The Meaning of Numbers 18:31 Explained

Numbers 18:31

KJV: And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.

YLT: and ye have eaten it in every place, ye and your households, for it is your hire in exchange for your service in the tent of meeting;

Darby: And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households; for it is your reward for your service in the tent of meeting.

ASV: And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And ye shall eat  it in every place,  ye and your households:  for it [is] your reward  for  your service  in the tabernacle  of the congregation. 

What does Numbers 18:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 18:21-32 - Give God The Best
The inner service of the Tabernacle was assigned to the priests, who must be of the house of Aaron. The Levites were joined to the house of Aaron for the more menial service. In the earlier portion of this chapter, Numbers 18:5-20, the maintenance of the priests is provided for; and in this part, Numbers 18:21-32, the maintenance of the Levites. A tithe of the heave-offerings of Israel was assigned to them. It had been Levi's doom to be scattered in Israel, Genesis 49:7. But the curse was transmuted to blessing. They were summoned to perform the priestly office of the first-born, and God was not unmindful to reward them for their arduous labors. He Himself became their inheritance.
But though the Levite's sustenance was assured from the gifts of Israel, he was not absolved from the privilege and duty of contributing to the service of God. He, too, must offer a tithe for the support of the priests. "We are members one of another." [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 18

1  The charge of the priests and Levites
8  The priests, portion
21  The Levites,
25  The heave offering to the priests out of the Levites' portion

What do the individual words in Numbers 18:31 mean?

And You may eat it in any place you and your households for reward it [is] your for your work in the tabernacle of meeting
וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם אֹתוֹ֙ בְּכָל־ מָק֔וֹם אַתֶּ֖ם וּבֵֽיתְכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־ שָׂכָ֥ר הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם חֵ֥לֶף עֲבֹֽדַתְכֶ֖ם בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד

וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם  And  You  may  eat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
בְּכָל־  in  any 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מָק֔וֹם  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
וּבֵֽיתְכֶ֑ם  and  your  households 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
שָׂכָ֥ר  reward 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂכָר  
Sense: hire, wages.
הוּא֙  it  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
לָכֶ֔ם  your 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
עֲבֹֽדַתְכֶ֖ם  your  work 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
בְּאֹ֥הֶל  in  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
מוֹעֵֽד  of  meeting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.