The Meaning of Deuteronomy 18:3 Explained

Deuteronomy 18:3

KJV: And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.

YLT: 'And this is the priest's right from the people, from those sacrificing a sacrifice, whether ox or sheep, he hath even given to the priest the leg, and the two cheeks, and the stomach;

Darby: And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that sacrifice a sacrifice, whether ox, or sheep: they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the jawbones, and the maw.

ASV: And this shall be the priests due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And this shall be the priest's  due  from the people,  from them that offer  a sacrifice,  whether [it be] ox  or sheep;  and they shall give  unto the priest  the shoulder,  and the two cheeks,  and the maw. 

What does Deuteronomy 18:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 18:1-22 - The Prophet Who Was To Come
Those that serve the altar may live by the altar. Let us not forget the needs of those who serve us in holy things. It is a blessed thing when an individual desires "the place that the Lord chooses." Let us be true to the inner prompting, at whatever cost. We shall be fully repaid. When Peter loaned his boat Jesus returned it, filled with fish!
We are to be "perfect with the Lord"-i.e., we are not knowingly to permit things that hurt or grieve His Holy Spirit. If the question should arise, how we are to know God's way, we must take our question to the true Prophet. See Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37. He can answer our hard question; but we are strictly forbidden to go to crystal-gazers, palmists, fortune-tellers, and those who profess to read the future. How serious is their fault who refuse Him! Compare Deuteronomy 18:19 with Hebrews 10:28-29. Let thy Urim and Thummim be with the Holy One! 1 Samuel 23:11-12; 1 Samuel 30:7-8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 18

1  The LORD is the priests and Levites' inheritance
3  The priests' due
6  The Levites' portion
9  The abominations of the nations are to be avoided
15  Christ the Prophet is to be heard
20  The presumptuous prophet is to die

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 18:3 mean?

And this shall be due of the priest from the people those who offer a sacrifice whether [it is] bull or sheep and they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the cheeks and the stomach
וְזֶ֡ה יִהְיֶה֩ מִשְׁפַּ֨ט הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים מֵאֵ֣ת הָעָ֗ם זֹבְחֵ֥י הַזֶּ֖בַח אִם־ שׁ֣וֹר אִם־ שֶׂ֑ה וְנָתַן֙ לַכֹּהֵ֔ן הַזְּרֹ֥עַ וְהַלְּחָיַ֖יִם וְהַקֵּבָֽה

וְזֶ֡ה  And  this 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
יִהְיֶה֩  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מִשְׁפַּ֨ט  due 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים  of  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הָעָ֗ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
זֹבְחֵ֥י  those  who  offer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: זָבַח  
Sense: to slaughter, kill, sacrifice, slaughter for sacrifice.
הַזֶּ֖בַח  a  sacrifice 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: sacrifice.
אִם־  whether  [it  is] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
שׁ֣וֹר  bull 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁור  
Sense: ox, bull, a head of cattle.
שֶׂ֑ה  sheep 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׂה  
Sense: one of a flock, lamb, sheep, goat, young sheep, young goat.
וְנָתַן֙  and  they  shall  give 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לַכֹּהֵ֔ן  to  the  priest 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הַזְּרֹ֥עַ  the  shoulder 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: זְרֹועַ  
Sense: arm, forearm, shoulder, strength.
וְהַלְּחָיַ֖יִם  and  the  cheeks 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, fd
Root: לְחִי  
Sense: jaw, cheek.
וְהַקֵּבָֽה  and  the  stomach 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: קֵבָה  
Sense: stomach, belly, maw.

What are the major concepts related to Deuteronomy 18:3?

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