Numbers 27 9

Numbers 27:9 kjv

And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.

Numbers 27:9 nkjv

If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.

Numbers 27:9 niv

If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers.

Numbers 27:9 esv

And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.

Numbers 27:9 nlt

And if he has no daughter either, transfer his inheritance to his brothers.

Numbers 27 verses

Numbers 27 9 Meaning

Numbers 27:9 prescribes a precise lineage for inheriting property in ancient Israel. It states that if a deceased man leaves no sons, daughters, or sisters, his inheritance is to be passed to his father's brothers. This statute ensured the preservation of land within the broader paternal family unit and tribe, reflecting God's commitment to ordered communal life and the sustained provision for each household within the Promised Land.

Numbers 27 9 Context

Numbers 27 details Moses' request from the Lord regarding the inheritance of Zelophehad's five daughters. Zelophehad had died without sons, and his daughters appealed for their father's land not to be lost to their family. This plea led the Lord to establish a groundbreaking legal precedent (Num 27:1-8) allowing daughters to inherit in the absence of sons. Numbers 27:9 is part of the expanded decree immediately following this initial ruling, setting out the further hierarchy of inheritance if there are no sons, daughters, or sisters. This broader context emphasizes God's responsiveness to human need, His justice, and the careful regulation of land distribution in anticipation of settling in the Promised Land. Historically, inheritance was critical for the survival, social standing, and identity of a family unit, particularly given that the land of Israel was seen as a divinely apportioned perpetual inheritance for the tribes.

Numbers 27 9 Word analysis

• If he has no sister (וְאִם-אֵין לוֹ אָחוֹת):

  • "If" (וְאִם-ve'im): This conjunction introduces a conditional clause, common in legal formulations, specifying a contingent situation for the rule to apply. It implies a preceding examination of family relations.
  • "has no" (אֵין לוֹ - ein lo): Lit. "not to him." Indicates a lack or absence, precisely defining the circumstance under which this part of the law comes into effect, i.e., after the possibility of male and female direct descendants (and sisters) is exhausted.
  • "sister" (אָחוֹת - achot): Refers to a full or half-sister. The mention of a sister in the succession shows the deliberate and expanded scope of the inheritance law, extending the principle of female inheritance beyond just daughters to sisters, indicating the progression from closer to more distant relatives within the prescribed order.

• then you shall give (וּנְתַתֶּם - u'netattem):

  • "then" (וּ - u): A conjunction introducing the consequent action, flowing directly from the stated condition.
  • "you shall give" (נְתַתֶּם - netattem): The Hebrew verb natan (to give) implies establishment, granting, or entrusting. It highlights a transfer of possession. The verb is in the masculine plural, indicating that this command is directed to Moses and, by extension, to the future leaders, judges, and administrators of Israel who would be responsible for upholding these laws. It underscores divine authority channeled through human governance.

• his inheritance (אֶת-נַחֲלָתוֹ - et-nachalato):

  • "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה - nachalah): More than just property, nachalah refers to a possession or patrimony, often with a connotation of an allotted share or lasting endowment. Crucially, it speaks of the portion of land distributed to each tribe and family in the Promised Land (Num 26:52-56), signifying not merely material wealth but ancestral lineage, identity, and the fulfillment of God's covenantal promise to Israel. It was considered inviolable (Lev 25:23).

• to his father's brothers (לַאֲחֵי אָבִיו - la'achei aviv):

  • "to his father's brothers" (לַאֲחֵי אָבִיו - la'achei aviv): This specific designation of kinship (lit. "to the brothers of his father") places the next rightful inheritors in the direct paternal lineage, specifically collateral male relatives. It underlines the patrilineal emphasis in Israelite society for maintaining tribal and clan boundaries, but also shows the law extending to wider family networks when direct lines cease, ensuring the continuity of the name and property.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "If he has no sister, then you shall give": This phrase establishes the sequential legal principle. It follows logically from the earlier rules (sons, daughters) and preceding verses in Num 27, demonstrating a comprehensive legal framework where successive provisions activate based on the absence of closer kin. It highlights divine foresight in addressing diverse familial circumstances.
  • "his inheritance to his father's brothers": This defines the target recipients, firmly keeping the inheritance within the male bloodline of the deceased, albeit extended. It safeguards the clan's property and identity, which were intrinsically tied to land ownership in ancient Israel, thus maintaining social order and preventing property from exiting the family or tribal system unexpectedly.

Numbers 27 9 Bonus section

This particular law showcases a unique aspect of Israelite jurisprudence: its dynamic and responsive nature to specific appeals for justice, unlike many ancient Near Eastern law codes that were often static decrees. The daughters of Zelophehad's petition prompted a divine expansion of the law, setting a precedent that continued to be elaborated upon, demonstrating God's accessibility and willingness to adapt His ordinances to ensure fairness while maintaining overarching covenant principles. This also subtly affirms the divine origin of the law, as its adaptability springs from a living, listening God, contrasting with rigid human systems. It is not merely a secular legal code, but a framework for a sacred community's ordered life under God's watchful care, showing the divine priority on establishing practical societal norms that ensure well-being.

Numbers 27 9 Commentary

Numbers 27:9, as part of the broader inheritance law sparked by the daughters of Zelophehad, highlights God's intricate attention to justice and social stability within Israel. It clarifies the legal pathway for land transfer when the more direct lines of descent—sons, then daughters, then sisters—are exhausted. By mandating the inheritance pass to the father's brothers, the law underscores the critical importance of preserving property within the patrilineal lineage. This not only provided a robust framework for familial continuity but also prevented the alienation of land from its designated tribal allocation, upholding the divine distribution of the Promised Land (Num 36). The explicit command "you shall give" indicates divine authority for Moses and future Israelite leaders to administer these specific laws, reflecting God as the ultimate sovereign over the land and its people, meticulously orchestrating a society built on equity and order.