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And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/18-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/04_Num_18_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 18:1 - Duties of Priests and Levites" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So the LORD said to Aaron, You and your sons and your father's house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. 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But you and your sons alone will be held responsible for violations connected with the priesthood. <a href="/esv/numbers/18.htm">English Standard Version</a> So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood. <a href="/bsb/numbers/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood. <a href="/kjv/numbers/18.htm">King James Bible</a> And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. <a href="/nkjv/numbers/18.htm">New King James Version</a> Then the LORD said to Aaron: “You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear the iniquity related to the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity associated with your priesthood. <a href="/nasb_/numbers/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> So the LORD said to Aaron, “You, your sons, and your father’s household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood. <a href="/nasb/numbers/18.htm">NASB 1995</a> So the LORD said to Aaron, &#8220You and your sons and your father&#8217s household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood. <a href="/nasb77/numbers/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a> So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood. <a href="/lsb/numbers/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> So Yahweh said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood. <a href="/amp/numbers/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a> So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household (family) with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary [that is, through your service as priests you will atone for the offenses which the people unknowingly commit when brought into contact with the manifestations of God’s presence]; and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood [that is, your own unintentional offenses]. <a href="/csb/numbers/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The LORD said to Aaron, “You, your sons, and your ancestral family will be responsible for iniquity against the sanctuary. You and your sons will be responsible for iniquity involving your priesthood. <a href="/hcsb/numbers/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The LORD said to Aaron, &#8220You, your sons, and your ancestral house will be responsible for sin against the sanctuary. You and your sons will be responsible for sin involving your priesthood. <a href="/asv/numbers/18.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Jehovah said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy fathers' house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. <a href="/cev/numbers/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The LORD said to Aaron: You, your sons, and the other Levites of the Kohath clan, are responsible for what happens at the sacred tent. And you and your sons will be responsible for what the priests do. <a href="/erv/numbers/18.htm">English Revised Version</a> And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy fathers' house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. <a href="/gwt/numbers/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The LORD said to Aaron, "You, your sons, and your family will be responsible for any sins against the holy place. You and your sons will also be responsible for any sins you commit when you work as priests. <a href="/gnt/numbers/18.htm">Good News Translation</a> The LORD said to Aaron, "You, your sons, and the Levites must suffer the consequences of any guilt connected with serving in the Tent of my presence; but only you and your sons will suffer the consequences of service in the priesthood. <a href="/isv/numbers/18.htm">International Standard Version</a> Later, the LORD told Aaron, "You, your sons, and your father's tribe with you are to bear the iniquity of the sanctuary. Also, you and your sons with you are to bear the iniquity of your priesthood. <a href="/msb/numbers/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> So the LORD said to Aaron, ?You and your sons and your father?s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood. <a href="/net/numbers/18.htm">NET Bible</a> The LORD said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your tribe with you must bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you must bear the iniquity of your priesthood. <a href="/nheb/numbers/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The LORD said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your fathers' house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. <a href="/wbt/numbers/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the LORD said to Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. <a href="/web/numbers/18.htm">World English Bible</a> Yahweh said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your fathers’ house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/numbers/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And YHWH says to Aaron, “You, and your sons, and the house of your father with you, bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you bear the iniquity of your priesthood; <a href="/ylt/numbers/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Jehovah saith unto Aaron, 'Thou, and thy sons, and the house of thy father with thee, do bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and thou, and thy sons with thee, do bear the iniquity of your priesthood; <a href="/slt/numbers/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Jehovah will say to Aaron, Thou, and thy sons, and thy father's house with thee, shall bear the iniquity of the holy place: and thou and thy sons with thee, shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/numbers/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And the Lord said to Aaron: Thou, and thy sons, and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the sins of your priesthood. <a href="/cpdv/numbers/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And the Lord said to Aaron: “You, and your sons, and the house of your father with you, shall carry the iniquity of the Sanctuary. And you and your sons together shall bear the sins of your priesthood. <a href="/nabre/numbers/18.htm">New American Bible</a> The LORD said to Aaron: You and your sons as well as your ancestral house with you shall be responsible for any sin with respect to the sanctuary; but only you and your sons with you shall be responsible for any sin with respect to your priesthood. <a href="/nrsvce/numbers/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> The LORD said to Aaron: You and your sons and your ancestral house with you shall bear responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary, while you and your sons alone shall bear responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/numbers/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> AND the LORD said to Aaron, You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear any guilt in connection with the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear any guilt in connection with your priesthood. <a href="/hpbt/numbers/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And LORD JEHOVAH said to Ahron: “You and your sons and the house of your father with you, pick up the evil of the Holy Place and you and your sons with you, pick up the evil of your priesthood.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/numbers/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And the LORD said unto Aaron: 'Thou and thy sons and thy fathers' house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. <a href="/sep/numbers/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house shall bear the sins of the holy things, and thou and thy sons shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. <a href="/parallel/numbers/18-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=5616" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/numbers/18.htm">Duties of Priests and Levites</a> 1<a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">So the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/175.htm" title="175: ’a·hă·rōn (N-proper-ms) -- An elder brother of Moses. Of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses.">Aaron,</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tāh (Pro-2ms) -- You (masc. sing.). ">“You</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ū·ḇā·ne·ḵā (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">and your sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ā·ḇî·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">and your father’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: ’it·tāḵ (Prep:: 2ms) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: ū·ḇêṯ- (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">house</a> <a href="/hebrew/5375.htm" title="5375: tiś·’ū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- Or nacah ('abad); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. And rel.">must bear</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5771.htm" title="5771: ‘ă·wōn (N-csc) -- Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity. Or oavown; from avah; perversity, i.e. evil.">the iniquity involving</a> <a href="/hebrew/4720.htm" title="4720: ham·miq·dāš (Art:: N-ms) -- A sacred place, sanctuary. Or miqqdash; from qadash; a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary or asylum.">the sanctuary.</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: wə·’at·tāh (Conj-w:: Pro-2ms) -- You (masc. sing.). ">And you</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ū·ḇā·ne·ḵā (Conj-w:: N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">and your sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: ’it·tāḵ (Prep:: 2ms) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.">alone</a> <a href="/hebrew/5375.htm" title="5375: tiś·’ū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- Or nacah ('abad); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. And rel.">must bear</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5771.htm" title="5771: ‘ă·wōn (N-csc) -- Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity. Or oavown; from avah; perversity, i.e. evil.">the iniquity involving</a> <a href="/hebrew/3550.htm" title="3550: kə·hun·naṯ·ḵem (N-fsc:: 2mp) -- Priesthood. From kahan; priesthood.">your priesthood.</a> 2But bring with you also your brothers from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and assist you and your sons before the Tent of the Testimony.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/hebrews/5-1.htm">Hebrews 5:1-4</a> Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. / He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness. / That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ... <a href="/exodus/28-1.htm">Exodus 28:1-4</a> “Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests. / Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor. / You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest. ... <a href="/leviticus/10-1.htm">Leviticus 10:1-3</a> Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD. / Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent. <a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9</a> But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. <a href="/hebrews/7-11.htm">Hebrews 7:11-28</a> Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? / For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well. / He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ... <a href="/exodus/29-9.htm">Exodus 29:9</a> Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and tie headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a permanent statute. In this way you are to ordain Aaron and his sons. <a href="/leviticus/16-1.htm">Leviticus 16:1-2</a> Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD. / And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat. <a href="/1_chronicles/23-13.htm">1 Chronicles 23:13</a> The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever. <a href="/hebrews/9-6.htm">Hebrews 9:6-7</a> When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. / But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. <a href="/deuteronomy/10-8.htm">Deuteronomy 10:8</a> At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day. <a href="/2_chronicles/26-18.htm">2 Chronicles 26:18-21</a> They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.” / Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead. / When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him. ... <a href="/leviticus/22-9.htm">Leviticus 22:9</a> The priests must keep My charge, lest they bear the guilt and die because they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them. <a href="/hebrews/8-3.htm">Hebrews 8:3-6</a> And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer. / Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law. / The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” ... <a href="/exodus/40-12.htm">Exodus 40:12-15</a> Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. / And you are to clothe Aaron with the holy garments, anoint him, and consecrate him, so that he may serve Me as a priest. / Bring his sons forward and clothe them with tunics. ... <a href="/1_samuel/2-28.htm">1 Samuel 2:28</a> And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And the LORD said to Aaron, You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.Aaron, Thou.<a href="/numbers/17-3.htm">Numbers 17:3,7,13</a> And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers… <a href="/hebrews/4-15.htm">Hebrews 4:15</a> For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.shall bear.<a href="/numbers/18-22.htm">Numbers 18:22</a> Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.<a href="/numbers/14-34.htm">Numbers 14:34</a> After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.<a href="/exodus/28-38.htm">Exodus 28:38</a> And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/17-10.htm">Aaron</a> <a href="/numbers/11-17.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/numbers/14-34.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/numbers/15-29.htm">Connection</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-7.htm">Errors</a> <a href="/numbers/16-38.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/numbers/17-13.htm">House</a> <a href="/numbers/17-2.htm">Household</a> <a href="/numbers/15-31.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/genesis/41-9.htm">Offenses</a> <a href="/numbers/16-10.htm">Priesthood</a> <a href="/numbers/16-10.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/numbers/5-8.htm">Relation</a> <a href="/numbers/4-27.htm">Responsibility</a> <a href="/numbers/16-25.htm">Responsible</a> <a href="/numbers/10-21.htm">Sanctuary</a> <a href="/numbers/16-9.htm">Work</a> <a href="/numbers/14-34.htm">Wrongdoing</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/18-8.htm">Aaron</a> <a href="/numbers/18-23.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/numbers/18-22.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/numbers/18-23.htm">Connection</a> <a href="/numbers/18-23.htm">Errors</a> <a href="/numbers/18-3.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/numbers/18-11.htm">House</a> <a href="/numbers/18-13.htm">Household</a> <a href="/numbers/18-23.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/numbers/18-23.htm">Offenses</a> <a href="/numbers/18-7.htm">Priesthood</a> <a href="/numbers/25-13.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/numbers/26-53.htm">Relation</a> <a href="/numbers/18-4.htm">Responsibility</a> <a href="/numbers/18-3.htm">Responsible</a> <a href="/numbers/18-3.htm">Sanctuary</a> <a href="/numbers/18-3.htm">Work</a> <a href="/numbers/23-21.htm">Wrongdoing</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 18</div>1. <a href="/numbers/18-1.htm">The charge of the priests and Levites</a> 8. <a href="/numbers/18-8.htm">The priests, portion</a> 21. <a href="/numbers/18-21.htm">The Levites,</a> 25. <a href="/numbers/18-25.htm">The heave offering to the priests out of the Levites' portion</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/18.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/18.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>So the LORD said to Aaron This phrase indicates direct communication from God to Aaron, emphasizing the importance and authority of the message. Aaron, as the first high priest, holds a unique position in Israel's religious structure. This direct address underscores the personal responsibility and accountability of Aaron and his lineage in their sacred duties. The LORD speaking directly to Aaron highlights the divine origin of the priestly role and its responsibilities.You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary Here, "you and your sons and your father’s house" refers to Aaron, his immediate family, and the broader Levitical family. The term "bear the iniquity" suggests a responsibility for any sins or transgressions related to the sanctuary. This responsibility includes ensuring the sanctity and proper functioning of the tabernacle, which was central to Israelite worship. The sanctuary, as the dwelling place of God's presence, required strict adherence to divine instructions, and any failure in this regard would result in serious consequences. This phrase underscores the gravity of the priestly duties and the need for holiness in approaching God.And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood This phrase narrows the focus to Aaron and his sons, emphasizing their exclusive responsibility for the priestly duties. The priesthood was a sacred office with specific roles, such as offering sacrifices and maintaining the rituals prescribed by the Law. The exclusivity of this responsibility highlights the separation between the priestly class and the rest of the Israelites, reinforcing the idea of holiness and consecration. This separation is a type of Christ, who as the ultimate High Priest, bears the iniquity of humanity and mediates between God and man. The phrase also points to the seriousness of the priestly office, as any failure in their duties would have direct spiritual consequences for the nation.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a> The covenant God of Israel, who speaks directly to Aaron, establishing His authority and the divine origin of the instructions given. 2. <a href="/topical/a/aaron.htm">Aaron</a> The brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel, representing the priestly line and the responsibilities associated with it. 3. <a href="/topical/a/aaron's_sons.htm">Aaron's Sons</a> The descendants of Aaron who are also priests, sharing in the responsibilities and duties of the priesthood. 4. <a href="/topical/a/aaron's_father's_house.htm">Aaron's Father's House</a> Refers to the Levites, the tribe from which Aaron comes, who are set apart for service in the sanctuary. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_sanctuary.htm">The Sanctuary</a> The holy place where God dwells among His people, requiring careful and reverent service to maintain its sanctity.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/r/responsibility_and_accountability.htm">Responsibility and Accountability</a> Aaron and his sons are held accountable for the sanctuary and their priesthood. This teaches us the importance of taking responsibility for our roles and duties in our spiritual lives. <a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_reverence.htm">Holiness and Reverence</a> The iniquity involving the sanctuary underscores the need for holiness and reverence in worship. We are reminded to approach God with respect and purity. <a href="/topical/i/intercession_and_mediation.htm">Intercession and Mediation</a> As priests, Aaron and his sons serve as mediators between God and the people. This foreshadows the role of Christ as our mediator and encourages us to intercede for others. <a href="/topical/g/generational_faithfulness.htm">Generational Faithfulness</a> The mention of Aaron's sons and father's house highlights the importance of passing down faith and responsibilities through generations. <a href="/topical/d/divine_calling.htm">Divine Calling</a> The specific calling of Aaron and his family to the priesthood reminds us that God calls each of us to specific roles and ministries within His kingdom.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_18.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 18</a> <a href="/q/how_to_verify_aaron's_priestly_lineage.htm">How can the exclusive priestly role assigned to Aaron’s descendants (Numbers 18:1–7) be historically verified given the sparse archaeological evidence for tribal lineages? </a> <a href="/q/priests_vs._levites__role_differences.htm">How do priests and Levites differ in their roles?</a> <a href="/q/is_grain_offering_precision_feasible_nomadically.htm">(Leviticus 6:14–18) Is the precise handling of grain offerings reasonable given the nomadic conditions of the Israelites, and is there archaeological support for these meticulous procedures? </a> <a href="/q/what's_a_heave_offering.htm">What is the meaning of a heave offering?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/numbers/18.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>XVIII.(1) Shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary . . . --It must be remembered that the iniquity of the sanctuary, and the iniquity of the priesthood, extended not only to the defilement of the sanctuary by the transgressions of priests and people (<a href="/leviticus/16-11.htm" title="And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:">Leviticus 16:11</a>; <a href="/context/leviticus/16-15.htm" title="Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:">Leviticus 16:15-16</a>), but also to its defilement by the imperfections connected with the services of the priests and the offerings of the people (<a href="/exodus/28-38.htm" title="And it shall be on Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.">Exodus 28:38</a>).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 1. - The Lord spake unto Aaron. This clear and comprehensive instruction as to the position and support of the sons of Aaron on the one hand, and of the Levites on the other, may very naturally have been given in connection with the events just narrated. There is, however, no direct reference to those events, and it is quite possible that the only connection was one of subject-matter in the mind of the writer. That the regulations which follow were addressed to Aaron directly is a thing unusual, and indeed unexampled. The ever-recurring statement elsewhere is, "the Lord spake unto Moses," varied occasionally by "the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron" (as in <a href="/numbers/2-1.htm">Numbers 2:1</a>; <a href="/numbers/4-1.htm">Numbers 4:1</a>; <a href="/numbers/19-1.htm">Numbers 19:1</a>); but even where the communication refers to things wholly and peculiarly within the province of Aaron, it is usually made to Moses, and only through him to his brother (see e.g., <a href="/numbers/8-1.htm">Numbers 8:1-3</a>). This change in the form of the message may point to a later date, i.e., to a time subsequent to the gainsaying of Korah, when the separate position of Aaron as the head of a priestly caste was more fully recognized than before, and he himself somewhat less under the shadow of his greater brother. Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary. Aaron's father's house, according to the analogy of <a href="/numbers/17-2.htm">Numbers 17:2, 3, 6</a>, was the sub-tribe of the Kohathites, and these had charge (to the exclusion of the other Levites) of the sanctuary, or rather sacred things (הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, as in <a href="/numbers/10-21.htm">Numbers 10:21</a>. Septuagint, τῶν ἁγίων). See on Numbers 4:15. This mention of the Kohathites in connection with the sanctuary is an incidental proof that these instructions were given in view of the wanderings in the wilderness, for after the settlement in Canaan no Levites (as such) came into contact with the sacred furniture. It is not easy to define exactly the meaning of "shall bear the iniquity (תִּשְׂאוּ אֶת־עַון) of the sanctuary." The general sense of the phrase is, "to be responsible for the iniquity," i.e., for anything which caused displeasure in the eyes of God, "in connection with the sacred things and the service of them;" hence it meant either to be responsible for such iniquity, as being held accountable for it, and having to endure the penalty, or as being permitted and enabled to take such accountability on oneself, and so discharge it from others. This double sense is exactly reflected in the Greek word αἴρειν, as applied to our Lord (<a href="/john/1-29.htm">John 1:29</a>). The priests, therefore (and the Kohathites, so far as they had anything to do with the sanctuary), were responsible for all the unholiness attaching or accruing to it, not only by reason of all offences committed by themselves, but by reason of that imperfection which clung to them at the best, and made them unworthy to handle the things of God. In a further and deeper sense they might be said to be vicariously responsible for all the iniquity of all Israel, so far as the taint of it affected the very sanctuary (see on Exodus 28:38; Leviticus 16:16). The iniquity of your priesthood. The responsibility not only for all sinful acts of omission and commission in Divine service (such as those of Nadab and Abihu, and of Korah), but for all the inevitable failure of personal holiness on the part of those who ministered unto the Lord. This responsibility was emphatically recognized and provided for in the rites of the great day of atonement. <a href="/commentaries/numbers/18-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>The LORD יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say to אֶֽל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to Aaron, אַהֲרֹ֔ן (’a·hă·rōn) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_175.htm">Strong's 175: </a> Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses “You, אַתָּ֗ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> Thou and thee, ye and you your sons, וּבָנֶ֤יךָ (ū·ḇā·ne·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son and your father’s אָבִ֙יךָ֙ (’ā·ḇî·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> Father house וּבֵית־ (ū·ḇêṯ-) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> A house must bear תִּשְׂא֖וּ (tiś·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5375.htm">Strong's 5375: </a> To lift, carry, take the iniquity עֲוֺ֣ן (‘ă·wōn) Noun - common singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5771.htm">Strong's 5771: </a> Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity against the sanctuary. הַמִּקְדָּ֑שׁ (ham·miq·dāš) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4720.htm">Strong's 4720: </a> A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum And you וְאַתָּה֙ (wə·’at·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> Thou and thee, ye and you and your sons וּבָנֶ֣יךָ (ū·ḇā·ne·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son [alone] אִתָּ֔ךְ (’it·tāḵ) Preposition | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_854.htm">Strong's 854: </a> Nearness, near, with, by, at, among must bear תִּשְׂא֖וּ (tiś·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5375.htm">Strong's 5375: </a> To lift, carry, take the iniquity עֲוֺ֥ן (‘ă·wōn) Noun - common singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5771.htm">Strong's 5771: </a> Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity against the priesthood. כְּהֻנַּתְכֶֽם׃ (kə·hun·naṯ·ḵem) Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3550.htm">Strong's 3550: </a> Priesthood <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/18-1.htm">Numbers 18:1 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/numbers/18-1.htm">Numbers 18:1 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/numbers/18-1.htm">Numbers 18:1 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/numbers/18-1.htm">Numbers 18:1 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/numbers/18-1.htm">Numbers 18:1 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/18-1.htm">Numbers 18:1 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/18-1.htm">Numbers 18:1 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/18-1.htm">Numbers 18:1 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/18-1.htm">Numbers 18:1 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/numbers/18-1.htm">Numbers 18:1 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/numbers/18-1.htm">OT Law: Numbers 18:1 Yahweh said to Aaron You and your (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/17-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 17:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 17:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/18-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 18:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 18:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>