King James Version

Numbers 8:26

But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

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Hebrew

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וְשֵׁרֵ֨תvesheretand ministerשָׁרַתconjunction, verb, piel, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and minister”, a completed action in a sequenceH8334to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute tominister (unto), (do) serve(-ant, -ice, -itor), wait on.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).אֶחָ֜יוechayvbrother ; kindredאָחnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “brother ; kindred”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH251a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.בְּאֹ֤הֶלbeohelin tentאֹהֶלpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “in tent”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH168a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.מוֹעֵד֙moedappointedמוֹעֵדnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “appointed”, the ordinary formH4150properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally ayear; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand)appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn(-ity), synogogue, (set) time (appointed).לִשְׁמֹ֣רlishmorto bewardשָׁמַרpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “to beward”, the to-form of the verbH8104properly, 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).מִשְׁמֶ֔רֶתmishmeretor to be keptמִשְׁמֶרֶתnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “or to be kept”, the ordinary formH4931watch, 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.וַעֲבֹדָ֖הvaavodahand workעֲבֹדָהconjunction, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “and work”, the ordinary formH5656work of any kindact, bondage, [phrase] bondservant, effect, labour, ministering(-try), office, service(-ile, -itude), tillage, use, work, [idiom] wrought.לֹ֣אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “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…יַעֲבֹ֑דyaavodkeep in bondageעָבַדverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “keep in bondage”, an unfinished actionH5647to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.[idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er)…כָּ֛כָהkakhahsoכָּכָהadverb — “so”H3602just so, referring to the previous or following contextafter that (this) manner, this matter, (even) so, in such a case, thus.תַּעֲשֶׂ֥הtaasehdoעָשָׂהverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “do”, an unfinished actionH6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationaccomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, f…לַלְוִיִּ֖םlalviyimto Leviiteלֵוִיִּיpreposition, with the article, noun, gentilic, masculine, plural, absolute — “to Leviite”, the ordinary formH3881a Levite or descendant of LeviLeviite.בְּמִשְׁמְרֹתָֽםbemishmerotamin or to be keptמִשְׁמֶרֶתpreposition, noun, common, feminine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “in 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.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

but shall minister with their brethren in the tent of meeting, to keep the charge, but they shall do no manner of service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charges.'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

but shall minister with their brethren in the tent of meeting, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charges.

Young’s Literal Translation

and he hath ministered with his brethren in the tent of meeting, to keep the charge, and doth not do service; thus thou dost to the Levites concerning their charge.'

World English Bible

but shall assist their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, to perform the duty, and shall perform no service. This is how you shall have the Levites do their duties.”

Darby Translation

but he shall minister with his brethren in the tent of meeting, and keep the charge, but he shall not serve [in] the service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites with regard to their charges.

Douay-Rheims

And they shall be the ministers of their brethren in the tabernacle of the covenant, to keep the things that are committed to their care, but not to do the works. Thus shalt thou order the Levites touching their charge.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

but shall minister with their brethren in the tent of meeting, to keep the charge, but they shall do no manner of service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charges.'

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And his brother shall serve in the tabernacle of witness to keep charges, but he shall not do works: so shalt thou do to the Levites in their charges.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ λειτουργήσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὑτοῦ ἐν τῇ σκηνῇ τοῦ μαρτυρίου φυλάσσειν φυλακὰς, ἔργα δὲ οὐκ ἐργᾶται· οὕτως ποιήσεις τοῖς Λευίταις ἐν ταῖς φυλακαῖς αὐτῶν.