What Does Numbers 27:9 Mean in the King James?

And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.

Numbers 27:9 · 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

When there is no daughter to receive the inheritance, the portion still has a place to go: it passes to the brothers.

THE MEANING

When there is no daughter, the man’s portion passes to his brothers. His inheritance remains a share carried within the relationships that connect his family.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

A person’s share must disappear when no daughter is there to receive it.

THE ROOT

נַחֲלָה

naḥalah

GROWS FROM

נחל

⁨נחל⁩ (n-ḥ-l): to inherit, take possession, or assign as an inheritance.

The word for inheritance carries the sense of a portion held or received, not simply an object someone owns. Here that portion continues through the brothers when a daughter is absent, revealing inheritance as something carried forward through kinship.

ALSO GROWS

naḥal: To inherit or take possession.

נָחַל

The verb makes inheritance an act of receiving a share, illuminating how the portion passes to the brothers.

naḥalah: An inheritance, possession, or allotted portion.

נַחֲלָה

This is the noun used in the verse: the man’s share remains assignable within his family.

THE PATTERN

An inheritance is a received share carried through relationship, household, lineage, or promise.

And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Genesis 15:3 · KJVWith no child to inherit, Abram looks to someone within his household to carry the share forward.

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

Psalm 16:6 · KJVThe inheritance appears as a received portion, one that can be recognized as a person’s own.

And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:29 · KJVHere heirship follows belonging to a lineage and its promise.

THE THREAD

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

Psalm 16:6 · KJV

“Heritage” is ⁨נַחֲלָה⁩ (naḥalah, an inheritance or allotted portion), the same word used for “inheritance” in Numbers 27:9. The brothers receive the continuing portion here; the psalm shows that same word as a share received and held.

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