The Meaning of Joshua 14:3 Explained

Joshua 14:3

KJV: For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.

YLT: for Moses hath given the inheritance of two of the tribes, and of half of the tribe, beyond the Jordan, and to the Levites he hath not given an inheritance in their midst;

Darby: For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half tribe beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he had given no inheritance among them.

ASV: For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For Moses  had given  the inheritance  of two  tribes  and an half  tribe  on the other side  Jordan:  but unto the Levites  he gave  none inheritance  among  them. 

What does Joshua 14:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 14:1-15 - The Man Who Wholly Followed His God
The lot was doubtless adopted to obviate cause for jealousy or charges of favoritism. It denoted God's choice, Proverbs 16:33; Proverbs 18:18. It could be used only with very evident reliance on Him, and in our day has been superseded by the sending of the Comforter to teach us all things, John 16:13.
It was long since Caleb had cut down the bunch of grapes near the spot of his choice, but he had never forgotten it; and now God, who had read his purpose, arranged that what his heart loved best his hand should hold and keep: "Him will I bring into the land whereinto he went," Numbers 14:24.
Out of entire surrender to God springs a faith that dares to claim the realization of an olden promise, Joshua 14:12. The fact that the Anakim held Hebron did not stagger the old veteran. It was enough that God had promised! How strong and vigorous, even to hoar hairs, are those who walk with God, Isaiah 40:31! [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 14

1  The nine tribes and a half are to have their inheritance by lot
6  Caleb by privilege obtains Hebron

What do the individual words in Joshua 14:3 mean?

For had given Moses the inheritance of two the tribes and the half-tribe on the other side of the Jordan but to the Levites no he had given inheritance among them
כִּֽי־ נָתַ֨ן מֹשֶׁ֜ה נַחֲלַ֨ת שְׁנֵ֤י הַמַּטּוֹת֙ וַחֲצִ֣י הַמַּטֶּ֔ה מֵעֵ֖בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְלַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם לֹֽא־ נָתַ֥ן נַחֲלָ֖ה בְּתוֹכָֽם

נָתַ֨ן  had  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
מֹשֶׁ֜ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
נַחֲלַ֨ת  the  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
שְׁנֵ֤י  of  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
הַמַּטּוֹת֙  the  tribes 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַטֶּה  
Sense: staff, branch, tribe.
הַמַּטֶּ֔ה  the  half-tribe 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַטֶּה  
Sense: staff, branch, tribe.
מֵעֵ֖בֶר  on  the  other  side 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵבֶר  
Sense: region beyond or across, side.
לַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן  of  the  Jordan 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
וְלַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם  but  to  the  Levites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
לֹֽא־  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נָתַ֥ן  he  had  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
נַחֲלָ֖ה  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
בְּתוֹכָֽם  among  them 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.