Joshua 13:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Levi received no land inheritance, for the offerings made by fire to the LORD were their portion, as God had said.
What Does Joshua 13:14 Mean?
Amid the division of land, one tribe is set apart. Levi receives no territory of its own. Instead, the offerings made by fire to the LORD are their inheritance. Set apart for priestly service, the Levites would live from the worship of Israel rather than from fields and cities.
This is a striking exchange: instead of land, the Levites are given the LORD Himself, served at His altar and sustained by what is brought to Him. Their portion is nearer to God than any acreage could be. The arrangement points beyond itself, hinting that the deepest inheritance is not a place but a Person, that to have the LORD as one's portion is the richest possession of all. What looks like having nothing is in truth having everything.
Joshua 13:14 in the Original Language
nachalah (נַחֲלָה), 'inheritance' -- a granted portion; for Levi the portion is the LORD and His offerings rather than land.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 13:14
What does Joshua 13:14 mean?
Levi received no land inheritance, for the offerings made by fire to the LORD were their portion, as God had said.