The Meaning of Joshua 18:6 Explained

Joshua 18:6

KJV: Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

YLT: and ye describe the land in seven portions, and have brought it in unto me hither, and I have cast for you a lot here before Jehovah our God;

Darby: and ye shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring the description hither to me, and I will cast lots for you here before Jehovah our God.

ASV: And ye shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring the description hither to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Jehovah our God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Ye shall therefore describe  the land  [into] seven  parts,  and bring  [the description] hither to me, that I may cast  lots  for you here before  the LORD  our God. 

What does Joshua 18:6 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 18:6 mean?

Therefore You shall survey - the land seven in parts and bring [the survey] to me here that I may cast for you lots here before Yahweh our God
וְאַתֶּ֞ם תִּכְתְּב֤וּ אֶת־ הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה חֲלָקִ֔ים וַֽהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם אֵלַ֖י הֵ֑נָּה וְיָרִ֨יתִי לָכֶ֤ם גּוֹרָל֙ פֹּ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ

וְאַתֶּ֞ם  Therefore  You 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
תִּכְתְּב֤וּ  shall  survey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאָ֙רֶץ֙  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
שִׁבְעָ֣ה  seven 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
חֲלָקִ֔ים  in  parts 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֵלֶק 
Sense: portion, share, part, territory.
וַֽהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם  and  bring  [the  survey] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֵלַ֖י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הֵ֑נָּה  here 
Parse: Adverb
Root: הֵנָּה  
Sense: here, there, now, hither.
וְיָרִ֨יתִי  that  I  may  cast 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: יׄורֶה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast, pour.
לָכֶ֤ם  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
גּוֹרָל֙  lots 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּורָל  
Sense: lot.
פֹּ֔ה  here 
Parse: Adverb
Root: פֹּה  
Sense: here, from here, hither.
לִפְנֵ֖י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ  our  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).