The Meaning of Numbers 7:5 Explained

Numbers 7:5

KJV: Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.

YLT: 'Receive from them, and they have been to do the service of the tent of meeting, and thou hast given them unto the Levites, each according to his service.'

Darby: Take it of them, and they shall be for the performance of the service of the tent of meeting, and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to each according to his service.

ASV: Take it of them, that they may be used in doing the service of the tent of meeting; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Take  [it] of them, that they may be to do  the service  of the tabernacle  of the congregation;  and thou shalt give  them unto the Levites,  to every man  according  to his service. 

What does Numbers 7:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 7:1-11 - 89, Princely Generosity The Voice Of God
This and the two following chapters conclude the account of the stay at Sinai. The transport of the furniture of the Tabernacle was committed to the Levites, and the wagons, enumerated here, made their work much simpler. Two were assigned for hangings and drapery, and four for the more solid and cumbersome portions. The sacred vessels were borne on the shoulders of living men-the Kohathites.
Instead of bulking together these twelve gifts, the divine Spirit lingers lovingly over each. In God's book of remembrance each alabaster box is noted by itself. Note that the vessels were not only costly, but filled! "Both of them full!" Numbers 7:13, etc.
Ponder Numbers 7:89. Would that our ears were opened that we might ever hear that voice speaking from between the cherubim, directing in perplexity, and revealing the deep things of God! [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 7

1  The offering of the princes at the dedication of the tabernacle
10  Their several offerings at the dedication of the altar
89  God speaks to Moses from the mercy seat

What do the individual words in Numbers 7:5 mean?

Accept [these] from them that they may be used in doing - the work of the tabernacle of meeting and you shall give them to the Levites [to] every man according to his service
קַ֚ח מֵֽאִתָּ֔ם וְהָי֕וּ לַעֲבֹ֕ד אֶת־ עֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְנָתַתָּ֤ה אוֹתָם֙ אֶל־ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ כְּפִ֥י עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ

קַ֚ח  Accept  [these] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
מֵֽאִתָּ֔ם  from  them 
Parse: Preposition-m, Direct object marker, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
וְהָי֕וּ  that  they  may  be  used 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לַעֲבֹ֕ד  in  doing 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֲבֹדַ֖ת  the  work 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.
אֹ֣הֶל  of  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.
וְנָתַתָּ֤ה  and  you  shall  give 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
הַלְוִיִּ֔ם  the  Levites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
אִ֖ישׁ  [to]  every  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
כְּפִ֥י  according  to 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ  his  service 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֲבֹדָה  
Sense: labour, service.