Numbers 27:10 kjv
And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.
Numbers 27:10 nkjv
If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
Numbers 27:10 niv
If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
Numbers 27:10 esv
And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
Numbers 27:10 nlt
If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
Numbers 27 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 27:8-9 | If a man die...and has no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance...to his daughters. If he has no daughter, then ye shall give...to his brethren. | Previous steps in the inheritance hierarchy. |
| Num 27:11 | And if his father has no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him... | The next step in the inheritance hierarchy. |
| Num 36:7-9 | So shall not the inheritance...remove from tribe to tribe...every daughter...shall be wife unto one of the family... | Reaffirmation: inheritance within the tribe. |
| Deut 1:16-17 | Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously...ye shall not respect persons in judgment. | Principle of righteous and impartial judgment. |
| Josh 14:1-5 | These are the countries which the children of Israel inherited...by lot...as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. | Divine guidance in land distribution. |
| Josh 17:3-6 | The daughters of Zelophehad...received an inheritance among their father’s brethren. | Application of this very law (for daughters). |
| Lev 25:23 | The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. | God's ultimate ownership of the land. |
| Prov 24:23 | These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. | Wisdom against judicial favoritism. |
| Isa 45:7 | I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. | God establishes order and legal principles. |
| Ps 19:7-8 | The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul...the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. | The perfection and wisdom of God's laws. |
| Ps 119:96-100 | I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. | The comprehensive and boundless nature of God's commands. |
| Gen 24:38 | But thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. | Maintaining family lineage in marriage. |
| Ruth 4:1-12 | Boaz bought all that was Elimelech’s...of the hand of Naomi...Ruth...hast thou bought to be thy wife. | Kinsman-redeemer concept related to lineage. |
| 1 Chr 23:22 | Their brethren the sons of Kish married them: for they were of their brethren's daughters. | Marriage within family to maintain lineage. |
| Matt 5:17 | Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. | Jesus upholding and fulfilling the Law. |
| Jas 2:13 | For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment. | Principles of justice and mercy in divine law. |
| Rom 8:17 | And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ... | Spiritual inheritance for believers in Christ. |
| Gal 3:29 | And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. | Spiritual heirship through faith, echoing Israel's physical inheritance. |
| Eph 1:11-14 | In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated...according to the purpose of him... | Spiritual inheritance in Christ as God's purpose. |
| Heb 1:2 | Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things... | Jesus as the ultimate heir. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you. | The eternal, spiritual inheritance. |
Numbers 27 verses
Numbers 27 10 Meaning
Numbers 27:10 is a specific regulation within the divine law concerning land inheritance in ancient Israel. It dictates that if a deceased man has no sons, daughters, or brothers to inherit his land, then the inheritance is to be passed to his paternal uncles (his father's brothers). This established a precise order of succession to ensure the land, given by God to each tribe and family, remained within the broader familial and tribal structure.
Numbers 27 10 Context
Numbers chapter 27 details a significant legal case brought before Moses by the daughters of Zelophehad. Their father had died in the wilderness without leaving any sons, posing a challenge to the standard patriarchal inheritance laws, which prioritized male heirs. When they argued for their right to their father's portion of the land, Moses presented the case to the Lord. God affirmed their request and, furthermore, provided a comprehensive set of laws (verses 8-11) governing inheritance when no sons are available. Verse 10 specifically addresses the fourth tier of this inheritance order, after sons, daughters, and the deceased's brothers have been exhausted, demonstrating the Lord's meticulous foresight in establishing a fair and complete legal framework for the allocation and preservation of tribal land in the Promised Land. This meticulous order highlights the divine emphasis on maintaining family and tribal identity through the promised land inheritance.
Numbers 27 10 Word analysis
- And if his father: Refers to the deceased male individual who originally held the inheritance, specifying the lineage being traced for succession.
- have no brethren: Denotes the absence of the deceased man's own brothers. This signifies a further specific contingency in the inheritance hierarchy. In ancient Israelite society, "brethren" (Hebrew: ’achim, אַחִים) primarily refers to male siblings, often denoting members of the immediate family or clan, here distinguishing from sons or daughters.
- then ye shall give: A direct and authoritative divine command. "Ye" (Hebrew: lachem, לָכֶם) addresses Moses and, by extension, future Israelite judges or leaders responsible for upholding these laws. It indicates a legal mandate for action.
- his inheritance: Refers to the land (Hebrew: nachalah, נַחֲלָה) allocated to the deceased's family as part of their tribal portion in the Promised Land. This "inheritance" was primarily land-based, not merely movable assets or wealth. It was foundational to the Israelite's covenant identity, security, and connection to God's promises.
- unto his father's brethren: Specifies the recipients of the inheritance as the paternal uncles of the deceased man. This term indicates a broader familial reach, demonstrating God's intent to keep the land within the patrilineal clan line as far as possible, thus preserving the tribal identity and preventing the dispersal of land holdings outside the family unit designated to receive God's promise.
Words-group analysis:
- "And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.": This full phrase lays out a specific, contingent legal directive. It is a carefully worded clause in the divine inheritance law, ensuring that land passed down from the deceased (whose lineage ends in a specific branch) remains within the wider patriarchal family line, prioritizing the male members of the father's side if no direct or collateral male heirs exist from the deceased's generation. It exemplifies the systematic and exhaustive nature of God's provisions for the distribution and maintenance of land in Israel, underscoring its theological and societal importance.
Numbers 27 10 Bonus section
The specific focus on land inheritance in Numbers 27:10 (and the surrounding verses) underscores the unique theological significance of land in ancient Israel. Unlike general property laws in other nations, Israel's land was ultimately God's (Lev 25:23). Families were stewards of their ancestral plots, linking their identity and economic well-being directly to God's sovereign gift. This law preventing tribal land from dissolving into foreign hands through lack of an heir was crucial for preserving the purity of the tribes and maintaining the integrity of the Promised Land as a whole. The passage indirectly anticipates the complexities of life in the land, demonstrating God's provision for foreseeable and unforeseen circumstances.
Numbers 27 10 Commentary
Numbers 27:10 stands as a testament to God's meticulous and equitable jurisprudence for His covenant people. Following the unprecedented case of Zelophehad's daughters, the Lord provided not just a singular ruling but a comprehensive set of principles to address varying circumstances of inheritance in a patriarchal society. This specific verse reveals the fourth level in that hierarchy: after sons, daughters, and the deceased's brothers, the inheritance devolves to the paternal uncles. This detail is significant as it demonstrates the divine emphasis on preserving the original allocation of land within the broader patrilineal lineage.
The land (the nachalah) was more than property; it was a physical manifestation of God's covenant promise to Israel and a critical component of their tribal identity and spiritual heritage. By outlining these precise inheritance rules, God ensured stability, maintained tribal boundaries, and prevented the permanent transfer of family portions outside their divinely appointed lines. This systematic approach, capable of addressing seemingly obscure eventualities, illustrates God's perfect wisdom, justice, and forethought in providing practical guidance for every aspect of His people's lives. It highlights that divine law is comprehensive, just, and adaptable when new situations arise, ensuring that equity prevails within the established order.