The Meaning of Joshua 14:4 Explained

Joshua 14:4

KJV: For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

YLT: for the sons of Joseph hath been two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, and they have not given a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell in, and their suburbs for their cattle, and for their possessions;

Darby: For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim; and they gave no part to the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, and their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

ASV: For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: and they gave no portion unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for their cattle and for their substance.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the children  of Joseph  were two  tribes,  Manasseh  and Ephraim:  therefore they gave  no part  unto the Levites  in the land,  save cities  to dwell  [in], with their suburbs  for their cattle  and for their substance. 

What does Joshua 14:4 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 It could be used only with very evident reliance on Him, and in our day has been superseded by the sending of the Comforter to teach us all things, John 16:13.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 14:4 mean?

For were the sons of Joseph two tribes Manasseh and Ephraim and no they gave part to the Levites in the land except except cities to dwell [in] and with their common-lands for their livestock and their property
כִּֽי־ הָי֧וּ בְנֵֽי־ יוֹסֵ֛ף שְׁנֵ֥י מַטּ֖וֹת מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה וְאֶפְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־ נָתְנוּ֩ חֵ֨לֶק לַלְוִיִּ֜ם בָּאָ֗רֶץ כִּ֤י אִם־ עָרִים֙ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת וּמִ֨גְרְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם לְמִקְנֵיהֶ֖ם וּלְקִנְיָנָֽם

בְנֵֽי־  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יוֹסֵ֛ף  of  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
שְׁנֵ֥י  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
מַטּ֖וֹת  tribes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַטֶּה  
Sense: staff, branch, tribe.
מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה  Manasseh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְנַשֶּׁה  
Sense: the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh.
וְאֶפְרָ֑יִם  and  Ephraim 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
וְלֹֽא־  and  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נָתְנוּ֩  they  gave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
חֵ֨לֶק  part 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵלֶק 
Sense: portion, share, part, territory.
לַלְוִיִּ֜ם  to  the  Levites 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
בָּאָ֗רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
כִּ֤י  except 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אִם־  except 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
עָרִים֙  cities 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
לָשֶׁ֔בֶת  to  dwell  [in] 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
וּמִ֨גְרְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם  and  with  their  common-lands 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מִגְרָשׁ 
Sense: common, common land, open land, suburb.
לְמִקְנֵיהֶ֖ם  for  their  livestock 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
וּלְקִנְיָנָֽם  and  their  property 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: קִנְיָן  
Sense: thing acquired, acquisition, possession, purchased property, wealth.