The Meaning of Deuteronomy 33:8 Explained

Deuteronomy 33:8

KJV: And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

YLT: And of Levi he said: -- Thy Thummim and thy Urim are for thy pious one, Whom Thou hast tried in Massah, Thou dost strive with Him at the waters of Meribah;

Darby: And of Levi he said, Thy Thummim and thy Urim are for thy godly one, Whom thou didst prove at Massah, With whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

ASV: And of Levi he said, Thy Thummim and thy Urim are with thy godly one, Whom thou didst prove at Massah, With whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And of Levi  he said,  [Let] thy Thummim  and thy Urim  [be] with thy holy  one,  whom thou didst prove  at Massah,  [and with] whom thou didst strive  at the waters  of Meribah; 

What does Deuteronomy 33:8 Mean?

Study Notes

Thummim
.
Urim and Thummim
Urim and Thummim, meaning "lights and perfections." Some make these to be simply a collective name for the stones of the breastplate, so that the total effect of the twelve stones is to manifest the "lights and perfections" of Him who is the antitype of the Aaronic high priest. Per contra, Leviticus 8:8 . This would seem to be conclusive that "the Urim and Thummim" are additional to the stones of the breastplate. In use the Urim and Thummim were connected, in some way not clearly expressed, with the ascertainment of the divine will in particular cases; Numbers 27:21 ; Deuteronomy 33:8 ; 1 Samuel 28:6 ; Ezra 2:63 .

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 33:1-17 - The Blessing Of The Chosen People
The glorious nature of God is the opening theme here. The reference is to the giving of the Law when, amid fire and the mediation of angels, God descended on Sinai, Psalms 18:7-9; Habakkuk 3:3-4. Oh, that we, too, may sit as pupils in God's school and receive His words, Deuteronomy 33:3.
Though Reuben could not excel, he was not forgotten. Simeon is omitted because of Numbers 25:14. Judah was to receive prosperity in prayer, in work and in war. Some render the benediction thus: "Bring him in safety from his wars!" But our warfare is different, Ephesians 6:12.
Levi receives special blessing. Note r.v. margin: "Thy Thummim and thy Urim are with him whom thou lovest." This is the white diamond-stone flashing with God's "Yes" or dimming with His "No," Revelation 2:17. Exodus 32:26 was never forgotten. See Matthew 25:37. But God forgets our sins, Hebrews 8:12. Benjamin's portion may be yours. The precious things of Joseph's heritage pale to insignificance when contrasted with the riches of God's grace, Ephesians 1:18. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 33

1  The majesty of God
6  The blessings of the twelve tribes
26  The excellence of Israel

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 33:8 mean?

And of Levi he said [let] Your Thummim and Your Urim [be] with one Your godly Whom You tested at Massah and with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah
וּלְלֵוִ֣י אָמַ֔ר תֻּמֶּ֥יךָ וְאוּרֶ֖יךָ לְאִ֣ישׁ חֲסִידֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִסִּיתוֹ֙ בְּמַסָּ֔ה תְּרִיבֵ֖הוּ עַל־ מֵ֥י מְרִיבָֽה

וּלְלֵוִ֣י  And  of  Levi 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵוִי 
Sense: the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites.
אָמַ֔ר  he  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
תֻּמֶּ֥יךָ  [let]  Your  Thummim 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: תֻּמִּים  
Sense: stones provided for the means of achieving a sacred lot.
וְאוּרֶ֖יךָ  and  Your  Urim  [be] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אוּר 
Sense: stones kept in a pouch on the high-priest’s breastplate, used in determining God’s decision in certain questions and issues.
לְאִ֣ישׁ  with  one 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
חֲסִידֶ֑ךָ  Your  godly 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חָסִיד  
Sense: faithful, kind, godly, holy one, saint, pious.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  Whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נִסִּיתוֹ֙  You  tested 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָסָה  
Sense: to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test.
בְּמַסָּ֔ה  at  Massah 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַסָּה  
Sense: the place in the wilderness where the Israelites tested Jehovah.
תְּרִיבֵ֖הוּ  and  with  whom  You  contended 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: רִיב  
Sense: to strive, contend.
עַל־  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מֵ֥י  the  waters 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
מְרִיבָֽה  of  Meribah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְרִיבָה 
Sense: a fountain at Rephidim, in the desert of Sin; so called because the Israelites murmured against God.