The Meaning of Joshua 22:4 Explained

Joshua 22:4

KJV: And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.

YLT: 'And, now, Jehovah your God hath given rest to your brethren, as He spake to them; and now, turn ye, and go for yourselves to your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses, servant of Jehovah, hath given to you beyond the Jordan.

Darby: And now Jehovah your God hath given rest to your brethren, as he said unto them; and now return, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan.

ASV: And now Jehovah your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he spake unto them: therefore now turn ye, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And now the LORD  your God  hath given rest  unto your brethren,  as he promised  them: therefore now return  ye, and get  you unto your tents,  [and] unto the land  of your possession,  which Moses  the servant  of the LORD  gave  you on the other side  Jordan. 

What does Joshua 22:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 22:1-20 - Averting War Between Brethren
There was generous appreciation of services rendered as Joshua dismissed the warriors. Something like "Well-done, good and faithful servant," rings through His words. But he takes care to remind them that the tenure of their lands depends wholly on their obedience. This will explain the brief and transient existence of the trans-Jordanic tribes.
The altar was probably erected on the east of the Jordan. It was "over against" the land of Canaan, and was perhaps a facsimile of that at Shiloh. The prompting motive was to cement the union between themselves and the other tribes. But that end would have been better served had they obeyed the divine command in assembling annually with them. You can secure unity, not by external symbols, but by spiritual affinity and fellowship. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 22

1  The two tribes and a half with a blessing are sent home,
10  They build the altar of testimony in their journey
11  The Israelites are offended thereat
21  They vindicate their conduct, and give them good satisfaction

What do the individual words in Joshua 22:4 mean?

Now has given rest Yahweh your God to your brothers as He promised them therefore now return and go to you to your tents [and] to the land of your possession which gave you Moses the servant of Yahweh on the other side of the Jordan
וְעַתָּ֗ה הֵנִ֨יחַ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ לַֽאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם וְעַתָּ֡ה פְּנוּ֩ וּלְכ֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם לְאָהֳלֵיכֶ֗ם אֶל־ אֶ֙רֶץ֙ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ נָתַ֣ן לָכֶ֗ם מֹשֶׁה֙ עֶ֣בֶד יְהוָ֔ה בְּעֵ֖בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּֽן

וְעַתָּ֗ה  Now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
הֵנִ֨יחַ  has  given  rest 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נוּחַ 
Sense: to rest.
יְהוָ֤ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
לַֽאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם  to  your  brothers 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
דִּבֶּ֣ר  He  promised 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
וְעַתָּ֡ה  therefore  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
פְּנוּ֩  return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: פֹּונֶה 
Sense: to turn.
וּלְכ֨וּ  and  go 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
לָכֶ֜ם  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
לְאָהֳלֵיכֶ֗ם  to  your  tents 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
אֶל־  [and]  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֶ֙רֶץ֙  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֔ם  of  your  possession 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֲחֻזָּה  
Sense: possession, property.
נָתַ֣ן  gave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
מֹשֶׁה֙  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
עֶ֣בֶד  the  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּעֵ֖בֶר  on  the  other  side 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵבֶר  
Sense: region beyond or across, side.
הַיַּרְדֵּֽן  of  the  Jordan 
Parse: 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).