Numbers 35:3
Numbers 35:3 in Multiple Translations
The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock.
And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.
And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and their suburbs shall be for their cattle, and for their substance, and for all their beasts.
These towns are to be their living-places, with land round them for their cattle and their food and all their beasts,
The towns are for them to live in, and the pastures will be for their herds and their flocks—for all their livestock.
So they shall haue the cities to dwell in, and their suburbes shall be for their cattell, and for their substance, and for all their beasts.
And the cities have been to them to inhabit, and their suburbs are for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.
They shall have the cities to dwell in. Their pasture lands shall be for their livestock, and for their possessions, and for all their animals.
And they shall have the cities to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.
Cities to dwell in, and their suburbs round about: that they may abide in the towns, and the suburbs may be for their cattle and beasts:
Those will be for the descendants of Levi to live in, and around the cities will be land for their cattle and flocks of sheep and goats and other animals.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 35:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Numbers 35:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הָי֧וּ
הֶֽ/עָרִ֛ים
לָ/הֶ֖ם
לָ/שָׁ֑בֶת
וּ/מִגְרְשֵׁי/הֶ֗ם
יִהְי֤וּ
לִ/בְהֶמְתָּ/ם֙
וְ/לִ/רְכֻשָׁ֔/ם
וּ/לְ/כֹ֖ל
חַיָּתָֽ/ם
וְ/הָי֧וּ
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
הֶֽ/עָרִ֛ים
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
Art | N-fp
לָ/הֶ֖ם
Prep | Suff
לָ/שָׁ֑בֶת
yâshab
H3427
to dwell
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
וּ/מִגְרְשֵׁי/הֶ֗ם
migrâsh
H4054
pasture
Conj | N-mp | Suff
יִהְי֤וּ
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
לִ/בְהֶמְתָּ/ם֙
bᵉhêmâh
H929
animal
Prep | N-fs | Suff
וְ/לִ/רְכֻשָׁ֔/ם
rᵉkûwsh
H7399
property
Conj | Prep | N-ms | Suff
וּ/לְ/כֹ֖ל
kôl
H3605
all
Conj | Prep | N-ms
חַיָּתָֽ/ם
chay
H2416
alive
N-fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 35:3
וְ/הָי֧וּ
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
הֶֽ/עָרִ֛ים
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
Art | N-fp
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
לָ/הֶ֖ם
""
Prep | Suff
לָ/שָׁ֑בֶת
yâshab
H3427
"to dwell"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Usage: Occurs in 977 OT verses. KJV: (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. See also: Genesis 4:16; Leviticus 25:18; Joshua 13:6.
וּ/מִגְרְשֵׁי/הֶ֗ם
migrâsh
H4054
"pasture"
Conj | N-mp | Suff
A pasture or open land, often the area around a building or the margin of the sea. This term describes a common or shared space in the Bible.
Definition: common, common land, open land, suburb
Usage: Occurs in 69 OT verses. KJV: cast out, suburb. See also: Leviticus 25:34; Joshua 21:37; Ezekiel 48:17.
יִהְי֤וּ
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לִ/בְהֶמְתָּ/ם֙
bᵉhêmâh
H929
"animal"
Prep | N-fs | Suff
This word refers to animals, especially large quadruped mammals. It's used in the Bible to describe livestock, wild beasts, and other creatures. It appears in stories of creation, farming, and wildlife.
Definition: 1) beast, cattle, animal 1a) beasts (coll of all animals) 1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals) 1c) wild beasts
Usage: Occurs in 172 OT verses. KJV: beast, cattle. See also: Genesis 1:24; Deuteronomy 28:11; Psalms 8:8.
וְ/לִ/רְכֻשָׁ֔/ם
rᵉkûwsh
H7399
"property"
Conj | Prep | N-ms | Suff
It refers to property or possessions, such as livestock or goods, like the riches of King Solomon in 1 Kings.
Definition: 1) property, goods, possessions 1a) property, goods 1a1) general term for all movable goods 1a2) of livestock 1a3) of stores, utensils, etc
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: good, riches, substance. See also: Genesis 12:5; 1 Chronicles 28:1; Daniel 11:28.
וּ/לְ/כֹ֖ל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Conj | Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
חַיָּתָֽ/ם
chay
H2416
"alive"
N-fs | Suff
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Definition: adj 1) living, alive 1a) green (of vegetation) 1b) flowing, fresh (of water) 1c) lively, active (of man) 1d) reviving (of the springtime) Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. See also: Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 4:9; 2 Kings 5:16.
Study Notes — Numbers 35:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites
1Again the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho:
2“Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities.
3The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock.
4The pasturelands around the cities you are to give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits from the wall on every side. 5You are also to measure two thousand cubits outside the city on the east, two thousand on the south, two thousand on the west, and two thousand on the north, with the city in the center. These areas will serve as larger pasturelands for the cities.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Chronicles 11:14 | For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD. |
| 2 | Joshua 21:11 | They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pasturelands, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.) |
| 3 | Ezekiel 45:2 | Within this area there is to be a section for the sanctuary 500 cubits square, with 50 cubits around it for open land. |
Numbers 35:3 Summary
This verse, Numbers 35:3, tells us that God provided cities and pasturelands for the Levites, who were the spiritual leaders of the Israelites. The cities were for the Levites to live in, and the pasturelands were for their animals to graze, as mentioned in Numbers 35:3. This shows that God cares for the needs of those who serve Him, just as He promises to provide for us in Matthew 6:33. By trusting God to provide for our needs, we can live with confidence and peace, knowing that He will take care of us, as stated in Philippians 4:19.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Levites need cities and pasturelands?
The Levites needed cities and pasturelands because they were the spiritual leaders of the Israelites and were responsible for teaching and guiding them, as seen in Deuteronomy 33:10, and they needed a place to live and support their families and livestock, as mentioned in Numbers 35:3.
What was the significance of the pasturelands around the cities?
The pasturelands around the cities were significant because they provided a means for the Levites to support their livestock, which were essential for their livelihood, as mentioned in Numbers 35:3, and also served as a buffer zone around the cities, as described in Numbers 35:4-5.
How did the allocation of cities and pasturelands to the Levites reflect God's care for them?
The allocation of cities and pasturelands to the Levites reflected God's care for them because it demonstrated His concern for their well-being and provision, as seen in Numbers 35:1-5, and was a fulfillment of His promise to provide for them, as stated in Joshua 21:1-45.
What can we learn from the way God provided for the Levites in this verse?
We can learn from the way God provided for the Levites that He is a God who cares for the needs of His people, as seen in Matthew 6:33, and that He will provide for us if we trust and obey Him, as stated in Philippians 4:19.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about God's heart for providing for those who serve Him?
- How can I apply the principle of God's provision in my own life, especially when I am serving Him?
- What are some ways that God has provided for me in the past, and how can I express my gratitude to Him?
- How can I trust God to provide for my needs, just as the Levites trusted Him to provide for theirs?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 35:3
And cities shall they have to dwell in,.... For them and their families, and indeed for nothing else, they having no trades nor worldly business to carry on in them: and the suburbs of them shall be
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 35:3
And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 35:3
For their cattle; for pasturage for their cattle; where they might not build houses, nor plant gardens, orchards, or vineyards, no, nor sow corn, for which they were abundantly provided out of the first-fruits and tithes. And these suburbs did not belong to the Levites in common, but were distributed to them in convenient proportions, as may appear from .
Ellicott's Commentary on Numbers 35:3
(3) For their cattle . . . —The word which is rendered “cattle” generally denotes oxen and beasts of burden. The word which is rendered “goods” probably refers here to the sheep and goats. (Cf. 2 Chronicles 21:14; 2 Chronicles 35:7.) The passage may be rendered, for their cattle and for their substance, even for all their beasts.
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 35:3
1–8. The Levitical cities The Levites are to receive 48 cities with their surrounding land (E.VV. ‘suburbs’), six of which are to be ‘cities of refuge.’ The cities are to be contributed by each tribe in numbers proportionate to its size. Each plot of land is to be a square of 2,000 cubits (c. 1,000 yards). The carrying out of this law is related in fuller detail in Joshua 21, where the allotment is as follows: the Kohathite Levites were given 10 towns in Ephraim, Dan and western Manasseh, the Gershonites 13 in Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and eastern Manasseh, the Merarites 12 in Reuben, Gad and Zebulun, while the priests had 10 in Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. Two considerations, however, shew that this is a purely ideal arrangement, which could never have been actually brought about: 1st, In a hilly country like Palestine, cut with deep ravines, it would be impossible to find 48 square plots of land of such a size. 2nd, It is at variance with statements in earlier passages, (a) In Deuteronomy the Levites are classed with widows, orphans and strangers, as poor people who are commended to the charity of Israel; cf. Deuteronomy 12:12; Deuteronomy 12:18 f., Numbers 14:27; Numbers 14:29, Numbers 16:11; Numbers 16:14, Numbers 26:11 ff. In a few cases, indeed, priests settled in communities, and appear to have owned property, e.g. at Anathoth (1 Kings 2:26, Jeremiah 32:6 ff.), Nob (1 Samuel 21:1; 1 Samuel 22:19) and Bethel (Amos 7:10); but the two latter towns are not included in the list in Joshua 21. Deuteronomy 18:8 b may imply that some Levitical priests owned private property, but the passage is uncertain. (b) In Numbers 18, which must belong to an earlier stage of P than the present passage, the offerings to be made to the priests are expressly stated to be due to them because they have no landed property. Ezekiel (ch. 48) puts forward another ideal scheme for providing priests and Levites with land.