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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 27:4 Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons? Give us property among our father's brothers."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/27-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/04_Num_27_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 27:4 - The Daughters of Zelophehad" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons? 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Give us property among our father&#8217s relatives.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/27.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us property along with the rest of our relatives.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/27.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/27.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons? Give us property among our father’s brothers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/27.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us <i>therefore</i> a possession among the brethren of our father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/27.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/27.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family <i>simply</i> because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s brothers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/27.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father&#8217s brothers.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/27.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/27.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/27.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be removed from his family because he had no son? Give to us a possession (land) among our father’s brothers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/27.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan? Since he had no son, give us property among our father’s brothers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/27.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan? Since he had no son, give us property among our father&#8217s brothers.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/27.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/27.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />to carry on his family name. But why should his name die out for that reason? Give us some land like the rest of his relatives in our clan, so our father's name can live on. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/27.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/27.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Why should our father's name be allowed to die out in his family because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/27.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Just because he had no sons, why should our father's name disappear from Israel? Give us property among our father's relatives." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/27.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Why are you going to eliminate the name of our father from his family, just because he had no son? Give us a possession from among our father's relatives."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/27.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons? Give us property among our father?s brothers.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/27.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be lost from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among the relatives of our father." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/27.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/27.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give to us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/27.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/27.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />why is the name of our father withdrawn from the midst of his family because he has no son? Give a possession to us in the midst of the brothers of our father”;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/27.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> why is the name of our father withdrawn from the midst of his family because he hath no son? give to us a possession in the midst of the brethren of our father;'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/27.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Wherefore shall the name of our father be taken away from the midst of his family because there is not to him a son? Thou shalt give to us a possession in the midst of the brethren of our father.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/27.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And Moses referred their cause to the judgment of the Lord. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/27.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And Moses referred their case to the judgment of the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/27.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But why should our father’s name be cut off from his clan merely because he had no son? Give us land among our father’s kindred.” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/27.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/27.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be lost from among his family because he had no son? Give to us therefore a possession among the brothers of our father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/27.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Why is the name of our father blotted out from within his family because he has no son? Give us an inheritance among the brothers of our father.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/27.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/27.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Moses brought their case before the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/27-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=8446" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/27.htm">The Daughters of Zelophehad</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: lām·māh (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">Why</a> <a href="/hebrew/8034.htm" title="8034: šêm- (N-msc) -- A primitive word; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character.">should the name</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ā·ḇî·nū (N-msc:: 1cp) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">of our father</a> <a href="/hebrew/1639.htm" title="1639: yig·gā·ra‘ (V-Nifal-Imperf-3ms) -- To diminish, restrain, withdraw. A primitive root; to scrape off; by implication, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold.">disappear</a> <a href="/hebrew/8432.htm" title="8432: mit·tō·wḵ (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- Midst. From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. the centre.">from</a> <a href="/hebrew/4940.htm" title="4940: miš·paḥ·tōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- From shaphah; a family, i.e. Circle of relatives; figuratively, a class, a species or sort; by extens. A tribe or people.">his clan</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">because</a> <a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: ’ên (Adv) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">he had no</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bên (N-ms) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">sons?</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: tə·nāh- (V-Qal-Imp-ms:: 3fs) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">Give</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·nū (Prep:: 1cp) -- ">us</a> <a href="/hebrew/272.htm" title="272: ’ă·ḥuz·zāh (N-fs) -- A possession. Feminine passive participle from 'achaz; something seized, i.e. A possession.">property</a> <a href="/hebrew/8432.htm" title="8432: bə·ṯō·wḵ (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- Midst. From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. the centre.">among</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ā·ḇî·nū (N-msc:: 1cp) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">our father’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ’ă·ḥê (N-mpc) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">brothers.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>So Moses brought their case before the LORD,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/17-3.htm">Joshua 17:3-6</a></span><br />But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. / They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD. / Thus ten shares fell to Manasseh, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/36-1.htm">Numbers 36:1-12</a></span><br />Now the family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, one of the clans of Joseph, approached Moses and the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families and addressed them, / saying, “When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, He also commanded him to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. / But if they marry any of the men from the other tribes of Israel, their inheritance will be withdrawn from the portion of our fathers and added to the tribe into which they marry. So our allotted inheritance would be taken away. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/21-15.htm">Deuteronomy 21:15-17</a></span><br />If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, / when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. / Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/42-15.htm">Job 42:15</a></span><br />No women as beautiful as Job’s daughters could be found in all the land, and their father granted them an inheritance among their brothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/21-10.htm">Genesis 21:10-12</a></span><br />and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!” / Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. / But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-28.htm">Galatians 3:28</a></span><br />There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ruth/4-5.htm">Ruth 4:5-10</a></span><br />Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” / The kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.” / Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation in Israel. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-22.htm">1 Chronicles 23:22</a></span><br />Eleazar died without having any sons; he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/21-3.htm">1 Kings 21:3-4</a></span><br />But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” / So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/46-16.htm">Ezekiel 46:16-18</a></span><br />This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘If the prince gives a gift to any of his sons as an inheritance, it will belong to his descendants. It will become their property by inheritance. / But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will belong to that servant until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs only to his sons; it shall be theirs. / The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people by evicting them from their property. He is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people will be displaced from his property.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/22-24.htm">Matthew 22:24-28</a></span><br />“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother. / The same thing happened to the second and third brothers, down to the seventh. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/20-28.htm">Luke 20:28-33</a></span><br />“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife but died childless. / Then the second ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-17.htm">Romans 8:17</a></span><br />And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/12-12.htm">1 Corinthians 12:12-14</a></span><br />The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. / For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. / For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/1-11.htm">Ephesians 1:11</a></span><br />In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he has no son? Give to us therefore a possession among the brothers of our father.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/15-34.htm">Numbers 15:34</a></b></br> And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/18-15.htm">Exodus 18:15-19</a></b></br> And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/25-22.htm">Exodus 25:22</a></b></br> And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which <i>are</i> upon the ark of the testimony, of all <i>things</i> which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/26-58.htm">Clan</a> <a href="/2_peter/3-10.htm">Disappear</a> <a href="/numbers/26-56.htm">Possession</a> <a href="/numbers/16-32.htm">Property</a> <a href="/numbers/25-6.htm">Relatives</a> <a href="/numbers/12-10.htm">Withdrawn</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/27-11.htm">Clan</a> <a href="/job/6-17.htm">Disappear</a> <a href="/numbers/27-7.htm">Possession</a> <a href="/numbers/27-7.htm">Property</a> <a href="/numbers/27-7.htm">Relatives</a> <a href="/numbers/36-3.htm">Withdrawn</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 27</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/27-1.htm">The daughters of Zelophehad ask for an inheritance</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/27-6.htm">The law of inheritances</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/27-12.htm">Moses, being told of his death, asks for a successor</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/27-18.htm">Joshua is appointed to succeed him</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/27.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/27.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons?</b><br>In ancient Israelite culture, lineage and inheritance were typically passed through male descendants. The concern here reflects the importance of preserving a family's name and inheritance within the tribal structure. The daughters of Zelophehad, who speak these words, challenge the existing norms by advocating for their father's legacy despite the absence of male heirs. This request highlights the significance of family names in maintaining tribal identity and property rights. The cultural context underscores the patriarchal nature of society, where inheritance laws favored sons, yet this passage begins to address gender equity in inheritance rights. This plea also foreshadows later biblical themes of justice and fairness, as seen in <a href="/galatians/3-28.htm">Galatians 3:28</a>, which speaks to the equality of all in Christ.<p><b>Give us property among our father’s brothers.”</b><br>The daughters' request for property among their father's brothers is a direct appeal for inclusion in the inheritance rights typically reserved for male relatives. This request is significant as it sets a precedent for inheritance laws in Israel, leading to a divine ruling that would allow daughters to inherit if there were no sons, as seen in <a href="/numbers/27-7.htm">Numbers 27:7</a>. This change in law reflects God's justice and care for all members of the community, ensuring that the vulnerable are protected. Theologically, this can be seen as a type of Christ's inclusive kingdom, where all believers, regardless of gender or status, are co-heirs with Christ (<a href="/romans/8-17.htm">Romans 8:17</a>). The request also emphasizes the importance of land in Israelite society, as land was not only a source of sustenance but also a symbol of God's promise and blessing to His people.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/z/zelophehad.htm">Zelophehad</a></b><br>A man from the tribe of Manasseh who died without male heirs. His daughters approached Moses to claim their inheritance.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/d/daughters_of_zelophehad.htm">Daughters of Zelophehad</a></b><br>Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, who courageously petitioned for their right to inherit their father's property.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of Israel who brought the daughters' case before the LORD.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelite_inheritance_laws.htm">Israelite Inheritance Laws</a></b><br>The context of this passage involves the laws of inheritance, which traditionally favored male heirs.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_promised_land.htm">The Promised Land</a></b><br>The land of Canaan, which was being divided among the tribes of Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/courage_in_advocacy.htm">Courage in Advocacy</a></b><br>The daughters of Zelophehad demonstrated courage by challenging societal norms. Believers are encouraged to stand up for justice and righteousness, even when it requires challenging established traditions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_justice_and_fairness.htm">God's Justice and Fairness</a></b><br>This passage highlights God's concern for justice and fairness. It reminds us that God values each individual and their rightful place within His community.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_women_in_god's_plan.htm">The Role of Women in God's Plan</a></b><br>The account underscores the significant role women play in God's plan, challenging cultural norms and advocating for their rightful place in the community of faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a></b><br>The daughters' faith led them to take action. Believers are encouraged to put their faith into practice by seeking God's will and advocating for what is right.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/inheritance_in_christ.htm">Inheritance in Christ</a></b><br>Just as the daughters sought their earthly inheritance, believers are reminded of their spiritual inheritance in Christ, which is available to all who believe.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_27.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 27</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_inherits_if_no_sons.htm">Who inherits if a man dies without sons?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_zelophehad's_sin_not_detailed.htm">Numbers 27:3-4: Why isn't more detail given about Zelophehad's sin if it was important enough to affect his family's inheritance?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_the_law_of_moses_eternal.htm">Is the Law of Moses eternal? (Psalm 119:160 vs. Hebrews 8:13)</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_num_36_6-9_align_with_past_inter-tribal_marriages.htm">How does Numbers 36:6-9 align with earlier accounts of inter-tribal marriages that appear unregulated or unrestricted?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/27.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Give unto us... a possession among the brethren of our father.</span> The daughters of Zelophehad did not ask for any share of what had been their father's, but they asked that the lands which would have been assigned to their father in the settlement of Canaan might still be assigned to them, so that their father's name might attach to those lands, and be handed down with them. The request assumes that the "brethren" of Zelophehad would receive an inheritance in the promised land, either personally or as represented by their sons; hence it seems clear that Zelophehad was not of the elder generation, which had forfeited all their rights and expectations in Canaan, but of the younger, to whom the inheritance was transferred (<a href="/numbers/14-29.htm">Numbers 14:29-32</a>). This is confirmed by the consideration that these women were not married until some time after this (<a href="/numbers/36-11.htm">Numbers 36:11</a>; cf. <a href="/joshua/17-8.htm">Joshua 17:8, 4</a>), and must, therefore, according to the almost invariable custom, have been quite young at this time. It is reasonable to suppose that the heads of separate families to whom the land was distributed would be at this time men of from forty-five to sixty years of age, comprising the elder half of the generation which grew up in the wilderness. Zelophehad would have been among these, but that he was cut off, perhaps in the plague of serpents, or in the plague of the Arboth Mesh, and left only unmarried girls to represent him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/27-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Why</span><br /><span class="heb">לָ֣מָּה</span> <span class="translit">(lām·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">What?, what!, indefinitely what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">should the name</span><br /><span class="heb">שֵׁם־</span> <span class="translit">(šêm-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8034.htm">Strong's 8034: </a> </span><span class="str2">A name</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of our father</span><br /><span class="heb">אָבִ֙ינוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḇî·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">disappear</span><br /><span class="heb">יִגָּרַ֤ע</span> <span class="translit">(yig·gā·ra‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1639.htm">Strong's 1639: </a> </span><span class="str2">To scrape off, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from</span><br /><span class="heb">מִתּ֣וֹךְ</span> <span class="translit">(mit·tō·wḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8432.htm">Strong's 8432: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bisection, the centre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his clan</span><br /><span class="heb">מִשְׁפַּחְתּ֔וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(miš·paḥ·tōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4940.htm">Strong's 4940: </a> </span><span class="str2">A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people</span><br /><br /><span class="word">because</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֛י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he had no</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֥ין</span> <span class="translit">(’ên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> </span><span class="str2">A non-entity, a negative particle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sons?</span><br /><span class="heb">בֵּ֑ן</span> <span class="translit">(bên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Give</span><br /><span class="heb">תְּנָה־</span> <span class="translit">(tə·nāh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">us property</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחֻזָּ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥuz·zāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_272.htm">Strong's 272: </a> </span><span class="str2">Something seized, a possession</span><br /><br /><span class="word">among</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּת֖וֹךְ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ṯō·wḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8432.htm">Strong's 8432: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bisection, the centre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">our father’s</span><br /><span class="heb">אָבִֽינוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḇî·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">brothers.”</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחֵ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/27-4.htm">Numbers 27:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/27-4.htm">Numbers 27:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/27-4.htm">Numbers 27:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/27-4.htm">Numbers 27:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/27-4.htm">Numbers 27:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/27-4.htm">Numbers 27:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/27-4.htm">Numbers 27:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/27-4.htm">Numbers 27:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/27-4.htm">Numbers 27:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/27-4.htm">Numbers 27:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/27-4.htm">OT Law: Numbers 27:4 Why should the name of our father (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/27-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 27:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 27:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/27-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 27:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 27:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>