The Meaning of Numbers 18:22 Explained

Numbers 18:22

KJV: Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.

YLT: 'And the sons of Israel come no more near unto the tent of meeting, to bear sin, to die,

Darby: Neither shall the children of Israel henceforth come near the tent of meeting, to bear sin and die.

ASV: And henceforth the children of Israel shall not come nigh the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Neither must the children  of Israel  henceforth  come nigh  the tabernacle  of the congregation,  lest they bear  sin,  and die. 

What does Numbers 18:22 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 18:22 mean?

And not shall come near Hereafter the sons of Israel to the tabernacle of meeting lest they bear sin and die
וְלֹא־ יִקְרְב֥וּ ע֛וֹד בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד לָשֵׂ֥את חֵ֖טְא לָמֽוּת

וְלֹא־  And  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִקְרְב֥וּ  shall  come  near 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
ע֛וֹד  Hereafter 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
בְּנֵ֥י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
אֹ֣הֶל  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
מוֹעֵ֑ד  of  meeting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
לָשֵׂ֥את  lest  they  bear 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
חֵ֖טְא  sin 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵטְא  
Sense: sin.
לָמֽוּת  and  die 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.