Numbers 32:22 kjv
And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
Numbers 32:22 nkjv
and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you may return and be blameless before the LORD and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
Numbers 32:22 niv
then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return and be free from your obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the LORD.
Numbers 32:22 esv
and the land is subdued before the LORD; then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
Numbers 32:22 nlt
then you may return when the LORD has conquered the land. You will have fulfilled your duty to the LORD and to the rest of the people of Israel. And the land on the east side of the Jordan will be your property from the LORD.
Numbers 32 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 39:9 | "How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" | Sin is against God, ultimate accountability. |
| Exo 3:8 | "I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up...to a good and broad land..." | God's promise of land for His people. |
| Num 14:34 | "You shall bear your iniquities forty years, and you shall know my displeasure." | Consequences of not fulfilling commitment/faith. |
| Deut 6:18 | "You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you..." | Obedience leads to blessings and well-being. |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law... that you may have good success..." | Success tied to adherence to God's word. |
| Josh 22:16 | "What is this trespass that you have committed against the God of Israel...? Have you so lightly turned aside from following the Lord...?" | Community challenge to perceived unfaithfulness. |
| Prov 10:9 | "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out." | Integrity brings security, deception leads to exposure. |
| Prov 13:6 | "Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but wickedness overthrows the sinner." | Blamelessness offers protection; wickedness ruins. |
| Prov 28:13 | "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." | Openness and repentance are necessary for mercy. |
| Ecc 5:4-5 | "When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it... It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay." | The importance of fulfilling vows. |
| Matt 5:37 | "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil." | Simplicity and truthfulness in speech/commitments. |
| Rom 2:6 | "He will render to each one according to his works:" | God's justice in rewarding actions. |
| Rom 13:7 | "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed..." | Obligation to fulfill duties to authorities and people. |
| Rom 14:12 | "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God." | Ultimate accountability to God. |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done..." | Believers' accountability before Christ. |
| 2 Cor 8:21 | "for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man." | Doing what is right both before God and people. |
| Eph 1:11 | "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things..." | Believers' spiritual inheritance in Christ. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men... you will receive the inheritance as your reward." | Work done for the Lord earns spiritual reward/inheritance. |
| Tit 2:7-8 | "Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works... so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say." | Living blamelessly to silence critics. |
| Heb 4:13 | "No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." | God's perfect knowledge and our transparency before Him. |
| Heb 9:15 | "Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance..." | Christ as the guarantee of the eternal inheritance. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Importance of acting on what is heard/promised. |
| 1 Pet 1:3-4 | "He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ... an inheritance that is imperishable..." | The living hope and imperishable spiritual inheritance. |
| 1 Pet 2:12 | "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds..." | Honorable conduct among unbelievers for God's glory. |
Numbers 32 verses
Numbers 32 22 Meaning
Numbers 32:22 delineates a critical condition for the tribes of Reuben and Gad (and later, half of Manasseh) to legitimately possess their requested land east of the Jordan. It states that their land will only become a rightful and permanent inheritance (an "achuzzah") if they first fulfill their covenantal commitment: namely, to fully participate with the other tribes in conquering the land of Canaan west of the Jordan. By fulfilling this obligation, they would be declared "clear" or innocent (Hebrew: naqi)—free from blame, guilt, or any unfulfilled promise—not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of the entire Israelite community. This divine and human approval is prerequisite to their territorial claim being divinely sanctioned.
Numbers 32 22 Context
Numbers chapter 32 describes the request of the tribes of Reuben and Gad to settle in the fertile land east of the Jordan River. Initially, Moses reacts with strong indignation, remembering how the faithlessness of the previous generation led to a prolonged wandering in the wilderness (Num 14:34). He accuses them of desiring to discourage the rest of Israel and bring God's wrath upon them again. However, the tribes explain that they intend to build secure cities for their families and flocks first, and then lead the advance across the Jordan, fighting alongside the other tribes until all of Canaan is conquered and divided. Only then would they return to their requested inheritance. Moses accepts their proposal on this explicit condition. Verse 22 lays out the covenantal implications: their entitlement to the land on the east bank is directly contingent upon their faithful fulfillment of this commitment to both God and the wider Israelite community. It establishes that their clearness (freedom from guilt or broken promises) is paramount for their possession.
Numbers 32 22 Word analysis
- and you shall be clear: (וִהְיִיתֶם נְקִיִּם - vi'h'yitem neqiyim)
- "clear" (נְקִיִּם - neqiyim): The Hebrew root naqa signifies being clean, innocent, guiltless, unpunished, or acquitted. Here, it conveys freedom from obligation or blame. It implies not just an external appearance but an internal state of integrity before God and man. Their claim to the land is valid only if they are free from the accusation of shirking their responsibility. This is in sharp contrast to the previous generation's unclearness due to their faithless disobedience (Num 14).
- before the Lord: (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - lifnei YHWH)
- "before the Lord": This phrase emphasizes the ultimate divine standard of judgment. God's omniscience means He sees their true intentions and their fulfillment (or lack thereof) of the vow. It signifies accountability in a spiritual and covenantal sense, implying divine approval or disapproval. It highlights that the agreement is a sacred oath made under divine oversight.
- and before Israel: (וְלִפְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - wəlifnei Yisrael)
- "before Israel": This points to accountability within the community. The other tribes must recognize their integrity and the fulfillment of their shared mission. It speaks to maintaining unity, trust, and a good reputation among their brethren. Failure to fight would have brought social and national condemnation.
- and this land shall be a possession: (וְהָיְתָה הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לָכֶם לַאֲחֻזָּה - v'ha'ayetah ha'aretz ha'zot la'khem la'akhuzzah)
- "this land": Refers specifically to the territory east of the Jordan, already requested by Reuben and Gad (Gilead).
- "possession" (לַאֲחֻזָּה - la'akhuzzah): From the root 'achaz, meaning "to grasp" or "take hold." An achuzzah is a permanent, hereditary holding or property right, often involving a legal claim to an inherited piece of land. It denotes a secured and rightful claim, not merely temporary occupation. This permanence is explicitly conditioned upon their faithful actions.
- for you: Refers directly to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, specifying the beneficiaries of the conditional promise.
- before the Lord: This re-emphasis underscores that the granting of their possession is not just human approval, but a divinely recognized and sanctioned inheritance, once the condition is met.
Words-group analysis:
- "you shall be clear before the Lord and before Israel": This phrase underscores a dual accountability—divine and human. True integrity is visible both to God, who sees the heart, and to one's fellow-man, who observes actions. It implies complete exoneration from blame stemming from unfulfilled obligations. Their righteousness in action guarantees their purity of standing.
- "this land shall be a possession for you before the Lord": This segment firmly ties the physical inheritance to spiritual integrity and divine blessing. Their claim to the land is not merely an agreement with Moses but requires God's seal of approval, which is contingent upon their faithfulness. The permanence of their possession is explicitly under God's watchful eye and approval.
Numbers 32 22 Bonus section
The verse subtly highlights that while land allocation was often through lot after conquest, for these tribes, it was a conditional pre-possession. Their early acquisition of land served as a significant test of their commitment to the greater good of Israel. It also introduces the idea that divine blessing (land, possession) is not automatic but is a direct consequence of active, obedient participation in God's wider purposes. The repetition of "before the Lord" (in v.22) also creates an inclusio or a thematic bracket around the concept of "clearness," reinforcing that God's sight is primary and all-encompassing in determining genuine righteousness and the legitimacy of their claim. Their agreement becomes a benchmark for integrity that future generations (cf. Joshua 22:16-18) would hold them to.
Numbers 32 22 Commentary
Numbers 32:22 establishes a profound principle of covenant fidelity: genuine possession and blessing are predicated on fulfilled obligations and integrity. For Reuben and Gad, "being clear" (free from guilt) before both God and Israel meant keeping their solemn word to participate in the conquest. This was crucial for national unity and a demonstration of genuine faith. The double mention of "before the Lord" underscores that ultimately, all human endeavors, especially those involving God's promises and commands, must stand under His scrutiny and receive His divine endorsement. This verse is a timeless reminder that while promises of blessing and inheritance exist, they are often conditional upon our obedience and faithfulness to our commitments, both vertically to God and horizontally to our fellow believers. Practically, this applies to our promises, vows, and roles within the community of faith; fulfilling them ensures "clearness" and the true reception of blessings God intends. For example, if one pledges service in the church, faithfully executing that service demonstrates their integrity. Or if a believer commits to supporting a ministry, following through validates their sincerity and brings the blessing promised for such actions (Prov 19:17).