֽאveloand no , -r,לֹאconjunction, particle, negative — “and no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…יִהְיֶ֣הyihyehbeהָיָהverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be”, an unfinished actionH1961to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.קֶ֔צֶףqetseffoamקֶצֶףnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “foam”, the ordinary formH7110a splinter (as chipped off); figuratively, rage or strifefoam, indignation, [idiom] sore, wrath.עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…עֲדַ֖תadatassemblyעֵדָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “assembly”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5712a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare H5713 (עֵדָה).בְּנֵ֣יbenesonבֵּןnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “son”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)[phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, […יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyisraelIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלnoun, proper name — “Israel”H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterityIsrael.וְשָׁמְרוּ֙veshamervand bewardשָׁמַרconjunction, verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “and beward”, a completed action in a sequenceH8104properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).הַלְוִיִּ֔םhalviyimthe Leviiteלֵוִיִּיdefinite article, noun, gentilic, masculine, plural, absolute — “the Leviite”, the ordinary formH3881a Levite or descendant of LeviLeviite.אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶתmishmeretor to be keptמִשְׁמֶרֶתnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “or to be kept”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4931watch, i.e. the act (custody), or (concretely) the sentry, the post; objectively preservation, or (concretely) safe; figuratively observance, i.e. (abstractly) duty or (objectively) a usage or partycharge, keep, or to be kept, office, ordinace, safeguard, ward, watch.מִשְׁכַּ֥ןmishkantabernacleמִשְׁכָּןnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “tabernacle”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4908a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden walls)dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent.הָעֵדֽוּתhaedutthe testimonyעֵדוּתdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the testimony”, the ordinary formH5715testimonytestimony, witness.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

But the Levites shall encamp round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.

Young’s Literal Translation

and the Levites encamp round about the tabernacle of the testimony; and there is no wrath on the company of the sons of Israel, and the Levites have kept the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.

World English Bible

But the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel. The Levites shall be responsible for the Tabernacle of the Testimony.”

Darby Translation

but the Levites shall encamp round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there come not wrath upon the assembly of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

Douay-Rheims

But the Levites shall pitch their tents round about the tabernacle, lest there come indignation upon the multitude of the children of Israel, and they shall keep watch, and guard the tabernacle of the testimony.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

But let the Levites encamp round about the tabernacle of witness fronting it, and so there shall be no sin among the children of Israel; and the Levites themselves shall keep the guard of the tabernacle of witness.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Οἱ δὲ Λευῖται παρεμβαλλέτωσαν ἐναντίοι κύκλῳ τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἁμάρτημα ἐν υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ. καὶ φυλάξουσιν οἱ Λευῖται αὐτοὶ τὴν φυλακὴν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου.