What Does Joshua 15:44 Mean in the King James?

And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:

Joshua 15:44 · 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

Mareshah carries the root of possession, so the inheritance becomes real as named, countable places.

THE MEANING

Inheritance takes shape in particular cities and the villages around them, gathered into one counted portion. Mareshah’s name echoes possession: what is received can be located, named, and lived in.

THE ROOT

מָרֵשָׁה

Māreshāh

GROWS FROM

י־ר־שׁ

y-r-sh

Possess, occupy, or inherit.

Mareshah is commonly connected with the root ⁨יָרַשׁ⁩, the language of taking possession or inheriting. In this list, the name makes inheritance concrete: it is attached to places that can be counted and inhabited.

ALSO GROWS

yarash: To possess, occupy, or inherit.

יָרַשׁ

The root verb names the movement by which land becomes a possession.

morashah: Possession or inheritance.

מוֹרָשָׁה

This noun from the same root makes explicit the connection between Mareshah’s name and an inherited portion.

THE PATTERN

Inheritance takes concrete form as a portion with named places, boundaries, and people within it.

Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)

Numbers 34:2 · KJVThe inheritance is a defined land with coasts, as this verse names its cities and villages.

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

Psalm 16:6 · KJVThe inheritance is pictured as a portion whose lines fall in particular places.

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Acts 20:32 · KJVThe inheritance is given a place among a people, extending the pattern from land to belonging.

THE THREAD

Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

Joshua 13:1 · KJV

The name Mareshah is associated with ⁨יָרַשׁ⁩ (yarash), “possess” or “inherit,” the same root behind “to be possessed.” Joshua 13:1 names land still awaiting possession; this verse gives that possession a countable shape in cities and villages.

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