Joshua 19:39 kjv
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
Joshua 19:39 nkjv
This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
Joshua 19:39 niv
These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, according to its clans.
Joshua 19:39 esv
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Naphtali according to their clans ? the cities with their villages.
Joshua 19:39 nlt
The homeland allocated to the clans of the tribe of Naphtali included these towns and their surrounding villages.
Joshua 19 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | "To your offspring I will give this land." | God's initial promise of land to Abraham. |
| Gen 13:15 | "all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever." | Confirmation of the land promise. |
| Gen 15:18 | "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates," | Defines the promised land's boundaries. |
| Gen 49:21 | "Naphtali is a doe let loose that yields beautiful fawns." | Jacob's prophetic blessing for Naphtali. |
| Num 26:52-56 | "The land shall be divided by lot... to a large tribe you shall give a larger inheritance, and to a small tribe a smaller inheritance." | Instructions for distributing the land by lot and size. |
| Deut 33:23 | "O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord, possess the west and the south." | Moses' blessing foretelling Naphtali's rich portion. |
| Josh 13:1-7 | Overview of territories yet to be conquered/allotted. | Beginning of the detailed land distribution. |
| Josh 14:1 | "These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan," | Introduction to the division process. |
| Josh 18:1 | "Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there." | Centralization point for further land division. |
| Josh 19:1 | "The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon, according to their clans," | Similar phrasing for other tribal allotments. |
| Josh 19:32 | "The sixth lot came out for the people of Naphtali, for the people of Naphtali, according to their clans." | The immediate context for Naphtali's lot. |
| Josh 21:43 | "Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled in it." | Fulfillment of God's promises in general. |
| Josh 21:45 | "Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass." | Emphasizes God's faithfulness to His word. |
| Ps 78:55 | "He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents." | God's action in dividing the land for Israel. |
| Isa 49:8 | "I will make you a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to allot the desolate inheritances." | Prophetic hope of a future spiritual inheritance/restoration. |
| Ezek 47:13-23 | Details for the future division of the land in vision. | Emphasizes the orderly nature of divine allocation. |
| Mic 2:2 | "they covet fields and seize them, and houses and take them away;" | Contrasts man's unjust land seizure with God's just distribution. |
| Acts 7:5 | "Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him." | Stephen's mention of God's land promise to Abraham. |
| Acts 17:26 | "from one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their dwellings—" | God's sovereignty over all human boundaries and inheritances. |
| Heb 9:15 | "so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—" | Broader concept of a spiritual, eternal inheritance for believers. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | "to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you," | The believer's spiritual inheritance in Christ. |
Joshua 19 verses
Joshua 19 39 Meaning
Joshua 19:39 concludes the description of Naphtali's territorial inheritance, stating that the land portion detailed in the preceding verses belonged specifically to the tribe of Naphtali, allocated systematically to their various clans, encompassing both their principal cities and all their associated satellite villages and settlements. It signifies the completed, divinely ordained, and precise distribution of land.
Joshua 19 39 Context
Joshua chapter 19 is a continuation of the detailed account of the division of the land of Canaan among the twelve tribes of Israel, as commanded by God through Moses and implemented by Joshua. Specifically, verses 32-39 delineate the borders and primary settlements allocated to the tribe of Naphtali. This verse, verse 39, serves as a concluding summary statement for Naphtali's lot, formally affirming that the preceding list constituted their complete and official tribal inheritance. The entire process, from chapters 13 to 21, highlights the fulfillment of God's ancient promises to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) that their descendants would inherit the land. The systematic approach, including surveys, lots, and detailed boundary descriptions, underscores the divine order and faithfulness in establishing the nation of Israel in their promised homeland.
Joshua 19 39 Word analysis
- "This": Refers directly to the detailed listing of cities and their boundaries provided in Joshua 19:32-38. It marks the culmination and summary statement of the preceding specific geographical allocation.
- "was the inheritance":
- inheritance (Hebrew: נַחֲלָה, nachalah): This term is crucial. It does not merely mean "land" or "possession" in a secular sense but carries the connotation of a divinely granted, inalienable, and perpetual possession. It is a heritage passed down through generations, directly tied to God's covenant promises to Israel (Gen 12:7, Num 26:53). It emphasizes that this land was a gift from Yahweh, not a conquest won solely by human strength.
- "of the tribe":
- tribe (Hebrew: מַטֵּה, maṭṭeh): Literally meaning "rod" or "staff," by extension it refers to a "tribe" as a major familial division of the Israelite people. It denotes the distinct identity and unity of one of the twelve subdivisions descended from Jacob.
- "of the children of Naphtali": Refers to the descendants of Naphtali, one of Jacob's twelve sons, emphasizing the lineage-based organization of Israel and the fulfillment of Jacob's blessings (Gen 49:21) and Moses' blessings (Deut 33:23) concerning Naphtali's territory.
- "according to their families":
- families (Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּחָה, mishpachah): Signifies the extended kinship groups or clans within the tribe. The distribution of the land was not merely to the tribe as a whole but was further subdivided internally based on these family units. This highlights the orderly and precise administrative system implemented, ensuring equitable access and specific ownership down to the familial level, aligning with the census and land distribution guidelines given in Numbers 26:52-56.
- "the cities and their villages":
- cities (Hebrew: עָרִים, ‘arim): Refers to the primary, often walled, urban centers listed previously (Josh 19:35-38), such as Ziddim, Hammath, Rakkath, etc. These were administrative, economic, and defensive hubs.
- villages (Hebrew: חַצְרֵיהֶן, chatstzreyhen): Usually translated as "villages" or "settlements." These were smaller, unwalled, often agricultural settlements dependent on and subordinate to the larger central cities. This phrase indicates the comprehensive nature of the land allotment—it included both the urban centers and their surrounding agricultural hinterland and dependent communities, ensuring the tribe had complete and self-sustaining territorial control. The inclusion of villages shows that their inheritance wasn't just fragmented plots but an integrated territory.
Joshua 19 39 Bonus section
- The precise description of the boundaries and specific places, culminating in this summary, served not only as a record but also as a legal deed for the tribes in antiquity. It laid the foundation for future land tenure, identity, and the maintenance of tribal distinctions, which remained vital for centuries in Israelite society.
- The methodical process outlined throughout Joshua (including chapters 13-21) highlights God's sovereignty over creation and nations, contrasting with pagan beliefs that territories were arbitrarily seized or governed by local deities. Here, Yahweh is shown as the ultimate dispenser of land and destiny for His chosen people.
- This verse represents a vital point in salvation history where God's promises from the patriarchal narratives began to find substantial fulfillment in the physical occupation of the land. It provides a historical backdrop to later prophetic pronouncements regarding restoration and ultimate spiritual inheritance in the Messiah.
Joshua 19 39 Commentary
Joshua 19:39 serves as a concluding pronouncement, solidifying the legal and divinely sanctioned land grant to the tribe of Naphtali. It’s more than just a geographical summary; it underscores the fulfillment of God's ancient promises regarding the land of Canaan. The emphasis on "inheritance" (nachalah) reminds us that this was a gracious gift from God, a permanent heritage, not something merely earned. The distribution "according to their families" speaks to the meticulous, equitable, and genealogical precision in how the land was parceled out, affirming both tribal identity and internal justice. The mention of "cities and their villages" demonstrates the completeness of their allotted territory, ensuring they had both established urban centers for trade and defense, as well as the essential rural areas for sustenance and population growth. This verse, like similar summary verses for other tribes, stands as a testament to God's faithfulness in delivering on His covenant obligations and the careful administration by Joshua and Eleazar to establish Israel firmly in the promised land, setting the stage for their future as a settled nation.