Numbers 27 7

Numbers 27:7 kjv

The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.

Numbers 27:7 nkjv

"The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father's brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.

Numbers 27:7 niv

"What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father's relatives and give their father's inheritance to them.

Numbers 27:7 esv

"The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them.

Numbers 27:7 nlt

"The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate. You must give them a grant of land along with their father's relatives. Assign them the property that would have been given to their father.

Numbers 27 verses

Numbers 27 7 Meaning

Numbers 27:7 declares God's explicit instruction to Moses regarding the petition of Zelophehad's daughters. It affirms their rightful claim to inherit their father's land in the absence of sons. This divine ruling expands existing inheritance law, ensuring the continuation of a family's name and property within the tribe of Manasseh, preventing its loss due to a lack of male heirs. The verse highlights God's justice, attentiveness to appeals, and the dynamic nature of His law as it adapts to ensure equitable outcomes and fulfill His covenant promises regarding the land.

Numbers 27 7 Context

Numbers chapter 27 is pivotal as it details an instance of significant legal and theological development in Israelite law. The setting is the plains of Moab, just before the Israelites enter the promised land of Canaan, where land allocation is a crucial topic. The daughters of Zelophehad (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah) approached Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the entire assembly with a petition. Their father, Zelophehad, had died in the wilderness without sons, only daughters. Under the existing customary law, land inheritance typically passed through the male line, threatening their family's name and inheritance share from their tribe, Manasseh, to be lost. This bold move by the daughters directly challenged the patriarchal societal norm and prompted Moses to bring their case before the Lord. Numbers 27:7 contains God's immediate and unequivocal positive response, directly affirming their request. This divine decree set a new legal precedent for inheritance, ensuring family lines and land allocations were preserved, showcasing God's commitment to justice and His responsiveness to legitimate grievances.

Numbers 27 7 Word analysis

• הַבָּנוֹת (habanot) - "The daughters"
  • Significance: Immediately highlights the central figures in this case. Their female identity is crucial as it's the basis for challenging traditional male-line inheritance. Their proactive petition underscores their faith and courage.
• צְלָפְחָד (Tzelophehad) - "Zelophehad"
  • Significance: Their deceased father, whose name and legacy would have been erased if his land portion was lost. The motivation behind the daughters' petition is largely to preserve their father's name within his tribal inheritance. This honors the family line.
• דֹּבְרֹת (doverot) - "are right" (lit. "speak rightly," "speak what is right," or "are speaking justly")
  • Significance: From the root דבר (dabar), meaning "to speak," but here it carries the weight of judgment: their words are just, their argument is valid. This is not just Moses' opinion, but a direct affirmation from Yahweh. This phrase immediately validates the daughters' unique and precedent-setting petition. It conveys divine affirmation of their argument.
• נָתֹן תִּתֵּן (naton titen) - "You shall surely give" (Lit. "giving you shall give")
  • Significance: This is a Hebrew infinitive absolute construction used for emphasis and certainty. It intensifies the verb "to give," making the command exceptionally strong and unequivocal. There is no doubt or possibility of refusal. This indicates a definite, binding divine command. It signifies an absolute divine imperative, establishing a new, firm legal precedent.
• לָהֶם (lahem) - "to them"
  • Significance: Directly specifies the beneficiaries: the daughters. Emphasizes their entitlement.
• אֲחֻזַּת (akhuzzat) - "possession of inheritance" or "hereditary possession"
  • Significance: Refers to landed property specifically allotted as an eternal possession within Israel’s tribal land division. It's more than just a temporary use; it's a permanent holding. It refers to a specific, permanent, and often ancestral landed property that forms a core part of the family’s economic and social identity in Israel.
• נַחֲלָה (nachalah) - "inheritance"
  • Significance: This word carries profound theological weight. In the biblical context, "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה) often refers to the land promised to Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:7), and its division among the tribes. It represents not just material wealth but a fulfillment of God’s covenant promise. Losing one's nachalah was akin to losing a share in God's covenant blessing. The emphasis on securing this for the daughters is paramount.
• בְּתוֹךְ (betokh) - "among" or "in the midst of"
  • Significance: Their inheritance is not isolated but integrated "among" their father's brothers, affirming their full integration and equality within the family and tribal structure. It assures their proper place.
• אֲחֵי (achei) - "brothers of" (specifically, paternal uncles)
  • Significance: Defines the scope of the immediate family lineage for their inheritance claim. It ties them directly to their father’s paternal relatives.
• וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ (veha'avarta) - "and transfer"
  • Significance: From the root עבר (avar), meaning "to pass over" or "to cross." Here it means to legally transfer ownership. This highlights the administrative action required to implement the divine decree. This command directly establishes a new legal procedure for property transfer.
• אֶת־נַחֲלַת (et-nachalat) - "the inheritance of"
  • Significance: Repetition of "inheritance" stresses the specific asset being transferred.
• אֲבִיהֶן (avihen) - "their father"
  • Significance: Re-emphasizes the source of the inheritance and the desire to perpetuate Zelophehad's name and portion within his tribe, as his daughters' central objective was to maintain their father’s family line and share.

Numbers 27 7 Bonus section

The ruling in Numbers 27:7, known as the "law of the daughters of Zelophehad," established a hierarchical order of inheritance rights: first sons, then daughters (if no sons), then brothers of the deceased (if no children), then father's brothers (uncles), and finally the next closest relative in the family (Num 27:8-11). This progressive order reveals a careful design to keep land and family identity intact within the immediate kinship group as much as possible. This was vital because the tribal land allotments were not just economic assets but foundational to Israel's identity as a people covenantally bound to God's promised land. This verse highlights a compassionate God who foresees societal needs and adapts His laws to provide justice, ensuring the continuity of His people's heritage and preventing disinheritance, all while upholding the integrity of the tribal allocations given under the Mosaic Law. This adaptability in divine law underscores its life-giving and practical nature for the well-being of the community.

Numbers 27 7 Commentary

Numbers 27:7 represents a landmark moment in biblical law and societal practice. Before the daughters of Zelophehad, the customary law presumed land passed through the male line. Their courageous and divinely affirmed petition directly challenged this norm, highlighting a crucial aspect of God's justice: it is not rigid but dynamic and responsive to circumstances and human petitions that seek righteous outcomes.

This verse teaches several profound truths. First, it underscores God's perfect justice and impartiality. He listens to the vulnerable – in this case, women who might otherwise be dispossessed – and intervenes to ensure fairness. God's declaration, "The daughters of Zelophehad are right," isn't merely an endorsement but an affirmation of their just reasoning based on fundamental principles of preserving tribal and family identity and upholding the covenantal land distribution. Second, it demonstrates the process of divine revelation in the context of specific human need. God's law is not always fully articulated beforehand for every conceivable scenario; sometimes, it unfolds through righteous inquiry and petition. Moses, in faithfully bringing the case before the Lord, exemplified proper leadership that sought divine guidance rather than relying solely on tradition or human custom.

The divine decree to "surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father's brothers" established a binding legal precedent, affirming that daughters could inherit when there were no sons. This not only preserved Zelophehad's name and lineage within Israel but also secured the family's portion within the tribal inheritance of Manasseh, preventing its assimilation into other families. This concept of keeping the inheritance within the tribe and family lineage was crucial for the overall plan of land distribution in Canaan. This legal decision also paves the way for the later regulations found in Numbers 36, which addressed the potential issue of these daughters marrying outside their tribe and thus transferring tribal land. The primary goal was to preserve the divinely ordained tribal boundaries and inheritance divisions.

Practically, this verse reminds us that:

• God is accessible and listens to the petitions of the marginalized.
• Seeking justice often requires bold, Spirit-led initiative.
• Divine justice prioritizes righteousness and fairness, even if it means challenging existing social norms.
• Leadership should always seek God's counsel in complex matters, particularly those affecting justice and equity.