The Meaning of Joshua 18:5 Explained

Joshua 18:5

KJV: And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.

YLT: and they have divided it into seven portions -- Judah doth stay by its border on the south, and the house of Joseph do stay by their border on the north --

Darby: And they shall divide it into seven portions. Judah shall remain in their border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their border on the north;

ASV: And they shall divide it into seven portions: Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they shall divide  it into seven  parts:  Judah  shall abide  in their coast  on the south,  and the house  of Joseph  shall abide  in their coasts  on the north. 

What does Joshua 18:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 18:1-10 - Dividing The Remaining Territory
The Tabernacle had remained in Gilgal. It must now be removed to Shiloh, a site selected by God himself, Deuteronomy 12:11; Psalms 78:60. Shiloh means rest, and it commemorated the ending of the war. The honor of having God's dwelling-place within its border was probably given to Ephraim as the tribe to which Joshua belonged.
As an inducement to occupy the land, this further commission was sent forth. How many of us are equally slack to appropriate the blessings stored up in the Savior! Well is it that God, through the ages, has sent pioneers to tell us what we are missing and to stimulate our zeal.
The veteran leader had earned a good reward. His portion was called "the portion of the sun," probably because of its aspect. Let us live and walk in the light. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 18

1  The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh
2  The remainder of the land is described, and divided into seven parts
10  Joshua distributes it by lot
11  The lot and border of Benjamin
21  Their cities

What do the individual words in Joshua 18:5 mean?

And they shall divide it into seven parts Judah shall remain in their territory on the south and the house of Joseph shall remain their territory on the north
וְהִֽתְחַלְּק֥וּ אֹתָ֖הּ לְשִׁבְעָ֣ה חֲלָקִ֑ים יְהוּדָ֞ה יַעֲמֹ֤ד עַל־ גְּבוּלוֹ֙ מִנֶּ֔גֶב וּבֵ֥ית יוֹסֵ֛ף יַעַמְד֥וּ גְּבוּלָ֖ם מִצָּפֽוֹן

וְהִֽתְחַלְּק֥וּ  And  they  shall  divide 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: חָלַק 
Sense: to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign.
לְשִׁבְעָ֣ה  into  seven 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
חֲלָקִ֑ים  parts 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֵלֶק 
Sense: portion, share, part, territory.
יְהוּדָ֞ה  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
יַעֲמֹ֤ד  shall  remain 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
גְּבוּלוֹ֙  their  territory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גְּבוּל  
Sense: border, territory.
מִנֶּ֔גֶב  on  the  south 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶגֶב  
Sense: south-country, Nekeb, south.
וּבֵ֥ית  and  the  house 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יוֹסֵ֛ף  of  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
יַעַמְד֥וּ  shall  remain 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
גְּבוּלָ֖ם  their  territory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: גְּבוּל  
Sense: border, territory.
מִצָּפֽוֹן  on  the  north 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָפֹון  
Sense: north (of direction), northward.

What are the major concepts related to Joshua 18:5?

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