Numbers 36 8

Numbers 36:8 kjv

And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, 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 of his fathers.

Numbers 36:8 nkjv

And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel shall be the wife of one of the family of her father's tribe, so that the children of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his fathers.

Numbers 36:8 niv

Every daughter who inherits land in any Israelite tribe must marry someone in her father's tribal clan, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of their ancestors.

Numbers 36:8 esv

And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the people of Israel shall be wife to one of the clan of the tribe of her father, so that every one of the people of Israel may possess the inheritance of his fathers.

Numbers 36:8 nlt

The daughters throughout the tribes of Israel who are in line to inherit property must marry within their tribe, so that all the Israelites will keep their ancestral property.

Numbers 36 verses

Numbers 36 8 Meaning

Numbers 36:8 commands that every daughter who inherits land within any of the Israelite tribes must marry a man from a clan of her father's tribe. This law ensured that the inherited land would remain within the original tribal and clan boundaries, thereby preserving the divinely ordained allocation of territory among the twelve tribes of Israel as they entered the Promised Land. It reinforced the importance of tribal identity and the integrity of ancestral inheritance.

Numbers 36 8 Context

Numbers chapter 36 concludes the detailed legal narratives surrounding Israel's preparation to enter the Promised Land. The immediate context stems from the resolution of an earlier case in Numbers chapter 27. There, the daughters of Zelophehad (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah), whose father had died without sons, successfully petitioned Moses for the right to inherit their father's land, a departure from traditional male-only inheritance. God affirmed their request. However, this ruling presented a new potential problem: if these daughters married outside their own tribe, their inherited land would transfer to their husband's tribe, diminishing their original tribal allotment. The leaders of the tribe of Manasseh (Zelophehad's tribe) raised this concern to Moses and the Israelite leaders. Numbers 36:8 is part of God's specific ruling to address this tribal concern, ensuring that the inheritance given to women would remain permanently within their father's tribal boundaries. This prevented the fragmentation of tribal territories, preserving the divine order of land distribution.

Numbers 36 8 Word analysis

• And (וְ H8711 - waw): A conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding directive, emphasizing its continuous, conditional nature.
• every (כָּל־ H3605 - kol): Implies universality. It is not an isolated case but applies to any future daughter facing the same scenario. This indicates a general principle rather than a one-time ruling.
• daughter (בַּת H1323 - bat): Refers to a female descendant. Here, specifically, a woman eligible to inherit land. The emphasis highlights their unique role as heiresses due to the preceding decree.
• who inherits (יֹרֶשֶׁת H3423 - yoreshet - fem. part. from יָרַשׁ yarash, to take possession, inherit): Describes the specific status of the daughter. This active participle highlights her as the one acquiring the ancestral estate, connecting directly to the previous ruling on Zelophehad's daughters.
• a possession (נַחֲלַת H5159 - nachalah, inheritance, heritage, possession): This core term denotes ancestral land, which is not merely property but a divinely allotted legacy, crucial for tribal identity and livelihood in the Promised Land.
• in (מִ־ H4480 - min, from/of): Specifies the source or origin of the inheritance within the tribal context.
• any (מִטֹּות H4294 - mițțōwṭ - form of מַטֶּה matteh, staff, tribe, branch): Refers to the lineage or clan. Using 'staff' signifies authority and leadership associated with the tribal heads.
• of the tribes (שִׁבְטֵי H7626 - shivțe, from שֶׁבֶט shevet, rod, tribe, sceptre): Synonymous with matteh, reinforcing the divinely established twelve divisions of Israel. The plural form ensures application across all tribal inheritances.
• of the people (בְּנֵי H1121 - b'ney - literally, "sons of", used to mean people/children of): Designates the entire Israelite nation, underscoring that this law applies across all of Jacob's descendants.
• of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל H3478 - Yisrael, Israel): The covenant people of God, to whom these laws and land allocations are uniquely given.

Words-group analysis:

• "every daughter who inherits a possession": This phrase precisely targets the unique legal situation established by Zelophehad's daughters' petition. It clarifies that this law is specifically for female inheritors of landed property, setting a precedent for such cases throughout Israel's history. The concern here is not merely about marriage, but about the specific intersection of female inheritance and the stability of tribal land boundaries.
• "in any of the tribes of the people of Israel": This emphasizes the universal application of the law across all twelve tribes, preventing a similar issue from arising in other tribal contexts. It underlines the consistent application of God's law regarding land allocation throughout the entire nation. The divine organization of Israel into distinct tribes, each with its designated territory, was central to their identity and economic stability.
• "shall be wife to one of the clan of the tribe of her father": The directive, isha tihiyena l'misphpachat matteh aviha (lit. "she shall be wife to a family of the tribe of her father"), mandates endogamous marriage within her own tribal lineage. This "cleaving" ensures that the inherited nachalah (inheritance/possession) remains tethered to its original tribal and clan identity, fulfilling the principle that land granted by God was not to be alienated from its assigned tribe. This requirement highlights the high value placed on the preservation of tribal identity and God's territorial decree.

Numbers 36 8 Bonus section

This command regarding marrying within one's father's clan and tribe reflects the profound importance of nachalah (inheritance) in ancient Israel, which transcended mere property to represent ancestral identity, spiritual blessing, and a perpetual stake in God's promised land. This intricate legal adjustment in Numbers demonstrates a divine jurisprudence that balances justice for individuals (like Zelophehad's daughters) with the collective tribal and national integrity established by God. The detailed regulations around land distribution underscore that land in Israel was not merely real estate to be bought and sold freely, but a sacred trust and an integral part of their covenant identity. It also subtly contrasts with pagan land customs where land often reflected the whim of rulers rather than an ordered, divine allocation based on ancestral lineage and fixed boundaries. This careful regulation served as a hedge against assimilation or loss of distinct tribal identities within the unified nation of Israel.

Numbers 36 8 Commentary

Numbers 36:8 serves as a legal amendment that addresses a crucial implication of a previous groundbreaking ruling. While Numbers 27 established the precedent for daughters to inherit land when there were no sons, this verse provides a necessary safeguard to prevent the geographical and numerical confusion of tribal inheritances. The law ensured that the divine allocation of the land of Canaan, meticulously detailed for each tribe, remained intact and permanent across generations. It highlights God's orderly nature and His commitment to preserving identity and boundaries within His covenant people. This specific command prevented ancestral lands from being alienated to another tribe through marriage, maintaining the distinct territories as foundational elements of Israelite identity and a constant reminder of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding the land. It also demonstrates the flexibility and wisdom of divine law, capable of adaptation to ensure justice (daughters inheriting) while maintaining overall divine order (tribal boundaries).