Numbers 26:50 kjv
These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.
Numbers 26:50 nkjv
These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.
Numbers 26:50 niv
These were the clans of Naphtali; those numbered were 45,400.
Numbers 26:50 esv
These are the clans of Naphtali according to their clans, and those listed were 45,400.
Numbers 26:50 nlt
These were the clans of Naphtali. Their registered troops numbered 45,400.
Numbers 26 50 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." | Promise of the land inheritance. |
| Gen 13:15 | For all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. | God's specific promise of land. |
| Gen 15:18 | On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land..." | Covenantal grant of the land. |
| Deut 1:8 | See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them... | Divine command to inherit the land. |
| Num 26:52-56 | "To the larger tribe you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller tribe you shall give a smaller inheritance; to each, according to its numbers..." | Clarifies proportional tribal distribution. |
| Num 33:54 | "You shall inherit the land by lot according to your clans. To a large clan you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small clan you shall give a small inheritance..." | Inheritance by lot within clan sizes. |
| Num 34:2 | "Command the people of Israel, and say to them, 'When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance...)'" | Confirms land is for inheritance. |
| Josh 1:6 | "Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them." | Joshua's mission to lead Israel into their inheritance. |
| Josh 14:1 | These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun... distributed among them. | Fulfillment of land distribution. |
| Josh 18:10 | And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord; and there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion. | The act of distributing land by lot. |
| Ps 16:5-6 | The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot... The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. | Spiritual inheritance; God as one's portion. |
| Ps 105:11 | Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance." | God's promise reaffirmed. |
| Ezek 47:13-14 | Thus says the Lord God: "These are the boundaries by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel..." | Prophetic re-allotment of land. |
| Mt 10:30 | But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. | God's precise knowledge of individuals. |
| Lk 12:7 | Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. | God's individual care and knowledge. |
| Rom 8:17 | and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. | Spiritual inheritance as children of God. |
| Eph 1:11 | In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will... | Believers' spiritual inheritance in Christ. |
| Col 1:12 | giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. | Qualification for heavenly inheritance. |
| Heb 9:15 | Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance... | Eternal spiritual inheritance through Christ. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you... | Description of heavenly inheritance. |
| Rev 21:27 | But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. | Importance of being "named" in God's book. |
| Deut 2:5 | "...for I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession." | God giving specific land portions to other nations/descendants. |
Numbers 26 verses
Numbers 26 50 Meaning
Numbers 26:50 states a foundational principle for the division of the Promised Land among the Israelite tribes: the inheritance is to be apportioned "according to the number of names." This means that the primary unit of allocation was the individual Israelite recorded in the census, emphasizing the divine justice and meticulous care for each person within the covenant community. While the exact portion for each tribe was to be based on its population size, and then subdivided further by lot, this verse establishes the fundamental truth that every counted individual in the census generation had a right to a share in God's promised land inheritance.
Numbers 26 50 Context
Numbers chapter 26 records the second census of the Israelites, taken approximately thirty-eight years after the first census at Sinai (Numbers 1). The first generation had largely perished in the wilderness due to their rebellion, as foretold by God (Num 14). This new census lists the male Israelites aged twenty years and upward, those "who were able to go out to war" (Num 26:2), preparing to enter the Promised Land. The primary purpose of this census, unlike the first which was for military readiness, was to determine the population size of each tribe for the precise distribution of the land of Canaan as an inheritance. Verse 50 immediately follows the summation of the census numbers and directly precedes further instructions on how the land will be allotted by size of tribe and by lot. Historically, this instruction was crucial as Israel transitioned from nomadic life to a settled agricultural society in their divinely appointed territory, fulfilling God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Numbers 26 50 Word analysis
- According to (כְּפִי - kĕ·p̄î): This preposition indicates a precise correspondence or proportionality. It signifies that the basis for the distribution is not arbitrary or by human discretion, but strictly determined by the following condition. It points to a systematic, divinely ordained method.
- the number (מִסְפָּר - mispar): From the root סָפַר (saphar), meaning to count, number, or tell. Mispar refers to a numerical tally, a definite count. Its inclusion emphasizes the mathematical precision and accountability in the distribution process, contrasting with random assignment. It reflects God's ordered nature.
- of names (שֵׁמוֹת - shemot): Plural of שֵׁם (shem), meaning "name," but in this context often refers to individual persons, the very identities recorded in the census. This is crucial as it highlights the individual Israelite, rather than mere households or generic tribal units, as the fundamental basis for claiming a portion of the land. Each person "named" in the census possessed a right to their future share. This signifies the value God places on each individual within the community.
- so shall ye give (תִּתְּנוּ - tittĕnu): Second person plural masculine verb, from the root נָתַן (natan), meaning "to give," "to put," "to place." This is a divine command, conveying authority and certainty. Moses (and through him, Joshua and Eleazar) are being instructed by God on how to implement the distribution, removing any doubt about its divine origin and non-negotiable nature.
- the inheritance (נַחֲלָה - nachalah): A crucial term in Old Testament theology, referring to a possession, heritage, or legacy, especially land. In the context of Israel, nachalah signifies the land of Canaan promised by God as a perpetual possession. It is not something earned but a divine gift, representing God's faithfulness to His covenant. This term ties the land to identity, destiny, and stewardship under God's sovereign hand.
Words-group analysis:
- "According to the number of names": This phrase precisely defines the basis for land distribution. It underscores divine meticulousness, justice, and the principle that each person registered in the census, having endured the wilderness wanderings, had a claim to a portion of the Promised Land. It ensures a systematic and equitable division, acknowledging the individual's value before God.
- "so shall ye give the inheritance": This clause represents the divine mandate for the actual distribution. It establishes that the allocation of the promised land, a core element of Israel's national identity and covenant with God, is to be performed according to God's specific instruction, emphasizing obedience and the fulfillment of God's covenant promises.
Numbers 26 50 Bonus section
The instruction in Numbers 26:50, while stating the principle of individual allocation, works in conjunction with subsequent verses (26:52-56) that clarify the process: "To the larger [tribe] you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller [tribe], you shall give a smaller inheritance; to each according to its registered numbers you shall give their inheritance. But the land shall be divided by lot; according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit." This clarifies that while individuals formed the count, the distribution involved proportional allocation to the tribes based on their population size, and then within the tribes, the exact plotting was decided by lot. This combined method (counting individuals, proportional tribal share, then casting lots) balanced divine order, fairness, and sovereign guidance. The act of drawing lots was seen as a way for God to supernaturally guide the division, removing human bias and ensuring His perfect will. The entire system underscored that the land was God's to give, and He was personally overseeing its equitable distribution among His people.
Numbers 26 50 Commentary
Numbers 26:50 serves as the administrative cornerstone for Israel's transition into their covenanted homeland. By declaring that the inheritance is given "according to the number of names," God emphasizes a principle of divine justice and individual worth. This isn't merely a practical guideline; it reflects God's nature as an orderly and equitable Giver. Each person counted in this second census, born of the generation redeemed from Egypt and sustained through the wilderness, had a rightful claim to a part of the Promised Land. This meticulous approach prevents disputes over land ownership, establishes a stable agricultural economy for the burgeoning nation, and confirms God's faithful adherence to His promises to Abraham. The land, a physical embodiment of the covenant, was not to be seized arbitrarily but distributed according to God's precise and fair standards, validating each individual's standing within His covenant people. For example, this systematic division ensured social stability by associating families with specific territories, preventing land speculation or disproportionate accumulation of wealth that could lead to social stratification and unrest, thus safeguarding the community's well-being and preventing practices contrary to God's design.