Deuteronomy 21:5

“And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for YHWH your Elohim has chosen them to minister to him and to bless in the name of YHWH, and by their word every dispute and every blow shall be settled.”

Deuteronomy 21:5 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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Deuteronomy 21:5, word by word

And the priestsכֹּהֲנִיםkohanim

priest

One who serves in the sanctuary and offers for the people.

Where else “kohanim” appears
the sonsבְּנֵיbene

descendant

A descendant or member of a people: "sons of Israel".

Where else “bene” appears
of Leviלֵוִיlevi

Levi

Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah; the tribe of the priests comes from him. The name sounds like "be joined".

Where else “levi” appears
shall come forwardנִגְּשׁוּnigshu

come near

To go until one is near someone or something.

Where else “nigshu” appears
YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
your Elohimאֱלֹהֶיelohe

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “elohe” appears
has chosenבָּחַרbachar

elect

God picks out his people, a place or a king.

Where else “bachar” appears
to minister to himשָׁרְתshart

minister

To serve in worship before YHWH.

Where else “shart” appears
and to blessבָרֵךְvarech

bless

God gives good things: life, children, harvests.

Where else “varech” appears
in the nameשֵׁםshem

name of YHWH

YHWH's name: himself, as he makes himself known.

Where else “shem” appears
and by their wordפִּיpi

according to

Literally "by the mouth of": just as something directs; or a portion.

Where else “pi” appears
disputeרִיבriv

case

A matter brought before the judge.

Where else “riv” appears
blowנָגַעnaga

plague

Something that strikes suddenly, sometimes sent by YHWH.

Where else “naga” appears
shall be settledיִהְיֶהyihye

be

To be: "I will be their Elohim".

Where else “yihye” appears

The context

4And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer to an ever-flowing stream, which is not worked or sown, and they shall break the neck of the heifer there in the stream.

5 · This verse (above)

6And all the elders of that city who are nearest to the slain one shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the stream,

Read all of Deuteronomy 21

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