Numbers 36:4 kjv
And when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.
Numbers 36:4 nkjv
And when the Jubilee of the children of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers."
Numbers 36:4 niv
When the Year of Jubilee for the Israelites comes, their inheritance will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry, and their property will be taken from the tribal inheritance of our ancestors."
Numbers 36:4 esv
And when the jubilee of the people of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry, and their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers."
Numbers 36:4 nlt
Then when the Year of Jubilee comes, their portion of land will be added to that of the new tribe, causing it to be lost forever to our ancestral tribe."
Numbers 36 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 27:1-11 | Then came the daughters of Zelophehad... Moses brought their case before the LORD. And the LORD spoke to Moses... their father's brothers may not give them a possession. | Initial petition and divine ruling on daughters' inheritance in absence of sons. |
| Num 36:1-3 | The heads of the fathers' houses of the children of Gilead... came before Moses and before the leaders... saying, The LORD commanded... daughters of Zelophehad should be given for wives... | Context: Tribal elders' concern about inherited land passing out of the tribe. |
| Num 36:5-7 | Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying... they may marry only within the family of the tribe of their father. So shall no inheritance... transfer from tribe to tribe. | The specific divine decree and explicit prohibition against inter-tribal transfer. |
| Num 36:8-9 | Every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe... shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance... | Generalization of the rule to all daughters inheriting land to maintain tribal lines. |
| Josh 13:7 | Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh. | The divine command for fixed tribal land distribution. |
| Josh 14:1-5 | These are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua... divided for an inheritance by lot... | Describes the land division by lot, reinforcing its sacredness. |
| Lev 25:10 | And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession... | Principle of land returning to its original tribal/family possession in the Jubilee year, ensuring perpetuation of tribal lines. |
| 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 ownership of the land underscores the sacredness of its divinely appointed distribution. |
| 1 Kgs 21:3 | And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. | Naboth's refusal to sell his inherited land, showing the profound cultural and religious value placed on ancestral property. |
| Ruth 4:5-6 | Then Boaz said, What day thou buyest the field... thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead... redeemer said, I cannot redeem it for myself. | Illustrates the practice of preserving family land and lineage through kinship redemption. |
| Ps 78:55 | He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. | Highlights God's role in distributing the land to Israel by clear boundaries. |
| Ezek 46:18 | Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered. | Principle against wrongful acquisition of inheritance, affirming rightful land tenure. |
| Mic 2:2 | And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. | Denounces unjust seizure of inherited land. |
| Acts 26:18 | To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. | Spiritual parallel: Receiving a spiritual "inheritance" in Christ, not land but divine blessing and salvation. |
| Eph 1:11 | In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. | Spiritual inheritance for believers, emphasizing God's sovereign plan. |
| Col 3:24 | Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. | The spiritual inheritance as a promised reward for faithful service. |
| Heb 1:14 | Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? | Believers as heirs of salvation, a divine and eternal inheritance. |
| Heb 9:15 | And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions... they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. | Christ as mediator of the new covenant leading to an eternal, spiritual inheritance. |
| Heb 11:8-10 | By faith Abraham, when he was called... went out... for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. | Abraham seeking a better, heavenly land/inheritance beyond the earthly one. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. | Description of the glorious, incorruptible spiritual inheritance for believers. |
| Rev 21:1 | And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. | The ultimate new creation, hinting at a new eternal dwelling and inheritance. |
Numbers 36 verses
Numbers 36 4 Meaning
Numbers 36:4 addresses a specific legal scenario concerning the inheritance of Zelophehad’s daughters, establishing a crucial principle for the preservation of tribal land boundaries. It stipulates that if these daughters, who had inherited land due to the absence of male heirs, were to marry men from other tribes of Israel, their inherited land would be alienated from their birth tribe's possession and permanently annexed to the inheritance of their husband's tribe. This ruling was designed to prevent the dilution and fragmentation of the original tribal territories that had been divinely allocated by lot, ensuring that each tribe's designated inheritance remained intact through successive generations.
Numbers 36 4 Context
Numbers 36:4 is situated within the closing chapters of the book of Numbers, which details the Israelites' preparations to enter the promised land of Canaan, including crucial legal enactments and census-taking. The immediate context for this verse is the specific legal challenge presented by the heads of the tribal clans of Gilead, descendants of Manasseh, concerning the inheritance of Zelophehad's daughters (Num 27). These daughters had previously been granted the right to inherit their father's land in the absence of male heirs, a groundbreaking decision. However, this ruling created a potential dilemma: if they were to marry outside their ancestral tribe, their inherited land would transfer, causing a gradual shift and eventual dismemberment of tribal land boundaries, contradicting the divinely ordered land distribution for Canaan. Numbers 36 provides God's resolution to this problem, affirming the daughters' right to inherit but stipulating that they must marry within their own tribe or clan to preserve the integrity of tribal land allotments, which were seen as divinely fixed and perpetual. This verse, therefore, highlights the intricate balance between individual rights and the overarching divine plan for the tribal land tenure in Israel.
Numbers 36 4 Word analysis
- And if they be married (וְהָיְתָה֙ לְאֶחָ֗ד מִבְּנֵי֙ שִׁבְטֵי֙ בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְנָשִׁ֖ים): The Hebrew root for "married" here implies a sense of "becoming family to" or "contracting a marriage alliance with." The construction indicates the consequence of such an act. It refers specifically to marriage with someone from "other tribes of the children of Israel," underscoring the inter-tribal transfer as the problematic element.
- inheritance (נַחֲלָה - nachalah): This is a highly significant term. It means "inheritance," "possession," or "heritage." It denotes land received by lot or as an ancestral gift, emphasizing its divine origin and permanence rather than mere property acquisition. It was God's direct apportionment to each tribe and clan.
- taken from (וְנִגְרְעָה֙ - wᵉniḡrᵉʿâ): This verb means "to be taken away," "to be subtracted," "to be diminished," or "to be cut off." It highlights the effect of land permanently departing from the original tribe's assigned portion, emphasizing a diminution of their divinely allotted share.
- inheritance of our fathers (נַחֲלַת֙ אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ - naḥălatʾ ăḇôṯênū): This phrase underscores the deep reverence and attachment to ancestral land. It was not just personal property, but the enduring heritage passed down through generations, intrinsically linked to tribal identity and God's covenant with them.
- added to (וְנָתְנָה֙ עַל - wᵉnāṯᵉnâ ʿal): This phrase signifies a definitive transfer and permanent annexation of the land to another's portion. The land becomes part of the receiving tribe's inheritance, illustrating the unalterable shift in tribal possession.
- the tribe (הַמַּטֶּה֙ - hammattèh): The Hebrew word literally means "staff," "rod," or "branch." It is a metonym for a tribal division, indicating a distinct lineage and geographical allotment. The integrity of each "matteh" was paramount in God's plan for Israel.
- whereunto they are received (אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיוּ־לָהֶ֔ם - ʾăšer yihyû-lāhem): This describes the destination tribe of the marriage, clarifying that the land moves to the new tribal affiliation of the inheritors.
- so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance (כֵּ֣ן יִגָּרַע֮ מִגּוֹרַ֣ל נַחֲלָתֵ֒נוּ): This final phrase reiterates and emphasizes the unavoidable loss for the original tribe. "Lot" (גּוֹרָל - gorâl) signifies divine apportionment by chance, highlighting that the land's original allocation was by God's decree and thus meant to be immutable.
Words-group Analysis
- And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel: This phrase defines the specific condition under which the transfer of inheritance occurs. It's not about marrying foreigners, but specifically fellow Israelites from different tribes, highlighting the concern for maintaining distinct tribal boundaries within the nation.
- then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers: This explicitly states the consequence: the removal of the inherited land from the patrimony of their birth tribe. It shows the emphasis on protecting the land received from ancestors, which was perceived as a divine trust.
- and shall be added to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: This defines the ultimate destination of the land, clarifying that it would integrate permanently into the new tribal lineage by marriage. This ensures that the land does not simply float free, but shifts its tribal allegiance entirely.
- so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance: This concluding repetition reinforces the loss for the original tribe and the sanctity of the initial divine apportionment by lot. It underscores the severity of breaking the territorial integrity established by God.
Numbers 36 4 Bonus section
This rule was not an oppressive restriction on women but a protective measure for the sacred land tenure system of Israel. The Israelite understanding of "inheritance" (nachalah) was fundamentally tied to covenantal blessings and the fulfillment of God's promises. The land was God's gift, divided by lot under His direction, signifying a permanent endowment for each tribe. Any practice that threatened this divinely ordained permanence was seen as problematic. The legal innovation in Numbers 27 gave daughters the right to inherit, but the solution in Numbers 36 provided the necessary safeguard to ensure this individual right did not undermine the collective, perpetual tribal land allocation. This episode reflects the dynamic nature of Mosaic law, adapting to specific cases while upholding core principles of divine order and covenant faithfulness. It speaks to the importance of discerning the wisdom in specific commands that, while appearing narrow in scope, served to maintain the overarching societal and theological structure of God's people.
Numbers 36 4 Commentary
Numbers 36:4 outlines a pragmatic legal provision to uphold the divine blueprint for Israel's land distribution. Following the landmark ruling allowing daughters to inherit in the absence of sons (Num 27), this verse addresses a consequential legal concern raised by tribal leaders: the potential for land to perpetually shift between tribes through marriage, thus destabilizing the fixed territorial boundaries ordained by God. The rule decreed here ensures that any inherited land from such daughters would be absorbed into their husband's tribal territory if they married outside their birth tribe. This preventative measure underscores God's deep concern for order, tribal identity, and the inviolability of the land assigned by lot. It exemplifies the careful balance within Israelite law between individual rights and the larger communal structure, preserving the integrity of each tribe's God-given inheritance for generations.