Numbers 27 11

Numbers 27:11 kjv

And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 27:11 nkjv

And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the relative closest to him in his family, and he shall possess it.' " And it shall be to the children of Israel a statute of judgment, just as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 27:11 niv

If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.'?"

Numbers 27:11 esv

And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. And it shall be for the people of Israel a statute and rule, as the LORD commanded Moses.'"

Numbers 27:11 nlt

But if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan. This is a legal requirement for the people of Israel, just as the LORD commanded Moses."

Numbers 27 verses

Numbers 27 11 Meaning

Numbers 27:11 establishes a divine ruling, prompted by the specific inheritance plea of Zelophehad's daughters, as a permanent and universally binding ordinance for all the children of Israel. This verse elevates a particular legal precedent to a foundational law, highlighting God's role as the supreme lawgiver whose commands are rooted in justice and apply perpetually to His people.

Numbers 27 11 Context

Numbers 27 begins with the five daughters of Zelophehad approaching Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the entire assembly. Their father had died in the wilderness without sons, and they faced the prospect of their family line losing its tribal land inheritance in Canaan. They justly plead that their father's name should not be lost from his family because he had no son. Moses brings their case directly before the LORD. In verses 7-10, the LORD confirms their plea as righteous and commands Moses to give them an inheritance among their father's relatives. Furthermore, God expands this specific ruling into a general statute concerning all inheritance where there are no sons, extending it to daughters, then to brothers, then uncles, and finally to the nearest relative in the clan. Verse 11 concludes this section by affirming this principle as a binding, permanent statute from the LORD. This event illustrates the divine and responsive nature of Israelite law-making, differing from rigid human legal codes, and emphasizes the crucial importance of land inheritance in the allocation for the tribes and preservation of family identity within the covenant community.

Numbers 27 11 Word analysis

• And (וְ - ve-): A simple conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding divine instruction, emphasizing continuity and consequence.
• it (הִֽיָה - hiyah - implied): The verb "to be" is implied here, emphasizing that this ruling will be or shall become a standing ordinance.
• shall be (הִֽיָה - hiyah - implied): Signifies a future state that is definitively ordained; it is not a suggestion but a decree.
• unto the children of Israel (לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל - livney Yisrael):
  • livney: "to/for the sons of" or "children of."
  • Yisrael: Israel, God's chosen covenant people. This phrase indicates the universal application of this law within the entire Israelite community, not just a specific case or tribe. It establishes a communal precedent.
• a statute (חֹ֛ק - choq):
  • Meaning: an engraved statute, decree, ordinance, or custom; something prescribed, fixed, or appointed.
  • Significance: This word implies permanence and a fixed, binding nature. It's a fundamental principle, like a "cut-in-stone" law.
• of judgment (מִשְׁפָּ֖ט - mishpat):
  • Meaning: judgment, justice, right, custom, ordinance, legal decision. It refers both to the act of judging and the resulting just decision or legal norm.
  • Significance: This word emphasizes that the "statute" is rooted in righteousness and fairness, reflective of God's just character. It's not merely a rule, but a righteous rule, derived from a divine act of justice.
• as (כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר - ka'asher): A comparative particle, meaning "according to that which" or "just as." It draws a direct parallel between the new law and its divine origin.
• the LORD (יְהוָ֥ה - YHWH):
  • Meaning: The Tetragrammaton, the covenant name of God, revealing Him as the eternally existing, covenant-keeping God.
  • Significance: Explicitly attributes the command to God Himself, establishing ultimate divine authority behind the law.
• commanded (צִוָּ֥ה - tzivvah):
  • Meaning: To command, appoint, order, charge. It signifies a direct, authoritative instruction.
  • Significance: Reinforces the divine origin of the law; it's not a human initiative or invention, but a direct revelation from God.
• Moses (מֹשֶֽׁה׃ - Moshe): The human instrument through whom God communicates His law to Israel. His role here is a recipient and conveyor of divine will.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "a statute of judgment": This powerful phrase combines choq (fixed, perpetual ordinance) with mishpat (just ruling/decision). It highlights that this specific resolution (granting inheritance to daughters) is not merely a temporary fix, but a righteous principle ordained as permanent law, reflecting divine justice. It illustrates how specific just judgments can lead to universal, enduring legal principles from God.
• "as the LORD commanded Moses": This clause provides immediate and absolute authentication for the new statute. It clarifies that this law's authority stems directly from the sovereign God, delivered through His chosen prophet, making it non-negotiable and divinely binding. It's a formula affirming the law's origin in divine revelation, critical for its acceptance and perpetuation within Israelite society.

Numbers 27 11 Bonus section

This verse beautifully illustrates the concept of divine responsive justice and the flexible yet firm nature of Mosaic Law. In ancient Near Eastern societies, inheritance typically flowed only through sons, reflecting deeply patriarchal structures. The willingness of God to hear and validate the claim of daughters challenging traditional norms demonstrates a radical, compassionate aspect of Israelite jurisprudence unique among contemporary legal codes. This episode, finalized in Numbers 27:11, shows that God's law (Torah) was not a static, rigid code dropped from heaven in one go, but a living and unfolding body of instruction that addressed new situations, revealing deeper layers of divine justice. This flexibility, always rooted in God's righteous character, ensures that His commandments continually promote equity and maintain the welfare of all His people within the covenant community.

Numbers 27 11 Commentary

Numbers 27:11 is a pivotal statement solidifying a profound legal development within the Torah. It caps off the immediate resolution of the Zelophehad's daughters case, moving from a specific legal decision (a mishpat) to a permanent, universal statute (choq) for all Israel. This verse demonstrates the dynamic nature of God's law; while divinely given and foundational, it is also responsive to righteous human petition and the practicalities of communal life. God, as the ultimate Judge and Lawgiver, ensures justice by adapting the application of His principles, extending the scope of inheritance rights to ensure equity for daughters where sons are absent. The phrase "as the LORD commanded Moses" emphatically authenticates the divine origin and authority of this newly instituted law, distinguishing it from human legislation and embedding it firmly within the covenant framework.