1
וְאֵ֛לֶּה אֲשֶׁר נָחֲל֥וּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִֽחֲל֜וּ אוֹתָ֗ם אֶלְעָזָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן נ֔וּן וְרָאשֵׁ֛י אֲב֥וֹת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
And these are the inheritances that the sons of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the sons of Israel, allotted to them.
The chapter opens with a nominal heading (not a wayyiqtol) that frames vv. 1-5 as an editorial preface: it names the three-tiered allotting authority (priest, military leader, clan heads) before any narrative action begins, distinguishing the settled-land allotment (Qal נָחֲלוּ, Israel as recipient) from the priestly-led act of allotting (Piel נִחֲלוּ, the leaders as agents).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וְאֵ֛לֶּהand theseconj וְ + demonstrative pron cp · אֵלֶּה (H428)Subject complement (resumptive, introduces list)אֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'; plural demonstrative opening the chapter's formal inheritance heading, resumed by the relative clause.
אֲשֶׁרthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle (introduces restrictive clause)אֲשֶׁר (H834), the indeclinable relative particle; here introduces the clause defining 'these' — the allotments the Israelites inherited.
נָחֲל֥וּthey inheritedQal perf 3cp · נָחַל (H5157)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed act viewed as a settled fact of national historyנָחַל (H5157) 'to inherit, take possession of'; the chapter's key verb, denoting allotted, permanent tribal possession rather than conquest.
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of נָחֲלוּ (construct head)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct plural, 'sons of Israel' = the nation as covenant heirs.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive (construct chain with בְנֵי)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the covenant name of Jacob's descendants as a nation.
בְּאֶ֣רֶץin the land ofprep בְּ + N c sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Locative prepositional phraseאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land, earth'; construct with כְּנַעַן, naming the territory now being divided.
כְּנָ֑עַןCanaanproper noun · כְּנַעַן (H3667)Genitive (construct chain with אֶרֶץ)כְּנַעַן (H3667), the land promised to the patriarchs, now the object of allotment.
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle (second relative clause, resuming the allotment agents)אֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the second relative clause naming who did the allotting.
נִֽחֲל֜וּthey allotted [as inheritance]Piel perf 3cp · נָחַל (H5157)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective, causative-Piel: the decisive administrative act of distributingנָחַל (H5157) in Piel (distinct from the Qal in this same verse) is causative/factitive, 'to apportion as an inheritance' — the allotting agents are Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal heads, contrasted with the Qal subject (Israel, who receive).
אוֹתָ֗םthemobj marker + 3mp suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (resumptive, referring to the sons of Israel)אֵת (H853) with 3mp suffix, resuming בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל as the object of the allotting.
אֶלְעָזָ֤רEleazarproper noun · אֶלְעָזָר (H499)Subject of נִחֲלוּ (first of three)אֶלְעָזָר (H499) 'God has helped'; Aaron's son and successor as high priest (Num 20:28), here the priestly authority validating the allotment.
הַכֹּהֵן֙the priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Apposition to אֶלְעָזָר (title)כֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; Eleazar's office, giving the allotment sacral, not merely military, authority.
וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַand Joshuaconj וְ + proper noun · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of נִחֲלוּ (second of three, coordinate)יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091) 'YHWH is salvation'; Moses' successor, the military and administrative leader of the allotment.
בִּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (construct chain, patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; identifies Joshua by patronymic.
נ֔וּןNunproper noun · נוּן (H5126)Genitive (construct chain with בִּן)נוּן (H5126), Joshua's father.
וְרָאשֵׁ֛יand the heads ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Subject of נִחֲלוּ (third of three, coordinate)רֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head'; plural construct, 'heads' = clan/family chiefs who complete the three-tiered allotting authority (priest, general, elders).
אֲב֥וֹתof the fathers ofN m pl constr · אָב (H1)Genitive (construct chain with רָאשֵׁי)אָב (H1) 'father'; plural construct in the stock phrase רָאשֵׁי אָבוֹת, 'heads of ancestral houses' — the clan-based leadership structure of Israel's tribes.
הַמַּטּ֖וֹתthe tribesart + N m pl abs · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive (construct chain with אֲבוֹת)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, tribe'; a tribe as a rod/branch of the nation — the chapter's key administrative unit.
לִבְנֵ֥יof/belonging to the sons ofprep לְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Prepositional phrase, possessive (marks whose tribes)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; with לְ marks possession, 'belonging to the sons of Israel' — the tribes are Israel's own.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive (object of לְ)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); closes the verse's inclusio with its own opening בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
2
בְּגוֹרַ֖ל נַחֲלָתָ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בְּיַד מֹשֶׁ֔ה לְתִשְׁעַ֥ת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת וַחֲצִ֥י הַמַּטֶּֽה
By lot was their inheritance, just as YHWH commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes and the half-tribe.
A terse nominal clause states the allotment's method — sacred lot, not human discretion — and its warrant — Mosaic/divine command — before the narrator turns to the arithmetic puzzle of vv. 3-4: why 'nine and a half' tribes, not the expected ten or twelve.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
בְּגוֹרַ֖לby lotprep בְּ + N m sg constr · גּוֹרָל (H1486)Adverbial/instrumental prepositional phrase (fronted for emphasis)גּוֹרָל (H1486) 'lot, pebble cast for decision'; fronted first in the verse for emphasis — the allotment mechanism is not human favoritism but sacred lot-casting (cf. Prov 16:33).
נַחֲלָתָ֑םtheir inheritanceN f sg constr + 3mp suffix · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Subject (nominal clause)נַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance, allotted possession'; cognate to נָחַל in v. 1, the noun form of the chapter's key concept.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨רjust asprep כְּ + relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Comparative-causal conjunction (introduces subordinate clause)כַּאֲשֶׁר (כְּ + אֲשֶׁר) 'just as, according as'; grounds the lot-procedure in prior divine command, not improvisation.
צִוָּ֤הhe commandedPiel perf 3ms · צִוָּה (H6680)Predicate verb (subordinate clause)→ Perfective: a completed, authoritative act of commandצָוָה (H6680) 'to command'; in Piel, standard for authoritative divine or covenantal instruction — here YHWH's command mediated through Moses (cf. Num 26:52-56; 34:13-15).
יְהוָה֙YHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of צִוָּהיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; the ultimate source of the allotment procedure.
בְּיַדby the hand ofprep בְּ + N c sg constr · יָד (H3027)Adverbial prepositional phrase (agency)יָד (H3027) 'hand'; idiom 'by the hand of' marks Moses as the mediating agent of divine command, though he is already dead — his instructions still govern.
מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Genitive (object of בְּיַד)מֹשֶׁה (H4872); the lawgiver whose Transjordan/Cisjordan land instructions (Num 34) frame this entire chapter.
לְתִשְׁעַ֥תfor the nine [tribes] ofprep לְ + numeral m sg constr · תֵּשַׁע (H8672)Adverbial prepositional phrase (beneficiary/scope)תֵּשַׁע (H8672) 'nine'; construct before הַמַּטּוֹת, opening the arithmetic explained fully in vv. 3-4 (nine plus one-half = ten of Israel's twelve tribes receiving land west of Jordan).
הַמַּטּ֖וֹתthe tribesart + N m pl abs · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive (object of לְ, with numeral)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'tribe'; see v. 1.
וַחֲצִ֥יand half ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · חֵצִי (H2677)Coordinate noun phrase (construct head)חֵצִי (H2677) 'half'; the half-tribe of Manasseh receiving land west of Jordan, its other half already settled east (see v. 3).
הַמַּטֶּֽהthe tribeart + N m sg abs · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive (construct chain with חֲצִי)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'tribe', singular here (contrast the plural הַמַּטּוֹת above) — the single half-tribe of Manasseh west of Jordan.
3
כִּֽי נָתַ֨ן מֹשֶׁ֜ה נַחֲלַ֨ת שְׁנֵ֤י הַמַּטּוֹת֙ וַחֲצִ֣י הַמַּטֶּ֔ה מֵעֵ֖בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְלַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם לֹֽא נָתַ֥ן נַחֲלָ֖ה בְּתוֹכָֽם
For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
The verse supplies the first half of the tribal arithmetic: two-and-a-half tribes (Reuben, Gad, half-Manasseh) already hold Transjordan land from Moses, and the Levites structurally receive none — together explaining why only nine-and-a-half tribes remain to be allotted west of the Jordan in this chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal/explanatory conjunction (introduces the reason for 'nine and a half')כִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; explains v. 2's odd number — two and a half tribes already have their land.
נָתַ֨ןhe had givenQal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (main clause, pluperfect sense)→ Perfective, pluperfect nuance: an act completed prior to the present allotment — Moses' Transjordan grant (Num 32) antedates Joshua's Cisjordan lotteryנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; the chapter's other key verb alongside נָחַל — here Moses as sole grantor of the Transjordan land, contrasted with the triad of v. 1.
מֹשֶׁ֜הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of נָתַןמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
נַחֲלַ֨תthe inheritance ofN f sg constr · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Direct object (construct head)נַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance'; see v. 2.
שְׁנֵ֤יthe two ofnumeral m dual constr · שְׁנַיִם (H8147)Genitive (construct chain with נַחֲלַת)שְׁנַיִם (H8147) 'two'; Reuben and Gad, the two full tribes settled east of Jordan (Num 32).
הַמַּטּוֹת֙the tribesart + N m pl abs · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive (construct chain with שְׁנֵי)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'tribe'.
וַחֲצִ֣יand half ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · חֵצִי (H2677)Coordinate noun phraseחֵצִי (H2677) 'half'.
הַמַּטֶּ֔הthe tribeart + N m sg abs · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive (construct chain with חֲצִי)מַטֶּה (H4294); the half-tribe of Manasseh east of Jordan.
מֵעֵ֖בֶרfrom across/beyondprep מִן + N m sg abs · עֵבֶר (H5676)Locative prepositional phraseעֵבֶר (H5676) 'side, region beyond'; with מִן, 'on the other side of' the Jordan — written from a Cisjordan (western) narrative standpoint.
לַיַּרְדֵּ֑ןthe Jordanprep לְ + art + proper noun · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Object of prepositional phrase (with מֵעֵבֶר)יַרְדֵּן (H3383), the Jordan River, the chapter's ever-present geographic dividing line.
וְלַ֨לְוִיִּ֔םbut to the Levitesconj וְ + prep לְ + art + gentilic N m pl abs · לֵוִי (H3881)Adverbial prepositional phrase, adversative (fronted contrast)לֵוִי (H3881) 'Levite'; gentilic plural. Fronted before the verb for contrast: unlike the Transjordan tribes just given land, the Levites receive none — the first statement of the chapter's second arithmetic principle.
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates נָתַןלֹא (H3808), the standard verbal negative.
נָתַ֥ןhe gaveQal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed (non-)act — a settled fact of tribal lawנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; negated here — Moses gave no land-inheritance to Levi (cf. Num 18:20; Deut 18:1-2).
נַחֲלָ֖הan inheritanceN f sg abs · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Direct objectנַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance'; anarthrous, 'any inheritance' — Levi's portion is YHWH himself (v. 4's echo), not territory.
בְּתוֹכָֽםamong themprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 3mp suffix · תָּוֶךְ (H8432)Locative prepositional phraseתָּוֶךְ (H8432) 'midst'; 'among them' = among the other tribes — Levi is landless yet dispersed within, not outside, the nation.
4
כִּֽי הָי֧וּ בְנֵֽי יוֹסֵ֛ף שְׁנֵ֥י מַטּ֖וֹת מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה וְאֶפְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא נָתְנוּ֩ חֵ֨לֶק לַלְוִיִּ֜ם בָּאָ֗רֶץ כִּ֤י אִם עָרִים֙ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת וּמִ֨גְרְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם לְמִקְנֵיהֶ֖ם וּלְקִנְיָנָֽם
For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim; and they gave no portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell in, with their pasturelands for their livestock and their property.
The second half of the aside: Joseph's split into Manasseh and Ephraim restores the number to twelve even though Levi holds no allotment — and the verse immediately qualifies Levi's landlessness with its one exception, the pastureland cities, anticipating Joshua 21.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction (second half of the arithmetic)כִּי (H3588) 'for'; explains how twelve tribes remain twelve despite Levi's landlessness — Joseph counts as two.
הָי֧וּwereQal perf 3cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (main clause, equative)→ Perfective, stative: a settled genealogical/administrative factהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; states the tribal-arithmetic fact — Joseph's sons constitute two tribes, not one, restoring the number to twelve.
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of הָיוּ (construct head)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יוֹסֵ֛ףJosephproper noun · יוֹסֵף (H3130)Genitive (construct chain with בְנֵי)יוֹסֵף (H3130), Jacob's son; his descendants uniquely split into two full tribes through his own two sons (Gen 48:5).
שְׁנֵ֥יtwonumeral m dual constr · שְׁנַיִם (H8147)Predicate complement (construct head)שְׁנַיִם (H8147) 'two'.
מַטּ֖וֹתtribesN m pl abs · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive (construct chain with שְׁנֵי)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'tribe'; anarthrous plural.
מְנַשֶּׁ֣הManassehproper noun · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Apposition to מַטּוֹת (naming the two)מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519), Joseph's elder son, whose tribe alone is split east and west of Jordan.
וְאֶפְרָ֑יִםand Ephraimconj וְ + proper noun · אֶפְרַיִם (H669)Apposition to מַטּוֹת (coordinate)אֶפְרַיִם (H669), Joseph's younger son, whose tribe will become the dominant northern kingdom's namesake.
וְלֹֽאand notconj וְ + negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates נָתְנוּלֹא (H3808), negating the verb that follows.
נָתְנוּ֩they gaveQal perf 3cp · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective, negated: a settled non-act, restating v. 3's principle from the Cisjordan sideנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; subject is the Israelites collectively (or the allotting leaders), giving no territorial share to Levi west of Jordan either.
חֵ֨לֶקa portionN m sg abs · חֵלֶק (H2506)Direct objectחֵלֶק (H2506) 'portion, share'; near-synonym of נַחֲלָה, territorial allotment denied to Levi.
לַלְוִיִּ֜םto the Levitesprep לְ + art + gentilic N m pl abs · לֵוִי (H3881)Indirect objectלֵוִי (H3881) 'Levite'.
בָּאָ֗רֶץin the landprep בְּ + art + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Locative prepositional phraseאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; the land now being allotted.
כִּ֤יexceptconj · כִּי (H3588)First half of the exceptive idiom כִּי אִםכִּי (H3588) paired with אִם forms the exceptive idiom 'except, but rather'.
אִם[except]conj · אִם (H518)Second half of the exceptive idiom כִּי אִםאִם (H518) 'if'; with preceding כִּי forms כִּי אִם 'except, but only' — introducing the sole exception to Levi's landlessness.
עָרִים֙citiesN f pl abs · עִיר (H5892)Object of exceptive clauseעִיר (H5892) 'city'; the Levitical cities (detailed in Josh 21) — settlement without territorial inheritance.
לָשֶׁ֔בֶתto dwell [in]prep לְ + Qal inf constr · יָשַׁב (H3427)Infinitive of purpose (modifying עָרִים)→ Infinitival: purpose/result of the cities' grantיָשַׁב (H3427) 'to sit, dwell'; infinitive construct with לְ expressing the cities' function — habitation, not agriculture or territory.
וּמִ֨גְרְשֵׁיהֶ֔םand their pasturelandsconj וְ + N m pl constr + 3mp suffix · מִגְרָשׁ (H4054)Coordinate direct objectמִגְרָשׁ (H4054) 'open pastureland, common'; the strip of grazing land surrounding each Levitical city (cf. Num 35:2-5), Levi's substitute for full territorial inheritance.
לְמִקְנֵיהֶ֖םfor their livestockprep לְ + N m pl constr + 3mp suffix · מִקְנֶה (H4735)Adverbial prepositional phrase (purpose)מִקְנֶה (H4735) 'livestock, cattle'; the pasturelands' practical use.
וּלְקִנְיָנָֽםand for their propertyconj וְ + prep לְ + N m sg constr + 3mp suffix · קִנְיָן (H7075)Coordinate adverbial prepositional phraseקִנְיָן (H7075) 'possession, property' (from קָנָה 'to acquire'); a broader term than מִקְנֶה, covering all Levitical goods housed at the pastureland cities.
5
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ אֶת מֹשֶׁ֔ה כֵּ֥ן עָשׂ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיַּחְלְק֖וּ אֶת הָאָֽרֶץ
As YHWH had commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did; and they divided the land.
A classic Former-Prophets compliance formula (כַּאֲשֶׁר...כֵּן) closes the allotment-principle unit and the wayyiqtol וַיַּחְלְקוּ launches the chapter's narrative proper — the abstract 'nine and a half tribes by lot' of vv. 1-4 becomes the concrete act of dividing that the Caleb episode (vv. 6-15) will interrupt before the tribal lists resume in ch. 15.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨רasprep כְּ + relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Comparative conjunction (correlative with כֵּן)כַּאֲשֶׁר...כֵּן, a correlative pair, 'just as...so'; closes the allotment-principle section (vv. 1-5) with a formula of obedient compliance.
צִוָּ֤הhe commandedPiel perf 3ms · צִוָּה (H6680)Predicate verb (subordinate clause)→ Perfective: a completed, authoritative act, prior to and governing the narrated actionצָוָה (H6680) 'to command'; repeats v. 2's verb, forming an inclusio around the allotment-principle unit.
יְהוָה֙YHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of צִוָּהיְהוָה (H3068).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking מֹשֶׁה as the definite direct object of צִוָּה.
מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Direct object of צִוָּהמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
כֵּ֥ןsoadverbial particle · כֵּן (H3651)Correlative adverb (with כַּאֲשֶׁר, 'so')כֵּן (H3651) 'thus, so'; completes the כַּאֲשֶׁר...כֵּן correlative — compliance exactly matches command.
עָשׂ֖וּthey didQal perf 3cp · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed act of obedienceעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; the compliance formula's core verb, one of the Former Prophets' recurring marks of covenant faithfulness.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of עָשׂוּ (construct head)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive (construct chain with בְּנֵי)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
וַֽיַּחְלְק֖וּand they dividedconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · חָלַק (H2505)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the compliance formula resolves into the concrete act that begins the chapter's main narrativeחָלַק (H2505) 'to divide, apportion'; the wayyiqtol marks the transition from principle (vv. 1-5) to enacted narrative — division of the land now actually begins.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הָאָרֶץ as the definite direct object of וַיַּחְלְקוּ.
הָאָֽרֶץthe landart + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct objectאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; definite, the whole land of Canaan now subject to division.
6
וַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּ בְנֵֽי יְהוּדָ֤ה אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙ בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו כָּלֵ֥ב בֶּן יְפֻנֶּ֖ה הַקְּנִזִּ֑י אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֡עְתָּ אֶֽת הַדָּבָר֩ אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל מֹשֶׁ֣ה אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים עַ֧ל אֹדוֹתַ֛י וְעַ֥ל אֹדוֹתֶ֖יךָ בְּקָדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵֽעַ
Then the sons of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, 'You know the word that YHWH spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh-barnea.'
A fresh wayyiqtol scene interrupts the tribal-allotment narrative launched in v. 5 with an extended flashback speech; Caleb's opening appeal to Joshua's shared memory ('you know') establishes both men as the last living witnesses to the events about to be recounted, giving his coming claim unimpeachable authority.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
וַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּand they drew nearconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · נָגַשׁ (H5066)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — opens the Caleb episodeנָגַשׁ (H5066) 'to approach, draw near'; often used of formal approach before an authority — here Judah's delegation, led by Caleb, formally petitions Joshua.
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of וַיִּגְּשׁוּ (construct head)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יְהוּדָ֤הJudahproper noun · יְהוּדָה (H3063)Genitive (construct chain with בְּנֵי)יְהוּדָה (H3063); the tribe whose territory (ch. 15) Caleb's allotment falls within, though Caleb himself is Kenizzite by clan.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (goal/addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks Joshua as the one approached.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙Joshuaproper noun · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Object of prepositionיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091).
בַּגִּלְגָּ֔לin Gilgalprep בְּ + art + proper noun · גִּלְגָּל (H1537)Locative prepositional phraseגִּלְגָּל (H1537), Israel's base camp since the Jordan crossing (Josh 4-5), still the staging point for the allotment process.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance, introduces direct speechאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; standard speech-introduction, opening Caleb's extended petition (vv. 6-12).
אֵלָ֔יוto himprep אֶל + 3ms suffix · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (addressee, resumes Joshua)אֶל (H413) with 3ms suffix, resuming יְהוֹשֻׁעַ as the one addressed.
כָּלֵ֥בCalebproper noun · כָּלֵב (H3612)Subject of וַיֹּאמֶרכָּלֵב (H3612) 'dog' or possibly 'wholehearted' (from a root meaning 'whole, all-of'); one of only two adult wilderness-generation survivors (with Joshua), whose speech now dominates the chapter.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to כָּלֵב (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יְפֻנֶּ֖הJephunnehproper noun · יְפֻנֶּה (H3312)Genitive (construct chain with בֶּן)יְפֻנֶּה (H3312), Caleb's father.
הַקְּנִזִּ֑יthe Kenizziteart + gentilic N m sg abs · קְנִזִּי (H7074)Apposition to כָּלֵב (clan designation)קְנִזִּי (H7074) 'Kenizzite'; gentilic from קְנַז, a clan associated with Edom (Gen 36:11) later absorbed into Judah — Caleb is a naturalized outsider whose full loyalty to YHWH (vv. 8-9, 14) is the chapter's answer to any doubt about his standing.
אַתָּ֣הyouindependent pron 2ms · אַתָּה (H859)Subject (emphatic, fronted)אַתָּה (H859) 'you'; emphatic independent pronoun opening Caleb's speech, addressing Joshua directly and personally — the two survivors speaking as equals and witnesses.
יָדַ֡עְתָּyou knowQal perf 2ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective, stative-resultative: an ongoing state of knowledge from a past event — 'you know [and have known]'יָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; Caleb appeals to Joshua's own firsthand memory as co-witness to the divine word about to be cited.
אֶֽת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הַדָּבָר as the definite direct object of יָדַעְתָּ.
הַדָּבָר֩the wordart + N m sg abs · דָּבָר (H1697)Direct objectדָּבָר (H1697) 'word, matter'; the specific divine promise about to be recalled — a term that recurs at v. 7's 'brought back word' and v. 10's 'spoke this word.'
אֲשֶׁרthatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle (introduces relative clause on הַדָּבָר)אֲשֶׁר (H834).
דִּבֶּ֨רhe spokePiel perf 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed, authoritative speech-act, decades in the past yet still bindingדָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak'; Piel, standard for formal/authoritative speech — the first of the chapter's several echoes of this specific divine word (see also vv. 9, 10, 12).
יְהוָ֜הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of דִּבֶּריְהוָה (H3068).
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (addressee)אֶל (H413).
מֹשֶׁ֣הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of prepositionמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
אִישׁman ofN m sg constr · אִישׁ (H376)Apposition to מֹשֶׁה (construct head, title)אִישׁ (H376) 'man'; construct in the honorific title 'man of God' (cf. Deut 33:1), underscoring the divine weight of what Moses said.
הָאֱלֹהִ֗יםGodart + N m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive (construct chain with אִישׁ)אֱלֹהִים (H430); plural form, singular referent.
עַ֧לconcerningprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (topic/reference)עַל (H5921) 'upon, concerning'; introduces the topic of what YHWH said.
אֹדוֹתַ֛יmy matters/concerning meN f pl constr + 1cs suffix · אֹדוֹת (H182)Object of preposition (with עַל, idiom)אֹדוֹת (H182) 'cause, matter'; used almost exclusively in the idiom עַל אֹדוֹת 'concerning, because of' — 'concerning me,' i.e., Caleb personally.
וְעַ֥לand concerningconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinate prepositional phraseעַל (H5921), coordinated with the preceding, extending the topic to Joshua.
אֹדוֹתֶ֖יךָyour matters/concerning youN f pl constr + 2ms suffix · אֹדוֹת (H182)Object of preposition (with וְעַל, idiom)אֹדוֹת (H182); 'concerning you' — Joshua too was one of the twelve spies and thus also a subject of the promise Caleb is about to cite (Num 14:30, 38).
בְּקָדֵ֥שׁin Kadesh-prep בְּ + proper noun · קָדֵשׁ (H6947)Locative prepositional phraseקָדֵשׁ (H6947) 'Kadesh'; first element of Kadesh-barnea, the wilderness staging point for the spy mission (Num 13:26).
בַּרְנֵֽעַ-barneaproper noun · בַּרְנֵעַ (H6947)Apposition to קָדֵשׁ (place-name compound)בַּרְנֵעַ (H6947), second element of the compound place-name Kadesh-barnea, the base from which the twelve spies were sent (Num 13:3, 26).
7
בֶּן אַרְבָּעִ֨ים שָׁנָ֜ה אָנֹכִ֗י בִּ֠שְׁלֹחַ מֹשֶׁ֨ה עֶֽבֶד יְהוָ֥ה אֹתִ֛י מִקָּדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵ֖עַ לְרַגֵּ֣ל אֶת הָאָ֑רֶץ וָאָשֵׁ֤ב אֹתוֹ֙ דָּבָ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר עִם לְבָבִֽי
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of YHWH sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was with my heart.
Caleb dates himself precisely (forty years old) and recalls his own integrity as a spy — his report matched his heart's true conviction — setting up the direct contrast with his ten faithless companions in v. 8 and grounding his authority to claim the very promise he is about to cite.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
בֶּןa son of [= aged]N m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Predicate complement (age idiom, construct head)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct in the standard Hebrew age idiom 'son of N years' = 'N years old.'
אַרְבָּעִ֨יםfortynumeral c pl abs · אַרְבָּעִים (H705)Genitive (construct chain with בֶּן)אַרְבָּעִים (H705) 'forty'; Caleb's age at the spy mission (Num 13), the baseline for the forty-five-year calculation of v. 10.
שָׁנָ֜הyearsN f sg abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)Genitive (specifies unit, distributive singular)שָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'; singular used distributively after a numeral, standard Hebrew idiom.
אָנֹכִ֗יIindependent pron 1cs · אָנֹכִי (H595)Subject (emphatic, fronted before the temporal clause)אָנֹכִי (H595) 'I'; emphatic first-person pronoun, Caleb foregrounding his own personal history.
בִּ֠שְׁלֹחַwhen [Moses] sentprep בְּ + Qal inf constr · שָׁלַח (H7971)Temporal infinitival clause (subordinate)→ Infinitival: temporal, 'at/when the sending' — dates Caleb's speech relative to the spy missionשָׁלַח (H7971) 'to send'; infinitive construct with בְּ, a standard temporal-clause construction, 'when X sent.'
מֹשֶׁ֨הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of בִּשְׁלֹחַמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
עֶֽבֶדthe servant ofN m sg constr · עֶבֶד (H5650)Apposition to מֹשֶׁה (title, construct head)עֶבֶד (H5650) 'servant'; Moses' honorific title (cf. Josh 1:1), lending weight to the sending Caleb recalls.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive (construct chain with עֶבֶד)יְהוָה (H3068).
אֹתִ֛יmeobj marker + 1cs suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (object of בִּשְׁלֹחַ)אֵת (H853) with 1cs suffix, 'me' as the one sent.
מִקָּדֵ֥שׁfrom Kadesh-prep מִן + proper noun · קָדֵשׁ (H6947)Locative prepositional phrase (source)קָדֵשׁ (H6947); starting point of the spy mission.
בַּרְנֵ֖עַ-barneaproper noun · בַּרְנֵעַ (H6947)Apposition to קָדֵשׁבַּרְנֵעַ (H6947).
לְרַגֵּ֣לto spy outprep לְ + Piel inf constr · רָגַל (H7270)Infinitive of purpose (modifying בִּשְׁלֹחַ)→ Infinitival: purpose, 'in order to reconnoiter'רָגַל (H7270) 'to go about, spy out' (denominative from רֶגֶל 'foot'); Piel here, the technical verb for reconnaissance used throughout Numbers 13-14.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הָאָרֶץ as the definite direct object of לְרַגֵּל.
הָאָ֑רֶץthe landart + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct objectאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; Canaan, the object of the original reconnaissance.
וָאָשֵׁ֤בand I brought backconj וַ + Hiphil wayyiqtol 1cs · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol, Hiphil causative: foregrounded narrative advance — Caleb's decisive counter-reportשׁוּב (H7725) 'to return'; Hiphil causative 'to bring back, cause to return' — Caleb 'brought back a report/word,' the standard verb for the spies' formal debriefing (Num 13:26).
אֹתוֹ֙itobj marker + 3ms suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (anticipates/resumes דָּבָר)אֵת (H853) with 3ms suffix, marking דָּבָר as the definite direct object even though it follows — a common Hebrew word-order pattern anticipating the noun.
דָּבָ֔רword/reportN m sg abs · דָּבָר (H1697)Direct object (in apposition to the resumptive אֹתוֹ)דָּבָר (H1697) 'word, matter, report'; the same term as v. 6 — Caleb's spy report, contrasted implicitly with the other ten spies' report in v. 8.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רasprep כְּ + relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Comparative conjunction (manner clause)כַּאֲשֶׁר 'just as, according as'; introduces the manner clause qualifying דָּבָר — the report matched Caleb's own conviction.
עִם[was] withprep · עִם (H5973)Predicate prepositional phrase (manner clause)עִם (H5973) 'with'; idiomatic 'as it was with my heart' = 'as I truly believed/felt' — Caleb's report matched his conviction, unlike the fearful majority report.
לְבָבִֽיmy heartN m sg constr + 1cs suffix · לֵבָב (H3824)Object of preposition עִםלֵבָב (H3824) 'heart, mind'; the seat of conviction and will — Caleb's report was faithful to what he truly believed about the land, in contrast to the ten spies' fear (v. 8).
8
וְאַחַי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָל֣וּ עִמִּ֔י הִמְסִ֖יו אֶת לֵ֣ב הָעָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֣י מִלֵּ֔אתִי אַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי
But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, yet I wholly followed YHWH my God.
The verse's two halves are sharply antithetical, marked by double adversative וְ + fronted subject (וְאַחַי / וְאָנֹכִי): the ten spies dissolved the nation's courage, but Caleb alone 'filled up' his loyalty to YHWH — the idiom מִלֵּאתִי אַחֲרֵי יְהוָה introduced here becomes the chapter's refrain (vv. 9, 14).
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וְאַחַי֙but my brothersconj וְ + N m pl constr + 1cs suffix · אָח (H251)Subject (adversative, fronted for contrast)אָח (H251) 'brother'; here the other ten spies, figurative kinsmen-in-mission — fronted with adversative וְ to contrast sharply with Caleb's own fidelity in the verse's second half.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhorelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle (introduces relative clause on אַחַי)אֲשֶׁר (H834).
עָל֣וּwent upQal perf 3cp · עָלָה (H5927)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed act, the shared expeditionעָלָה (H5927) 'to go up'; standard verb for the reconnaissance expedition into the hill country (Num 13:21-22).
עִמִּ֔יwith meprep עִם + 1cs suffix · עִם (H5973)Adverbial prepositional phraseעִם (H5973) 'with'; underscores that these were Caleb's own companions on the very mission that produced two opposite reports.
הִמְסִ֖יוthey made meltHiphil perf 3cp · מָסַס (H4529)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective, Hiphil causative: a completed, decisive act with lasting national consequenceמָסַס (H4529) 'to melt, dissolve'; Hiphil causative, vivid idiom for inducing terror/despair — the ten spies' fear-mongering report (Num 13:31-33) demoralized the entire community and provoked the forty-year sentence (Num 14).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking לֵב הָעָם as the definite direct object of הִמְסִיו.
לֵ֣בthe heart ofN m sg constr · לֵב (H3820)Direct object (construct head)לֵב (H3820) 'heart'; seat of courage and resolve, here liquefied by fear.
הָעָ֑םthe peopleart + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Genitive (construct chain with לֵב)עַם (H5971) 'people'; the wilderness generation, whose collapse of nerve at Kadesh (Num 14:1-4) cost them the land.
וְאָנֹכִ֣יbut Iconj וְ + independent pron 1cs · אָנֹכִי (H595)Subject (emphatic, adversative, fronted)אָנֹכִי (H595) 'I'; emphatic pronoun with adversative וְ, sharply contrasting Caleb's fidelity against his brothers' failure — the verse's structural hinge.
מִלֵּ֔אתִיI wholly followedPiel perf 1cs · מִלֵּא (H4390)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective, Piel intensive: a completed, wholehearted, decisive act of loyaltyמָלֵא (H4390) 'to fill'; Piel here in the idiom מִלֵּא אַחֲרֵי יְהוָה, literally 'to fill after YHWH' = 'to follow fully, wholeheartedly' — the chapter's refrain (also vv. 9, 14), Caleb's defining epithet throughout Scripture (Num 14:24; 32:12; Deut 1:36).
אַחֲרֵ֖יafterprep · אַחֲרֵי (H310)Prepositional phrase (completes the idiom מִלֵּא אַחֲרֵי)אַחֲרֵי (H310) 'after, behind'; with מִלֵּא forms the fixed idiom of wholehearted covenant loyalty.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of preposition אַחֲרֵייְהוָה (H3068).
אֱלֹהָֽיmy GodN m pl constr + 1cs suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God', plural of majesty with 1cs suffix; Caleb's personal confession, echoed exactly in v. 14's summary of his whole life.
9
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע מֹשֶׁ֗ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַהוּא֮ לֵאמֹר֒ אִם לֹ֗א הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דָּרְכָ֤ה רַגְלְךָ֙ בָּ֔הּ לְךָ֨ תִֽהְיֶ֧ה לְנַחֲלָ֛ה וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָ עַד עוֹלָ֑ם כִּ֣י מִלֵּ֔אתָ אַחֲרֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי
So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and for your children forever, because you have wholly followed YHWH my God.'
Moses' oath is reported in Caleb's own recollected speech, using a solemn double-negative asseveration (אִם לֹא) and grounding the perpetual land-grant explicitly in the same מִלֵּאתִי אַחֲרֵי formula Caleb used of himself in v. 8 — the chapter's central legal warrant, now on record from the highest human authority.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣עand he sworeconj וַ + Niphal wayyiqtol 3ms · שָׁבַע (H7650)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol, Niphal (reflexive/passive in form, active in sense): foregrounded narrative advance — the decisive legal act grounding Caleb's whole claimשָׁבַע (H7650) 'to swear'; Niphal, the standard stem for oath-taking (from the root related to 'seven', the number of oath-confirmation) — Moses' sworn oath is the binding legal warrant Caleb now invokes.
מֹשֶׁ֗הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of וַיִּשָּׁבַעמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
בַּיּ֣וֹםon the dayprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Temporal prepositional phraseיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; construct with הַהוּא, dating the oath precisely to the day of the spy report.
הַהוּא֮thatart + demonstrative/independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Attributive demonstrative (modifies יּוֹם)הוּא (H1931) 'he, that'; with article functions as demonstrative 'that (same) day' — anchoring the oath's timing to Kadesh-barnea (Num 14:24, 30).
לֵאמֹר֒sayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive introducing direct quotation→ Infinitival: standard quotative marker introducing the oath's contentאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; infinitive construct with לְ, the standard formula introducing reported speech.
אִםsurely [not]conj · אִם (H518)Oath-particle (introduces the sworn content, with לֹא forming a solemn asseveration)אִם (H518) 'if'; in oath formulas אִם + verb functions as an emphatic negative-turned-positive assertion ('surely, indeed') — here paired with לֹא to swear positively that the land WILL be Caleb's.
לֹ֗א[surely]negative particle · לֹא (H3808)Part of the oath formula אִם לֹא (idiomatic positive assertion)לֹא (H3808); within the oath-formula אִם לֹא, the double negative construction yields a strong positive assertion — 'the land will surely be...'
הָאָ֨רֶץ֙the landart + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Subject (of תִהְיֶה)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; the specific hill-country territory Caleb personally scouted, distinct from the nation's land as a whole.
אֲשֶׁ֨רon whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle (introduces relative clause on הָאָרֶץ)אֲשֶׁר (H834).
דָּרְכָ֤הhas troddenQal perf 3fs · דָּרַךְ (H1869)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed physical act, its subject רֶגֶל agreeing feminineדָּרַךְ (H1869) 'to tread, march'; the physical act of stepping on the land, the concrete legal basis (cf. Deut 11:24) for territorial claim.
רַגְלְךָ֙your footN f sg constr + 2ms suffix · רֶגֶל (H7272)Subject of דָּרְכָהרֶגֶל (H7272) 'foot'; the physical instrument of the treading-claim idiom.
בָּ֔הּon itprep בְּ + 3fs suffix · בְּ (inseparable, no separate Strong's)Prepositional phrase (resumes הָאָרֶץ)בְּ 'in, on', with 3fs suffix resuming הָאָרֶץ — 'on it [the land],' completing the relative clause.
לְךָ֨for youprep לְ + 2ms suffix · לְ (inseparable, no separate Strong's)Predicate prepositional phrase (possessive, fronted for emphasis)לְ 'to, for', with 2ms suffix — marks possession, fronted before the verb for emphasis: 'to YOU it will be.'
תִֽהְיֶ֧הit shall beQal impf 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (main clause of the oath)→ Yiqtol: modal/future — the binding future certainty of the sworn promiseהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; imperfect here carries future-certain force appropriate to a divine oath.
לְנַחֲלָ֛הas an inheritanceprep לְ + N f sg abs · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Predicate complement (with תִהְיֶה)נַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance'; the same key term from vv. 1-3, now sworn specifically to one man rather than allotted by general lot — the exceptional, named-recipient inheritance the rest of the chapter secures.
וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָand to your childrenconj וְ + prep לְ + N m pl constr + 2ms suffix · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinate predicate complementבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; the oath extends beyond Caleb to his descendants, a perpetual grant.
עַדuntil/foreverprep · עַד (H5704)Adverbial prepositional phrase (temporal extent)עַד (H5704) 'until, as far as'; with עוֹלָם forms the standard idiom for perpetuity.
עוֹלָ֑םforeverN m sg abs · עוֹלָם (H5769)Object of preposition עַד (idiom)עוֹלָם (H5769) 'long duration, forever'; with עַד, 'in perpetuity' — the oath's permanence.
כִּ֣יbecauseconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction (grounds the oath in Caleb's fidelity)כִּי (H3588) 'because'; states the ground of the oath — not merit generally, but specifically Caleb's wholehearted following of YHWH.
מִלֵּ֔אתָyou have wholly followedPiel perf 2ms · מִלֵּא (H4390)Predicate verb (causal clause)→ Perfective, Piel intensive: a completed, decisive act of wholehearted loyaltyמָלֵא (H4390) 'to fill'; the idiom מִלֵּא אַחֲרֵי from v. 8, now spoken by Moses himself in direct quotation — divine ratification of Caleb's own self-description.
אַחֲרֵ֖יafterprep · אַחֲרֵי (H310)Prepositional phrase (completes the idiom)אַחֲרֵי (H310).
יְהוָ֥הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of preposition אַחֲרֵייְהוָה (H3068).
אֱלֹהָֽיmy GodN m pl constr + 1cs suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430); note the 1cs suffix 'MY God' even within Moses' quoted oath about Caleb — likely Caleb's own voice bleeding through the citation, or Mosaic solidarity; either way it binds speaker and subject together in shared devotion.
10
וְעַתָּ֗ה הִנֵּה֩ הֶחֱיָ֨ה יְהוָ֣ה אוֹתִי֮ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּר֒ זֶה֩ אַרְבָּעִ֨ים וְחָמֵ֜שׁ שָׁנָ֗ה מֵ֠אָז דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֶת הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ אֶל מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר הָלַ֥ךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְעַתָּה֙ הִנֵּ֣ה אָנֹכִ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם בֶּן חָמֵ֥שׁ וּשְׁמוֹנִ֖ים שָׁנָֽה
And now, behold, YHWH has kept me alive, as he spoke, these forty-five years, since the time YHWH spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am today eighty-five years old.
Two parallel 'and now, behold' clauses frame Caleb's precise arithmetic — forty-five years since the oath, eighty-five years old today — turning bare longevity into evidence: YHWH's sustaining hand has been continuously active exactly as long as the promise has stood, setting up the vigor-claim of v. 11.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
וְעַתָּ֗הand nowconj וְ + adverb · עַתָּה (H6258)Discourse-marking adverb (transition to present situation)עַתָּה (H6258) 'now'; pivots Caleb's speech from the past oath (vv. 6-9) to its present-day fulfillment claim.
הִנֵּה֩beholdpresentative particle · הִנֵּה (H2009)Presentative particle (vividness marker)הִנֵּה (H2009) 'behold, look'; draws attention to the remarkable fact about to be stated — YHWH's preserving of Caleb's life.
הֶחֱיָ֨הhas kept aliveHiphil perf 3ms · חָיָה (H2421)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective, Hiphil causative: a completed, ongoing-result act — divine preservation spanning forty-five yearsחָיָה (H2421) 'to live'; Hiphil causative 'to keep alive, preserve' — Caleb attributes his survival through the wilderness plague-death of his generation (Num 14:29-30) directly to YHWH's sustaining action.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of הֶחֱיָהיְהוָה (H3068).
אוֹתִי֮meobj marker + 1cs suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853) with 1cs suffix, marking Caleb as the object of divine preservation.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣רasprep כְּ + relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Comparative conjunctionכַּאֲשֶׁר 'just as'; ties the preservation to a prior divine word — likely the oath of v. 9 or the broader promise that Caleb (unlike his generation) would enter the land (Num 14:24, 30).
דִּבֵּר֒he spokePiel perf 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (comparative clause)→ Perfective: a completed, authoritative speech-actדָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak'.
זֶה֩thesedemonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Adverbial (idiomatic with time expression, 'these ... years')זֶה (H2088) 'this'; idiomatically used with a time-span, 'these forty-five years' — a fixed Hebrew way of marking elapsed duration.
אַרְבָּעִ֨יםfortynumeral c pl abs · אַרְבָּעִים (H705)Numeral (part of compound number with וְחָמֵשׁ)אַרְבָּעִים (H705) 'forty'.
וְחָמֵ֜שׁand fiveconj וְ + numeral f sg abs · חָמֵשׁ (H2568)Numeral (coordinate, completes forty-five)חָמֵשׁ (H2568) 'five'; forty-five years is Caleb's arithmetic proof: forty at the spy mission, thirty-eight of wandering remaining after the sentence, plus roughly seven years of conquest so far (cf. rabbinic and traditional reckonings).
שָׁנָ֗הyearsN f sg abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)Genitive (unit, distributive singular)שָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'.
מֵ֠אָזsince [the time]prep מִן + adverb · אָז (H227)Temporal prepositional phrase (marks the starting point of the count)אָז (H227) 'then'; with מִן, 'from the time when' — the forty-five years are counted from the day of Moses' oath (v. 9).
דִּבֶּ֨רhe spokePiel perf 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (subordinate temporal clause)→ Perfective: a completed speech-act, the temporal anchor of the countדָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak'; repeated from v. 6, forming a chain of citation confirming the promise's stability across forty-five years.
יְהוָ֜הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of דִּבֶּריְהוָה (H3068).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה as the definite direct object of דִּבֶּר.
הַדָּבָ֤רthe wordart + N m sg abs · דָּבָר (H1697)Direct object (construct with demonstrative)דָּבָר (H1697) 'word'; the third occurrence of this key term (vv. 6, 7, 10), tracing one continuous promise from utterance to present claim.
הַזֶּה֙thisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Attributive demonstrative (modifies הַדָּבָר)זֶה (H2088) 'this'.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (addressee)אֶל (H413).
מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of prepositionמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
אֲשֶׁרwhilerelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative/temporal particle (introduces circumstantial clause)אֲשֶׁר (H834); here with temporal force, 'during the time that' Israel wandered.
הָלַ֥ךְwalkedQal perf 3ms · הָלַךְ (H1980)Predicate verb (circumstantial clause)→ Perfective: a completed span of action viewed as a whole — the thirty-eight years of wanderingהָלַךְ (H1980) 'to walk, go'; here of the nation's collective wilderness sojourn (with singular verb for the collective יִשְׂרָאֵל).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Subject of הָלַךְיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑רin the wildernessprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Locative prepositional phraseמִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness'; the forty-year (minus the two already served) sentence of Numbers 14:33-34.
וְעַתָּה֙and nowconj וְ + adverb · עַתָּה (H6258)Discourse-marking adverb (resumes/repeats the pivot to the present)עַתָּה (H6258) 'now'; repeated (see word 1), an emphatic frame around the forty-five-year digression, driving home the present moment.
הִנֵּ֣הbeholdpresentative particle · הִנֵּה (H2009)Presentative particleהִנֵּה (H2009), repeated from earlier in the verse, again drawing attention to Caleb's present condition.
אָנֹכִ֣יIindependent pron 1cs · אָנֹכִי (H595)Subject (emphatic)אָנֹכִי (H595) 'I'.
הַיּ֔וֹםtodayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative (temporal)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; with article functions adverbially, 'today, this very day.'
בֶּןa son of [= aged]N m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Predicate complement (age idiom)בֵּן (H1121); see word 1 — the age idiom, now stating Caleb's present age.
חָמֵ֥שׁfivenumeral f sg abs · חָמֵשׁ (H2568)Numeral (compound with וּשְׁמוֹנִים)חָמֵשׁ (H2568) 'five'.
וּשְׁמוֹנִ֖יםand eightyconj וְ + numeral c pl abs · שְׁמוֹנִים (H8084)Numeral (coordinate, completes eighty-five)שְׁמוֹנִים (H8084) 'eighty'; eighty-five years total — forty at the spy mission plus the forty-five just recounted, the arithmetic checks exactly.
שָׁנָֽהyearsN f sg abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)Genitive (unit, distributive singular)שָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'.
11
עוֹדֶ֨נִּי הַיּ֜וֹם חָזָ֗ק כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ בְּי֨וֹם שְׁלֹ֤חַ אוֹתִי֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה כְּכֹ֥חִי אָ֖ז וּכְכֹ֣חִי עָ֑תָּה לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה וְלָצֵ֥את וְלָבֽוֹא
I am still as strong today as I was on the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now, for war and for going out and coming in.
Caleb doubles down on v. 10's arithmetic with a rhetorical then/now equation (כְּכֹחִי אָז...וּכְכֹחִי עָתָּה) and closes with the idiom 'to go out and come in,' framing his continued fitness not as personal boast but as qualification for the specific military task — displacing the Anakim — he is about to request in v. 12.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
עוֹדֶ֨נִּיI am stilladverb עוֹד + 1cs suffix · עוֹד (H5750)Adverbial predicate (with implied 'to be', fronted for emphasis)עוֹד (H5750) 'still, yet'; with 1cs suffix, 'I am still...' — an emphatic, almost defiant opening to Caleb's vigor-claim.
הַיּ֜וֹםtodayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative (temporal)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; adverbial, 'today.'
חָזָ֗קstrongadjective m sg abs · חָזָק (H2389)Predicate adjective (with עוֹדֶנִּי, 'I am still strong')חָזָק (H2389) 'strong, vigorous'; the same root as the חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ commission formula of ch. 1 — Caleb embodies at eighty-five the very quality Joshua was charged to have.
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙asprep כְּ + relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Comparative conjunctionכַּאֲשֶׁר 'just as'; introduces the comparison to Caleb's earlier strength.
בְּי֨וֹםon the day ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · יוֹם (H3117)Temporal prepositional phrase (construct head)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; construct with the infinitive, 'on the day of sending.'
שְׁלֹ֤חַthe sending ofQal inf constr · שָׁלַח (H7971)Infinitive construct (temporal, genitive after בְּיוֹם)→ Infinitival: substantival, naming the event of sendingשָׁלַח (H7971) 'to send'; infinitive construct functioning as a verbal noun, 'the sending' — same event recalled in v. 7.
אוֹתִי֙meobj marker + 1cs suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (object of the infinitive שְׁלֹחַ)אֵת (H853) with 1cs suffix.
מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of the infinitive שְׁלֹחַמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
כְּכֹ֥חִיlike my strengthprep כְּ + N m sg constr + 1cs suffix · כֹּחַ (H3581)Predicate prepositional phrase (comparative)כֹּחַ (H3581) 'strength, power'; the concrete noun behind the adjective חָזָק — Caleb quantifies his vigor as literally unchanged.
אָ֖זthenadverb · אָז (H227)Temporal adverbאָז (H227) 'then'; marks the past reference point, the day of the spy mission.
וּכְכֹ֣חִיso my strengthconj וְ + prep כְּ + N m sg constr + 1cs suffix · כֹּחַ (H3581)Coordinate predicate prepositional phrase (correlative with the first כְּכֹחִי)כֹּחַ (H3581) 'strength'; repeated, forming the correlative 'as...so' construction that is the verse's rhetorical core.
עָ֑תָּהnowadverb · עַתָּה (H6258)Temporal adverbעַתָּה (H6258) 'now'; the present counterpart to אָז, completing the then/now equation.
לַמִּלְחָמָ֖הfor warprep לְ + art + N f sg abs · מִלְחָמָה (H4421)Adverbial prepositional phrase (purpose/scope)מִלְחָמָה (H4421) 'war, battle'; the concrete arena in which Caleb's still-undiminished strength is about to be tested — the Anakim of v. 12.
וְלָצֵ֥אתand for going outconj וְ + prep לְ + Qal inf constr · יָצָא (H3318)Infinitive of purpose (coordinate with לַמִּלְחָמָה)→ Infinitival: purpose, denoting military campaign readinessיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; with וְלָבוֹא, forms the idiom 'to go out and come in' — the standard biblical expression for full military and civic capability/leadership (cf. Num 27:17; Deut 31:2).
וְלָבֽוֹאand for coming inconj וְ + prep לְ + Qal inf constr · בּוֹא (H935)Infinitive of purpose (coordinate with וְלָצֵאת)→ Infinitival: purpose, completing the idiom of full active capabilityבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter'; completes 'go out and come in' — at eighty-five, Caleb claims the full vigor of a field commander, not merely a survivor.
12
וְעַתָּ֗ה תְּנָה לִּי֙ אֶת הָהָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֣י אַתָּֽה שָׁמַעְתָּ֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא כִּֽי עֲנָקִ֣ים שָׁ֗ם וְעָרִים֙ גְּדֹל֣וֹת בְּצֻר֔וֹת אוּלַ֨י יְהוָ֤ה אוֹתִי֙ וְה֣וֹרַשְׁתִּ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה
So now, give me this hill country, of which YHWH spoke on that day; for you heard on that day that the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps YHWH will be with me, and I will dispossess them, just as YHWH spoke.
The speech's rhetorical and theological peak: Caleb requests the very hill country whose giants and fortresses match, almost word for word, the ten spies' terrified report (Num 13:28) — but answers that same evidence not with despair but with אוּלַי, 'perhaps,' the humble hope of a man twice Israel's original spies' fear, still trusting YHWH's presence to secure what only he now dares to ask for.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
וְעַתָּ֗הso nowconj וְ + adverb · עַתָּה (H6258)Discourse-marking adverb (pivots from vigor-claim to the actual request)עַתָּה (H6258) 'now'; the third and climactic 'and now' of the speech, introducing the petition itself.
תְּנָהgive!Qal impv 2ms (+ emphatic הּ) · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (main clause, imperative petition)→ Volitional: an emphatic, direct imperative requestנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; imperative with paragogic ה intensifying the request — the same verb that has run through the chapter (vv. 2, 3, 4), now spoken directly by the petitioner himself.
לִּי֙to meprep לְ + 1cs suffix · לְ (inseparable, no separate Strong's)Indirect object (of תְּנָה)לְ 'to, for', with 1cs suffix — the beneficiary of the imperative.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking הָהָר הַזֶּה as the definite direct object of תְּנָה.
הָהָ֣רthe hill countryart + N m sg abs · הַר (H2022)Direct objectהַר (H2022) 'mountain, hill country'; the specific Hebron highlands, the very territory the ten spies feared (Num 13:28-29).
הַזֶּ֔הthisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Attributive demonstrative (modifies הָהָר)זֶה (H2088) 'this'.
אֲשֶׁרof whichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle (introduces relative clause on הָהָר)אֲשֶׁר (H834).
דִּבֶּ֥רhe spokePiel perf 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed, authoritative speech-actדָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak'; the fourth citation of this divine word in the chapter (vv. 6, 7, 10, 12).
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of דִּבֶּריְהוָה (H3068).
בַּיּ֣וֹםon the dayprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Temporal prepositional phraseיוֹם (H3117) 'day'.
הַה֑וּאthatart + demonstrative/independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Attributive demonstrative (modifies יּוֹם)הוּא (H1931); see v. 9.
כִּ֣יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction (grounds the request in shared knowledge)כִּי (H3588) 'for'; introduces Caleb's reminder that Joshua too knows the danger being requested.
אַתָּֽהyouindependent pron 2ms · אַתָּה (H859)Subject (emphatic, fronted)אַתָּה (H859) 'you'; emphatic, again addressing Joshua as a co-witness (cf. v. 6).
שָׁמַעְתָּ֩you heardQal perf 2ms · שָׁמַע (H8085)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed act of firsthand knowledgeשָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear'; Joshua's own memory is invoked as corroborating witness to the danger — and thus to the boldness — of the request.
בַיּ֨וֹםon the dayprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Temporal prepositional phraseיוֹם (H3117) 'day'.
הַה֜וּאthatart + demonstrative/independent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Attributive demonstrative (modifies יּוֹם)הוּא (H1931).
כִּֽיthatconj · כִּי (H3588)Complementizer (introduces the content of שָׁמַעְתָּ)כִּי (H3588) 'that'; introduces the content clause of what Joshua heard.
עֲנָקִ֣יםAnakimproper/gentilic N m pl abs · עֲנָק (H6062)Subject (nominal clause)עֲנָק (H6062) 'Anak, Anakim'; the giant-clan that terrified the ten spies (Num 13:28, 33) — Caleb names the very obstacle that broke his companions' nerve, as the target of his own request.
שָׁ֗םthereadverb · שָׁם (H8033)Locative adverb (predicate)שָׁם (H8033) 'there'; locates the Anakim in the hill country just requested.
וְעָרִים֙and citiesconj וְ + N f pl abs · עִיר (H5892)Coordinate subject (nominal clause)עִיר (H5892) 'city'; coordinate with עֲנָקִים, naming the second obstacle.
גְּדֹל֣וֹתgreatadjective f pl abs · גָּדוֹל (H1419)Attributive adjective (modifies עָרִים)גָּדוֹל (H1419) 'great, large'; echoes the ten spies' own report (Num 13:28, עָרִים בְּצֻרוֹת גְּדֹלֹת מְאֹד) almost verbatim — Caleb faces the identical evidence that terrified them.
בְּצֻר֔וֹתfortifiedadjective f pl abs (passive ptc form) · בָּצוּר (H1219)Attributive adjective (modifies עָרִים)בָּצוּר (H1219) 'fortified, inaccessible'; from בָּצַר 'to cut off, fortify' — completing the exact phrase the fearful spies used in Numbers 13.
אוּלַ֨יperhapsadverb · אוּלַי (H194)Modal adverb (introduces the clause of hoped-for outcome)אוּלַי (H194) 'perhaps'; the rhetorical and theological center of the speech — at eighty-five, facing giants and fortresses, Caleb stakes everything not on certainty but on humble hope in YHWH's presence, the polar opposite of the ten spies' certainty of defeat.
יְהוָ֤הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject (of implied 'will be', with אוֹתִי)יְהוָה (H3068); subject of the hoped-for accompaniment — 'perhaps YHWH [will be] with me.'
אוֹתִי֙with meprep אֵת + 1cs suffix · אֵת (H854)Predicate prepositional phrase (comitative, with elided verb 'to be')אֵת (H854) 'with' (comitative preposition, distinct from the homographic object-marker H853); 'perhaps YHWH [is] with me' — echoing the commission formula of Joshua 1:5, 9.
וְה֣וֹרַשְׁתִּ֔יםand I will dispossess themconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 1cs + 3mp suffix · יָרַשׁ (H3423)Predicate verb (result clause, sequential to the hoped-for hypothesis)→ Weqatal: consequent/future — the confident result following from אוּלַי's tentative hopeיָרַשׁ (H3423) 'to inherit, possess, dispossess'; Hiphil causative 'to drive out, dispossess' — Caleb's stated goal, the same verb used throughout Joshua/Judges for conquest of the land's inhabitants.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רjust asprep כְּ + relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Comparative conjunction (closes the speech, echoing its citations)כַּאֲשֶׁר 'just as'; closes the petition by returning to the divine word one final time.
דִּבֶּ֥רhe spokePiel perf 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (comparative clause)→ Perfective: a completed, authoritative speech-actדָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak'; the fifth and final citation of the divine word in Caleb's speech, framing the whole petition as fulfillment, not innovation.
יְהוָֽהYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of דִּבֶּריְהוָה (H3068).
13
וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖הוּ יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ וַיִּתֵּ֧ן אֶת חֶבְר֛וֹן לְכָלֵ֥ב בֶּן יְפֻנֶּ֖ה לְנַחֲלָֽה
So Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.
Two terse wayyiqtol clauses resolve the entire episode: blessing precedes grant, and the verb נָתַן — tracked since v. 2's description of the lot-based allotment — is here enacted personally and immediately, without lot, for the one man whose claim rests on sworn oath rather than chance.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖הוּand he blessed himconj וַ + Piel wayyiqtol 3ms + 3ms suffix · בָּרַךְ (H1288)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol, Piel intensive: foregrounded narrative advance — Joshua's formal response to the petitionבָּרַךְ (H1288) 'to bless'; Piel, the standard stem for pronouncing formal blessing — Joshua's blessing functions as both personal honor and implicit consent to the grant that follows.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַJoshuaproper noun · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of וַיְבָרְכֵהוּיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091); acting here in his full authority as Moses' successor to ratify Caleb's claim.
וַיִּתֵּ֧ןand he gaveconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the formal legal grantנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; the chapter's recurring key verb, now finally enacted in the concrete grant to Caleb — resolving the whole chapter's tension between allotment-by-lot (vv. 1-5) and this one exceptional, sworn, named grant.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), marking חֶבְרוֹן as the definite direct object of וַיִּתֵּן.
חֶבְר֛וֹןHebronproper noun · חֶבְרוֹן (H2275)Direct objectחֶבְרוֹן (H2275) 'league, alliance' (or 'friend'); the ancient city in the Judean hill country, associated with the patriarchs (Gen 23) — now formally granted to Caleb.
לְכָלֵ֥בto Calebprep לְ + proper noun · כָּלֵב (H3612)Indirect objectכָּלֵב (H3612).
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to כָלֵב (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יְפֻנֶּ֖הJephunnehproper noun · יְפֻנֶּה (H3312)Genitive (construct chain with בֶּן)יְפֻנֶּה (H3312).
לְנַחֲלָֽהas an inheritanceprep לְ + N f sg abs · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Predicate complement (with וַיִּתֵּן)נַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance'; the same term that has run through the whole chapter, now finally realized concretely — Caleb receives, by name, what the tribes receive by lot.
14
עַל כֵּ֣ן הָיְתָֽה חֶ֠בְרוֹן לְכָלֵ֨ב בֶּן יְפֻנֶּ֤ה הַקְּנִזִּי֙ לְֽנַחֲלָ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה יַ֚עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר מִלֵּ֔א אַחֲרֵ֕י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, to this day, because he wholly followed YHWH the God of Israel.
The narrator steps out of the story to confirm, from his own later standpoint, that the grant endures — closing the מִלֵּא אַחֲרֵי refrain a third and final time, now as objective narratorial fact rather than Caleb's self-report (v. 8) or Moses' oath (v. 9), and universalizing it by naming YHWH 'the God of Israel' rather than Caleb's personal 'my God.'
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
עַלupon/thereforeprep · עַל (H5921)First element of the resultative idiom עַל כֵּןעַל (H5921) 'upon'; with כֵּן forms the fixed resultative connective עַל כֵּן 'therefore.'
כֵּ֣ן[therefore]adverbial particle · כֵּן (H3651)Second element of the resultative idiom עַל כֵּןכֵּן (H3651) 'so, thus'; with עַל, the standard etiological connective marking the narrator's summarizing conclusion.
הָיְתָֽהbecameQal perf 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (main clause, narrator's summary)→ Perfective: a completed act with standing present result — the narrator speaks from a later vantage pointהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; the narrator steps outside the story-time to confirm the grant's lasting validity.
חֶ֠בְרוֹןHebronproper noun · חֶבְרוֹן (H2275)Subject of הָיְתָהחֶבְרוֹן (H2275).
לְכָלֵ֨בto Calebprep לְ + proper noun · כָּלֵב (H3612)Predicate prepositional phrase (possessive, with הָיְתָה)כָּלֵב (H3612).
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to כָלֵב (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'.
יְפֻנֶּ֤הJephunnehproper noun · יְפֻנֶּה (H3312)Genitive (construct chain with בֶּן)יְפֻנֶּה (H3312).
הַקְּנִזִּי֙the Kenizziteart + gentilic N m sg abs · קְנִזִּי (H7074)Apposition to כָלֵב (clan designation)קְנִזִּי (H7074); repeated from v. 6, the narrator's final formal identification of Caleb by his outsider clan — the grant stands despite, or precisely honoring, his non-native lineage.
לְֽנַחֲלָ֔הas an inheritanceprep לְ + N f sg abs · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Predicate complement (with הָיְתָה)נַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance'; the chapter's key term, now confirmed as narratorial fact.
עַ֖דuntil/toprep · עַד (H5704)Adverbial prepositional phrase (temporal extent)עַד (H5704) 'until, as far as'; with הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה forms the standard 'to this day' notice marking the narrator's own present.
הַיּ֣וֹםthe dayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Object of preposition עַדיוֹם (H3117) 'day'.
הַזֶּ֑הthisart + demonstrative pron m sg · זֶה (H2088)Attributive demonstrative (modifies הַיּוֹם, idiom 'to this day')זֶה (H2088) 'this'; 'to this day,' the classic Deuteronomistic notice signaling the narrator's own later standpoint, distinct from the narrated events.
יַ֚עַןbecauseconj · יַעַן (H3282)Causal conjunction (grounds the grant's permanence)יַעַן (H3282) 'because, on account of'; a more formal/legal causal marker than כִּי, fitting the narrator's official confirmation of title.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר[because]relative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Completes the compound causal conjunction יַעַן אֲשֶׁראֲשֶׁר (H834); with יַעַן forms the compound causal 'because.'
מִלֵּ֔אhe wholly followedPiel perf 3ms · מִלֵּא (H4390)Predicate verb (causal clause)→ Perfective, Piel intensive: a completed, lifelong act of loyalty, now summarized by the narratorמָלֵא (H4390) 'to fill'; the idiom's third and final occurrence (vv. 8, 9, 14) — now spoken in the narrator's own voice as objective confirmation of what Caleb claimed of himself and Moses swore of him.
אַחֲרֵ֕יafterprep · אַחֲרֵי (H310)Prepositional phrase (completes the idiom)אַחֲרֵי (H310).
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of preposition אַחֲרֵייְהוָה (H3068).
אֱלֹהֵ֥יthe God ofN m pl constr · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָה (construct head)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; construct, 'the God of Israel' — unlike Caleb's own personal 'my God' (vv. 8, 9), the narrator uses the national title, universalizing Caleb's individual loyalty as paradigmatic for the whole nation.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive (construct chain with אֱלֹהֵי)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478).
15
וְשֵׁ֨ם חֶבְר֤וֹן לְפָנִים֙ קִרְיַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֔ע הָאָדָ֧ם הַגָּד֛וֹל בָּעֲנָקִ֖ים ה֑וּא וְהָאָ֥רֶץ שָׁקְטָ֖ה מִמִּלְחָמָֽה
Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba; he was the greatest man among the Anakim. And the land had rest from war.
A double closing gesture: an etymological gloss on Hebron's older Canaanite name (fittingly ironic — the 'greatest man among the Anakim' once ruled the very city now given to the giant-slayer's petitioner) and the formulaic 'the land had rest from war,' verbatim from 11:23, framing the whole Caleb episode as a fitting coda to the conquest proper before the detailed tribal boundary lists resume in ch. 15.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וְשֵׁ֨םand/now the name ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · שֵׁם (H8034)Subject (nominal clause, construct head)שֵׁם (H8034) 'name'; a closing etymological note, a common Deuteronomistic device for naming a site's earlier identity.
חֶבְר֤וֹןHebronproper noun · חֶבְרוֹן (H2275)Genitive (construct chain with שֵׁם)חֶבְרוֹן (H2275).
לְפָנִים֙formerlyprep לְ + N c pl abs · פָּנִים (H6440)Temporal adverbial phraseפָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; idiomatic לְפָנִים 'formerly, in former times' — the older name predates Israel's conquest, likely Canaanite in origin.
קִרְיַ֣תKiriath-proper noun · קִרְיַת (H7153)Predicate complement (with implied 'was')קִרְיַת (H7153) 'city of'; first element of the compound place-name Kiriath-arba, 'city of Arba' (or 'city of four').
אַרְבַּ֔ע-arbaproper noun (numeral form) · אַרְבַּע (H7153)Apposition to קִרְיַת (place-name compound)אַרְבַּע (H7153), second element of the compound name; possibly the personal name of the Anakite chief, or the numeral 'four,' variously explained in later tradition (cf. Josh 15:13; 21:11).
הָאָדָ֧םthe manart + N m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Subject (nominal clause, referring to Arba)אָדָם (H120) 'man, mankind'; here individualized, referring to Arba as a specific (Anakite) man of legendary stature.
הַגָּד֛וֹלthe greatart + adjective m sg abs · גָּדוֹל (H1419)Attributive adjective (modifies הָאָדָם)גָּדוֹל (H1419) 'great'; here of stature/renown — Arba as the preeminent figure among the giant-clan whose fortified cities terrified the ten spies (Num 13:28-33).
בָּעֲנָקִ֖יםamong the Anakimprep בְּ + art + gentilic N m pl abs · עֲנָק (H6062)Locative/partitive prepositional phrase (modifies הָאָדָם הַגָּדוֹל)עֲנָק (H6062) 'Anak, Anakim'; the giant-clan Caleb requested to dispossess (v. 12), now named again as the final measure of the victory's magnitude — the very greatest of them once ruled this city.
ה֑וּאheindependent pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Copula/resumptive pronoun (predicate marker)הוּא (H1931) 'he'; resumptive pronoun functioning as the copula 'was' in a Hebrew nominal (verbless) clause.
וְהָאָ֥רֶץand the landconj וְ + art + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Subject (main clause, closes the episode)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; here the whole land, not just Hebron, closing the Caleb episode with a national notice.
שָׁקְטָ֖הhad restQal perf 3fs · שָׁקַט (H8252)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed state, the settled outcome of the conquest to this pointשָׁקַט (H8252) 'to be quiet, at rest'; the identical formula closes Joshua 11:23 ('the land had rest from war'), forming a deliberate echo — the Caleb episode functions as a coda confirming that the broader conquest narrative's peace still holds even as the detailed tribal allotment (chs. 15ff.) begins.
מִמִּלְחָמָֽהfrom warprep מִן + N f sg abs · מִלְחָמָה (H4421)Adverbial prepositional phrase (source/cause)מִלְחָמָה (H4421) 'war, battle'; the same term used in Caleb's own request (v. 11) — the very conflict Caleb sought is now, in this respect, concluded.