The Meaning of Joshua 20:8 Explained

Joshua 20:8

KJV: And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

YLT: and beyond the Jordan, at Jericho eastward, they have given Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain, out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

Darby: And beyond the Jordan from Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness, in the plateau, out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan of the tribe of Manasseh.

ASV: And beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And on the other side  Jordan  by Jericho  eastward,  they assigned  Bezer  in the wilderness  upon the plain  out of the tribe  of Reuben,  and Ramoth  in Gilead  out of the tribe  of Gad,  and Golan  in Bashan  out of the tribe  of Manasseh. 

What does Joshua 20:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 20:1-9 - Cities Of Refuge
These arrangements carried out Numbers 35:9-34. Remember the distinction between deliberate murder and unintentional homicide. Only those who had committed the latter were eligible for refuge.
The fugitive told his story at the gate and was admitted provisionally, Joshua 20:4. His case was afterward investigated by the citizens or their delegates; and if his story were found correct, he might stay till the death of the high priest. This functionary was a type of our Lord; and thus the death of each high priest pre-signified that death by which captive souls are freed and the remembrance of sin made to cease.
The cities were placed so as to be within easy access from all parts of the country. See Proverbs 18:10; Hebrews 6:18. It is an urgent question for us all, Are we within the city, the walls and bulwarks of which are salvation? [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 20

1  God commands
7  and the children of Israel appoint the six cities of refuge

What do the individual words in Joshua 20:8 mean?

And on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho eastward they assigned - Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad Golan Golan in Bashan of Manasseh
וּמֵעֵ֜בֶר לְיַרְדֵּ֤ן יְרִיחוֹ֙ מִזְרָ֔חָה נָתְנ֞וּ אֶת־ בֶּ֧צֶר בַּמִּדְבָּ֛ר בַּמִּישֹׁ֖ר מִמַּטֵּ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֑ן וְאֶת־ רָאמֹ֤ת בַּגִּלְעָד֙ מִמַּטֵּה־ גָ֔ד [גלון] (גּוֹלָ֥ן) בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן מְנַשֶּֽׁה

וּמֵעֵ֜בֶר  And  on  the  other  side 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵבֶר  
Sense: region beyond or across, side.
לְיַרְדֵּ֤ן  of  the  Jordan 
Parse: Preposition-l, 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).
יְרִיחוֹ֙  by  Jericho 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרִחֹו 
Sense: a city 5 miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and 7 miles (.
מִזְרָ֔חָה  eastward 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: מִזְרָח  
Sense: place of sunrise, east.
נָתְנ֞וּ  they  assigned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
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.
בֶּ֧צֶר  Bezer 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֶּצֶר 
Sense: son of Zophah, one of the heads of the houses of Asher.
בַּמִּדְבָּ֛ר  in  the  wilderness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
בַּמִּישֹׁ֖ר  on  the  plain 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִישֹׁור  
Sense: level place, uprightness.
מִמַּטֵּ֣ה  from  the  tribe 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַטֶּה  
Sense: staff, branch, tribe.
רְאוּבֵ֑ן  of  Reuben 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְאוּבֵן  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Leah.
רָאמֹ֤ת  Ramoth 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָאמֹות  
Sense: a place in Gilead; site dubious.
בַּגִּלְעָד֙  in  Gilead 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גִּלְעָד  
Sense: a mountainous region bounded on the west by the Jordan, on the north by Bashan, on the east by the Arabian plateau, and on the south by Moab and Ammon; sometimes called ‘Mount Gilead’ or the ‘land of Gilead’ or just ‘Gilead’.
מִמַּטֵּה־  from  the  tribe 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַטֶּה  
Sense: staff, branch, tribe.
גָ֔ד  of  Gad 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: גָּד  
Sense: seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and full brother of Asher.
[גלון]  Golan 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
(גּוֹלָ֥ן)  Golan 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֹּולָן  
Sense: a town of Manasseh in the heights of Bashan east of the Jordan; a city of refuge.
בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן  in  Bashan 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּשָׁן 
Sense: a district east of the Jordan known for its fertility which was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh.
מְנַשֶּֽׁה  of  Manasseh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְנַשֶּׁה  
Sense: the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh.