What Does Joshua 13:28 Mean in the King James?

This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.

Joshua 13:28 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Here, inheritance is ground made livable: a share that gives each family a place to belong.

THE MEANING

A received share takes concrete shape in cities and villages, with room for the life of each family. The verse presents belonging as something grounded and inhabitable.

THE ROOT

נַחֲלַת

nachalat

GROWS FROM

נחל

To inherit or receive as a possession.

The Hebrew word makes inheritance a received share, not merely an abstract promise. Here that share has a shape, cities and villages distributed among families, so belonging is grounded in a place.

ALSO GROWS

nachalah: Inheritance; allotted possession.

נַחֲלָה

This noun names the share Gad receives, showing inheritance as something with a tangible place and extent.

nahal: To inherit; to receive or hold as a possession.

נָחַל

The verb shows the movement within inheritance: a share is received and becomes one’s own possession.

THE PATTERN

What is inherited is received as a share and becomes a ground of belonging.

To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.

Numbers 26:54 · KJVThe inheritance is apportioned as a concrete share, with its measure corresponding to the families who receive it.

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

Psalm 16:6 · KJVThe boundary lines give the received heritage a shape and place.

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1 Peter 1:4 · KJVInheritance remains something received as one’s share, here described as enduring beyond decay.

THE THREAD

And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

Numbers 18:20 · KJV

The Hebrew word nachalah (⁨נַחֲלָה⁩, inheritance) names Gad’s allotted land here and, in Numbers 18:20, names the LORD as Aaron’s share. The same word opens inheritance beyond territory: it is whatever is received as one’s portion.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us