What Does Joshua 15:13 Mean in the King James?
And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.
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
Caleb’s distinct portion is placed among Judah’s people in Hebron, a name that carries the sense of joining.
THE MEANING
Caleb receives a defined portion within Judah’s inheritance, under the LORD’s direction. Hebron’s name carries the sense of joining or association, holding a particular share and belonging together. The inheritance is distinct without being detached.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This dissolves the idea that receiving a distinct share requires separation: Caleb’s portion is specifically placed among Judah’s children.
THE ROOT
חֶבְרוֹן
Ḥevron
GROWS FROM
חבר
To join, associate, or unite.
“Hebron” in this verse is Ḥevron. The city name carries the same root as the Hebrew verb translated “joined together” in Genesis 14:3. Here, Caleb’s inheritance is located in a place whose name echoes joining, while the verse places his share among Judah’s people.
ALSO GROWS
ḥāveru: They were joined together.
חָבְרוּ
This form appears in Genesis 14:3 and shows the root as an act of joining; Hebron carries the same root in a place name.
ḥāver: Companion or associate.
חָבֵר
This branch gives the root a relational sense, fitting the verse’s picture of Caleb’s distinct portion within a people.
יְהוּדָה
Yehudah
GROWS FROM
ידה
To acknowledge, give thanks, or praise.
Judah’s name is linked to praise: when Leah names him, she says, “Now will I praise the LORD” (Genesis 29:35). Caleb’s portion is placed among the children of Yehudah, a name that carries praise within the inheritance’s language of belonging.
ALSO GROWS
yādāh: To give thanks or praise; to acknowledge.
יָדָה
This verb supplies the root sense behind Judah’s name, so “among the children of Judah” also evokes a people whose name carries praise.
tōdāh: Thanksgiving or praise.
תּוֹדָה
This related word makes the praise carried by Judah’s name audible as an expression of thanks.
THE PATTERN
A distinct portion can remain part of a larger whole.
Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.THE THREAD
All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.The Hebrew verb חָבְרוּ (ḥāveru, “they were joined together”) comes from חבר (ḥ-b-r, “to join or associate”), the root behind חֶבְרוֹן (Ḥevron, “joining or association”). Genesis shows the root as an act; Joshua places Caleb’s portion in a place whose name carries that same joining, within Judah’s people.
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