What Does Joshua 18:6 Mean in the King James?
Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
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
The lot answers a field already made legible: the land is first divided into shares, then its assignment is placed before the LORD.
THE MEANING
Your share takes shape within a whole made visible: the land is divided into seven portions and brought before the LORD before assignment. The lot settles who receives each share, holding careful description and receiving together.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that placing an outcome before God means leaving it vague: each share is carefully described before the lot assigns it.
THE ROOT
חֲלָקִים
ḥălāqîm
GROWS FROM
חלק
To divide, apportion, or make shares.
“parts” in this verse is ḥălāqîm. The word holds both division and share: each part is a portion made distinct for someone to receive. The same root appears in Psalm 16:5, where the LORD is called a portion and a lot is maintained.
ALSO GROWS
ḥēleq: portion, share
חֵלֶק
This is the noun form for a share; it reveals that the land’s parts are portions prepared for allocation.
ḥālaq: divide, apportion
חָלַק
The verb shows the action inside the noun: the land becomes a set of shares through division.
וְיָרִיתִי
wəyārîtî
GROWS FROM
ירה
To throw or shoot; in related forms, to point out or direct.
The verb keeps the action physical: the lot is cast. Its wider word-family also carries the sense of direction, so the lot indicates an assignment after the portions have been made clear.
ALSO GROWS
môrēh: shooter, archer
מוֹרֶה
This form preserves the root’s concrete sense of throwing or shooting.
tôrāh: instruction, direction
תּוֹרָה
This related form carries the sense of pointing or directing, echoing how the cast lot indicates who receives each share.
THE PATTERN
When people define the available shares, the final assignment is entrusted to God’s ordering.
Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.THE THREAD
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.Joshua’s “parts” belong to חֵלֶק (ḥēleq, portion or share), while Psalm 16:5 places “portion” and “lot” side by side. There the share is not merely assigned; the LORD maintains the lot.
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