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Numbers 36

BSB·13 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Now the familyהָֽאָב֗וֹתhā·’ā·ḇō·wṯ — H1 — Full Word Study → headsרָאשֵׁ֣יrā·šê — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → of the clanלְמִשְׁפַּ֤חַתlə·miš·pa·ḥaṯ — Family, clan, household groupH4940 — Full Word Study → of Gileadגִלְעָד֙ḡil·‘āḏ — Rocky, hilly regionH1568 — Full Word Study → sonבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Machirמָכִ֣ירmā·ḵîr — Seller, SalesmanH4353 — Full Word Study → sonבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֔הmə·naš·šeh — God has made me forgetH4519 — Full Word Study →, one of the clansמִֽמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֖תmim·miš·pə·ḥōṯ — Family, clan, household groupH4940 — Full Word Study → of Josephיוֹסֵ֑ףyō·w·sêp̄ — God will increaseH3130 — Full Word Study →, approachedוַֽיִּקְרְב֞וּway·yiq·rə·ḇū — to approach, draw near, come forwardH7126 — Full Word Study → Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mō·šeh — Drawn outH4872 — Full Word Study → and the leadersהַנְּשִׂאִ֔יםhan·nə·śi·’îm — Prince, ruler, or leader of exalted statusH5387 — Full Word Study → who were the headsרָאשֵׁ֥יrā·šê — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → of the Israeliteלִבְנֵ֥יliḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → familiesיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → and addressed themוַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּway·ḏab·bə·rū — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study →, 2sayingוַיֹּאמְר֗וּway·yō·mə·rū — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “When the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → commandedצִוָּ֣הṣiw·wāh — to command, order, or appoint with authorityH6680 — Full Word Study → my lordאֲדֹנִי֙’ă·ḏō·nî — Lord, master, owner, rulerH113 — Full Word Study → to giveלָתֵ֨תlā·ṯêṯ — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → the landהָאָ֧רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → as an inheritanceבְּנַחֲלָ֛הbə·na·ḥă·lāh — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → to the Israelitesלִבְנֵ֣יliḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → by lotבְּגוֹרָ֖לbə·ḡō·w·rāl — lot, portion, inheritance, destinyH1486 — Full Word Study →, He also commandedצֻוָּ֣הṣuw·wāh — to command, order, or appoint with authorityH6680 — Full Word Study → him to giveלָתֵ֗תlā·ṯêṯ — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֛תna·ḥă·laṯ — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → of our brotherאָחִ֖ינוּ’ā·ḥî·nū — Male sibling; brother; kinsmanH251 — Full Word Study → Zelophehadצְלָפְחָ֥דṣə·lā·p̄ə·ḥāḏ — Shadow of the Mighty OneH6765 — Full Word Study → to his daughtersלִבְנֹתָֽיו׃liḇ·nō·ṯāw — daughter; female child or descendantH1323 — Full Word Study →. 3But if they marryוְ֠הָיוּwə·hā·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → any of the menלְאֶחָ֞דlə·’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → from the other tribes of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֮yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →, their inheritanceנַחֲלָתָן֙na·ḥă·lā·ṯān — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → will be withdrawnוְנִגְרְעָ֤הwə·niḡ·rə·‘āh — to diminish, reduce, or take awayH1639 — Full Word Study → from the portionמִנַּחֲלַ֣תmin·na·ḥă·laṯ — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → of our fathersאֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ’ă·ḇō·ṯê·nū — H1 — Full Word Study → and addedוְנוֹסַ֕ףwə·nō·w·sap̄ — to add, increase, or do againH3254 — Full Word Study → toעַ֚ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the tribeהַמַּטֶּ֔הham·maṭ·ṭeh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → into whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → they marryתִּהְיֶ֖ינָהtih·ye·nāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study →. So our allottedוּמִגֹּרַ֥לū·mig·gō·ral — lot, portion, inheritance, destinyH1486 — Full Word Study → inheritanceנַחֲלָתֵ֖נוּna·ḥă·lā·ṯê·nū — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → would be taken awayיִגָּרֵֽעַ׃yig·gā·rê·a‘ — to diminish, reduce, or take awayH1639 — Full Word Study →. 4And whenוְאִם־wə·’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → the Jubileeהַיֹּבֵל֮hay·yō·ḇêl — Jubilee; ram's horn; trumpetH3104 — Full Word Study → for the Israelitesלִבְנֵ֣יliḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → comesיִהְיֶ֣הyih·yeh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study →, their inheritanceנַחֲלָתָ֔ןna·ḥă·lā·ṯān — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → will be addedוְנֽוֹסְפָה֙wə·nō·ws·p̄āh — to add, increase, or do againH3254 — Full Word Study → toעַ֚ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the tribeהַמַּטֶּ֔הham·maṭ·ṭeh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → into whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → they marryתִּהְיֶ֖ינָהtih·ye·nāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → and taken awayיִגָּרַ֖עyig·gā·ra‘ — to diminish, reduce, or take awayH1639 — Full Word Study → from the tribeמַטֵּ֣הmaṭ·ṭêh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → of our fathersאֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ’ă·ḇō·ṯê·nū — H1 — Full Word Study →.” 5So atעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the wordפִּ֥יpî — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mō·šeh — Drawn outH4872 — Full Word Study → commandedוַיְצַ֤וway·ṣaw — to command, order, or appoint with authorityH6680 — Full Word Study → the Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →: “The tribeמַטֵּ֥הmaṭ·ṭêh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → of the sonsבְנֵֽי־ḇə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyō·w·sêp̄ — God will increaseH3130 — Full Word Study → speaksדֹּבְרִֽים׃dō·ḇə·rîm — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → correctlyכֵּ֛ןkên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study →. 6Thisזֶ֣הzeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → is whatאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → has commandedצִוָּ֣הṣiw·wāh — to command, order, or appoint with authorityH6680 — Full Word Study → concerning the daughtersלִבְנ֤וֹתliḇ·nō·wṯ — daughter; female child or descendantH1323 — Full Word Study → of Zelophehadצְלָפְחָד֙ṣə·lā·p̄ə·ḥāḏ — Shadow of the Mighty OneH6765 — Full Word Study →: They may marryתִּהְיֶ֣ינָהtih·ye·nāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → anyone they pleaseלַטּ֥וֹבlaṭ·ṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study →, providedאַ֗ךְ’aḵ — Surely, certainly, only, neverthelessH389 — Full Word Study → they marryתִּהְיֶ֥ינָהtih·ye·nāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → within a clanלְמִשְׁפַּ֛חַתlə·miš·pa·ḥaṯ — Family, clan, household groupH4940 — Full Word Study → of the tribeמַטֵּ֥הmaṭ·ṭêh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → of their fatherאֲבִיהֶ֖ם’ă·ḇî·hem — H1 — Full Word Study →. 7Noוְלֹֽא־wə·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → inheritanceנַחֲלָה֙na·ḥă·lāh — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → in Israelלִבְנֵ֣יliḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → may be transferredתִסֹּ֤בṯis·sōḇ — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study → from tribeמִמַּטֶּ֖הmim·maṭ·ṭeh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → tribeמַטֶּ֑הmaṭ·ṭeh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study →, becauseכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → eachאִ֗ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → of the Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → is to retainיִדְבְּק֖וּyiḏ·bə·qū — to cling to, cleave fast, adhere closelyH1692 — Full Word Study → the inheritanceבְּנַחֲלַת֙bə·na·ḥă·laṯ — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → of the tribeמַטֵּ֣הmaṭ·ṭêh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → of his fathersאֲבֹתָ֔יו’ă·ḇō·ṯāw — H1 — Full Word Study →. 8Everyוְכָל־wə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → daughterבַּ֞תbaṯ — daughter; female child or descendantH1323 — Full Word Study → who possessesיֹרֶ֣שֶׁתyō·re·šeṯ — to possess, inherit, dispossessH3423 — Full Word Study → an inheritanceנַחֲלָ֗הna·ḥă·lāh — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → from any Israeliteיִשְׂרָאֵל֒yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → tribeמִמַּטּוֹת֮mim·maṭ·ṭō·wṯ — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → must marryתִּהְיֶ֣הtih·yeh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → within a clanמִמִּשְׁפַּ֛חַתmim·miš·pa·ḥaṯ — Family, clan, household groupH4940 — Full Word Study → of the tribeמַטֵּ֥הmaṭ·ṭêh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → of her fatherאָבִ֖יהָ’ā·ḇî·hā — H1 — Full Word Study →, so thatלְמַ֗עַןlə·ma·‘an — because of, for the sake of, in order thatH4616 — Full Word Study → everyאִ֖ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → Israeliteבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → will possessיִֽירְשׁוּ֙yî·rə·šū — to possess, inherit, dispossessH3423 — Full Word Study → the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֥תna·ḥă·laṯ — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → of his fathersאֲבֹתָֽיו׃’ă·ḇō·ṯāw — H1 — Full Word Study →. 9Noוְלֹֽא־wə·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → inheritanceנַחֲלָ֛הna·ḥă·lāh — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → may be transferredתִסֹּ֧בṯis·sōḇ — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study → from one tribeמִמַּטֶּ֖הmim·maṭ·ṭeh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → toלְמַטֶּ֣הlə·maṭ·ṭeh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → anotherאַחֵ֑ר’a·ḥêr — another, different, or following person or thingH312 — Full Word Study →, forכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → eachאִישׁ֙’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → tribeמַטּ֖וֹתmaṭ·ṭō·wṯ — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → must retainיִדְבְּק֕וּyiḏ·bə·qū — to cling to, cleave fast, adhere closelyH1692 — Full Word Study → its inheritanceבְּנַ֣חֲלָת֔וֹbə·na·ḥă·lā·ṯōw — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study →.” 10So the daughtersבְּנ֥וֹתbə·nō·wṯ — daughter; female child or descendantH1323 — Full Word Study → of Zelophehadצְלָפְחָֽד׃ṣə·lā·p̄ə·ḥāḏ — Shadow of the Mighty OneH6765 — Full Word Study → didעָשׂ֖וּ‘ā·śū — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → asכַּאֲשֶׁ֛רka·’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → had commandedצִוָּ֥הṣiw·wāh — to command, order, or appoint with authorityH6680 — Full Word Study → Mosesמֹשֶׁ֑הmō·šeh — Drawn outH4872 — Full Word Study →. 11Mahlahמַחְלָ֣הmaḥ·lāh — Sickness or DiseaseH4244 — Full Word Study →, Tirzahתִרְצָ֗הṯir·ṣāh — Pleasantness, beautyH8656 — Full Word Study →, Hoglahוְחָגְלָ֧הwə·ḥā·ḡə·lāh — A daughter of ZelophehadH2295 — Full Word Study →, Milcahוּמִלְכָּ֛הū·mil·kāh — Queen, CounselorH4435 — Full Word Study →, and Noahוְנֹעָ֖הwə·nō·‘āh — Rest, comfortH5270 — Full Word Study →, the daughtersבְּנ֣וֹתbə·nō·wṯ — daughter; female child or descendantH1323 — Full Word Study → of Zelophehadצְלָפְחָ֑דṣə·lā·p̄ə·ḥāḏ — Shadow of the Mighty OneH6765 — Full Word Study →, were marriedלְנָשִֽׁים׃lə·nā·šîm — Woman; wife; femaleH802 — Full Word Study → to cousins on theirלִבְנֵ֥יliḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → father’s sideדֹדֵיהֶ֖ןḏō·ḏê·hen — beloved; uncle; loveH1730 — Full Word Study →. 12They marriedהָי֣וּhā·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → within the clansמִֽמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֛תmim·miš·pə·ḥōṯ — Family, clan, household groupH4940 — Full Word Study → of the descendantsבְּנֵֽי־bə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֥הmə·naš·šeh — God has made me forgetH4519 — Full Word Study → sonבֶן־ḇen- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyō·w·sêp̄ — God will increaseH3130 — Full Word Study →, and their inheritanceנַחֲלָתָ֔ןna·ḥă·lā·ṯān — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → remainedוַתְּהִי֙wat·tə·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → withinעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the tribeמַטֵּ֖הmaṭ·ṭêh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → of their father’sאֲבִיהֶֽן׃’ă·ḇî·hen — H1 — Full Word Study → clanמִשְׁפַּ֥חַתmiš·pa·ḥaṯ — Family, clan, household groupH4940 — Full Word Study →. 13Theseאֵ֣לֶּה’êl·leh — These; those; the onesH428 — Full Word Study → are the commandmentsהַמִּצְוֺ֞תham·miṣ·wōṯ — A command or commandment; divine instruction or lawH4687 — Full Word Study → and ordinancesוְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֗יםwə·ham·miš·pā·ṭîm — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study → thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → gaveצִוָּ֧הṣiw·wāh — to command, order, or appoint with authorityH6680 — Full Word Study → the Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → throughבְּיַד־bə·yaḏ- — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmō·šeh — Drawn outH4872 — Full Word Study → on the plainsבְּעַֽרְבֹ֣תbə·‘ar·ḇōṯ — The Rift ValleyH6160 — Full Word Study → of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study → byעַ֖ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the Jordanיַרְדֵּ֥ןyar·dên — The flowing riverH3383 — Full Word Study → across from Jerichoיְרֵחֽוֹ׃yə·rê·ḥōw — City of palmsH3405 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Numbers 36
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Numbers 36 concludes the book with a practical legal resolution arising from the landmark decision in chapter 27, where Zelophehad's daughters were granted an inheritance in the absence of male heirs. The leaders of the tribe of Joseph now raise a concern: if these daughters marry men from other tribes, their land inheritance would transfer away from Joseph's portion, fragmenting the tribal allotments God had ordained. This chapter records God's wise solution—a regulation ensuring that female heirs marry within their father's tribal family, thereby preserving both the daughters' inheritance rights and the integrity of Israel's tribal land distribution. The chapter exemplifies how God's law balances justice, mercy, and order.

Verses 1-5: The Concern Raised and Approved

The chief fathers of Gilead (descendants of Manasseh, one of Joseph's sons) approach Moses with a legitimate concern. They acknowledge that God commanded Moses to distribute the land by lot to the tribes (v. 2), and that Moses was instructed to grant Zelophehad's daughters their father's inheritance (a just decision that protected these women from destitution). However, they foresee a practical problem: if these daughters marry men from other tribes, their land would leave Joseph's tribal portion and be absorbed into their husbands' tribes (vv. 3-4). This would gradually erode Joseph's allotment with each generation.

Importantly, Moses does not dismiss their concern as selfish. Instead, verse 5 affirms that "the tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well." Moses recognizes both the daughters' rights and the tribal system's integrity matter. This shows pastoral wisdom—legitimate concerns deserve respectful hearing.

Verses 6-9: God's Regulatory Solution

God's command is elegantly simple yet comprehensive. The daughters of Zelophehad are permitted to marry freely (v. 6)—there is no forced marriage or loss of choice—but they must marry within the family of their father's tribe. This preserves their autonomy while protecting tribal boundaries. Verses 7-9 generalize this principle to all female heirs: daughters possessing inheritance must marry within their father's tribal family so that "every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers" (v. 7).

The regulation is not oppressive but protective. It ensures that women inheriting property maintain agency (they choose their husbands), their inheritance remains secure, and tribal lands remain stable. This reflects God's concern for both individual justice and communal order.

Verses 10-13: Fulfillment and Conclusion

The text records that the daughters of Zelophehad obeyed God's word entirely (v. 10). All five daughters—Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah—married their cousins, the sons of their uncle Manasseh (vv. 11-12). Their inheritance remained secure within the tribe of their father. This obedience demonstrates how God's laws, though sometimes requiring careful navigation, ultimately serve the people's good.

Verse 13 formally closes the book: "These are the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel." Numbers ends not with dramatic conquest but with the careful ordering of community life, reminding us that faithfulness includes attention to justice, equity, and proper stewardship.

Application for Today

While we no longer live under Old Testament tribal law, Numbers 36 teaches enduring principles. God cares about both individual rights and community stability. When making major life decisions—including marriage—we should consider how our choices affect our families and communities, not from legalism but from love. The chapter also models how leaders should address concerns: with respect, prayer, and wisdom that protects both the vulnerable and the whole. As believers, we seek God's guidance to live justly, preserve what matters, and honor both personal freedom and communal responsibility.

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