The Meaning of Numbers 35:2 Explained

Numbers 35:2

KJV: Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.

YLT: 'Command the sons of Israel, and they have given to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to inhabit; also a suburb for the cities round about them ye do give to the Levites.

Darby: Command the children of Israel, that of the inheritance of their possession they give unto the Levites cities to dwell in; and a suburb for the cities round about them shall ye give unto the Levites.

ASV: Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and suburbs for the cities round about them shall ye give unto the Levites.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Command  the children  of Israel,  that they give  unto the Levites  of the inheritance  of their possession  cities  to dwell in;  and ye shall give  [also] unto the Levites  suburbs  for the cities  round about  them. 

What does Numbers 35:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 35:1-15 - The Cities Of Refuge For The Manslayer
This chapter is full of provision for the Levites, the chosen ministers of God's house. They who serve there may be at rest about their maintenance. He is not unrighteous to forget their labor of love.
These forty-eight cities must have been centers of religious influence throughout the land. As cities set on a hill that could not be hid, as salt staying corruption, as lights along a rock-bound coast-so must they have stood in the Holy Land. So should our homes be in our land.
Six of the Levite cities were set apart for those who were guilty of manslaughter-i.e., those who had killed some one unwittingly. They were within easy access from all parts of the land, and offered sanctuary until a judicial inquiry could be held. In Jesus we find refuge, Hebrews 6:18. No avenger following the track of past sin can hurt the soul that shelters in Him. Only we must never venture beyond the precincts of His salvation. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 35

1  Forty-eight cities for the Levites, with their suburbs, and measure thereof
6  Six of them are to be cities of refuge
9  The laws of murder and manslaughter
31  No satisfaction for murder

What do the individual words in Numbers 35:2 mean?

Command - the sons of Israel that they give the Levites from the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in and [also] common-land the cities around you shall give the Levites
צַו֮ אֶת־ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְנָתְנ֣וּ לַלְוִיִּ֗ם מִֽנַּחֲלַ֛ת אֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם עָרִ֣ים לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרָ֗שׁ לֶֽעָרִים֙ סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם תִּתְּנ֖וּ לַלְוִיִּֽם

צַו֮  Command 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
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.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֒  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וְנָתְנ֣וּ  that  they  give 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לַלְוִיִּ֗ם  the  Levites 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.
מִֽנַּחֲלַ֛ת  from  the  inheritance 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
אֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם  of  their  possession 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֲחֻזָּה  
Sense: possession, property.
עָרִ֣ים  cities 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
לָשָׁ֑בֶת  to  dwell  in 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
וּמִגְרָ֗שׁ  and  [also]  common-land 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִגְרָשׁ 
Sense: common, common land, open land, suburb.
לֶֽעָרִים֙  the  cities 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם  around 
Parse: Adverb, third person masculine plural
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
תִּתְּנ֖וּ  you  shall  give 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לַלְוִיִּֽם  the  Levites 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: לֵוִי  
Sense: the descendants of Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah.