Keraia
Deuteronomy 33

Deuteronomy 33:8

Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes · Deuteronomy 33:1–29
Read Deuteronomy 33

Translations

Modern
Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.
Traditional
And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
Literal
And of Levi he said, “Your Thummim are unto Levi and Your Urim unto Your godly man, whom You tested at Massah, and with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah,
Latin
Levi quoque ait: Perfectio tua, et doctrina tua viro sancto tuo, quem probasti in tentatione, et judicasti ad aquas contradictionis.

Original

Hebrew
English
Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.

Notes

Deuteronomy 33:8

  • Levi was Jacob’s third son by Leah (Genesis 29:34). His descendants were called Levites. The Levites, especially those descended from Aaron, were given responsibility for the priesthood (see Exodus 28:1; 32:29; Numbers 3:9).

  • Thummim … Urim: These were precious stones placed in or attached to the breastpiece of the ephod (a special garment worn by the chief priest). The stones were used to seek God’s will. Their names may mean “perfections” and “lights” (see study note on Exodus 28:30).

  • Massah means “[place of] testing.” This refers to the time the people ran out of water and tested the Lord (see study note on Deuteronomy 6:16; Exodus 17:1–7).

  • Meribah means “[place of] contention.” This refers to the time the Israelites argued with the Lord until he provided water from a rock (Numbers 20:13, 24).

Deuteronomy 33:1–29

On the day before he died, Jacob blessed his 12 sons (Genesis 49:1–28). Many years later, Moses also blessed these same sons. By that time, they had become large and powerful tribes. Moses, like Jacob, spoke as a founding father of the nation.

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Ancient Law Codes Blessing

People

Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites Thummim: Objects used with the Urim for divine guidance Urim: Objects used with the Thummim for divine guidance

Places

Massah: A place where the Israelites tested God Meribah: A place where the Israelites quarreled with Moses

Glossary

Deuteronomy, Book of Jeshurun Massah and Meribah Mediate, Mediator Meribah Moses Ordain, Ordination Poetry, Biblical Priests and Levites Song of Moses Teacher Tribe of Levi

Topics

Death: Scenes of Death of Moses Intercession: Additional Instances of for Israel Priests: Services of Teaching the Law The Law of Moses: Priests and Levites to Teach The Levites: Prophecies Respecting The Tribes of Israel: Predictions Respecting Each of Urim and Thummim: Illustrative of the Light and Perfection of Christ, the True Urim and Thummim: Only Priests Could Interpret