The Meaning of Joshua 13:7 Explained

Joshua 13:7

KJV: Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

YLT: And now, apportion this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh,' --

Darby: And now divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes, and to half the tribe of Manasseh;

ASV: Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now therefore divide  this land  for an inheritance  unto the nine  tribes,  and the half  tribe  of Manasseh, 

What does Joshua 13:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The land referred to here included all that God had promised west of the Jordan River.

Context Summary

Joshua 13:1-7 - Much Land Yet To Be Possessed
We do not know how long the war lasted. Probably about seven years, Joshua 14:10 (forty-five less thirty-eight). It was only in David's reign that the Canaanites were finally subdued. Note that Joshua took the land and then gave it to Israel. So Christ received the fullness of the Spirit and all spiritual blessings as the Trustee of those who believe; but we must claim and appropriate our heritage. So at last there will be rest, Joshua 11:23.
With Joshua 13:1 begins the second division of this book. A Doomsday Book! How significant is the sentence, "Much land to be possessed." This is true of tracts of the Bible, seldom read by ordinary Christians; of regions of experience, such as those alluded to in Colossians 3:1-4; and of countries in the world which have never been trodden by the feet of the missionary!
Read also Joshua 13:13. What pathos it contains! Either they did not believe in God's assurances, or were too indolent to claim them! [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 13

1  The bounds of the land not yet conquered
8  The inheritance of the two tribes and a half
14  The Lord and his sacrifices are the inheritance of Levi
15  The bounds of the inheritance of Reuben
22  Balaam slain
24  The bounds of the inheritance of God
29  and of the half tribe of Manasseh

What do the individual words in Joshua 13:7 mean?

Now therefore divide - land this as an inheritance to nine the tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh
וְעַתָּ֗ה חַלֵּ֞ק אֶת־ הָאָ֧רֶץ הַזֹּ֛את בְּנַחֲלָ֖ה לְתִשְׁעַ֣ת הַשְּׁבָטִ֑ים וַחֲצִ֖י הַשֵּׁ֥בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּֽׁה

וְעַתָּ֗ה  Now  therefore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
חַלֵּ֞ק  divide 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: חָלַק 
Sense: to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאָ֧רֶץ  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הַזֹּ֛את  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
בְּנַחֲלָ֖ה  as  an  inheritance 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
לְתִשְׁעַ֣ת  to  nine 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, masculine singular construct
Root: תֵּשַׁע  
Sense: nine, nonad.
הַשְּׁבָטִ֑ים  the  tribes 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
וַחֲצִ֖י  and  half 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֲצִי 
Sense: half.
הַשֵּׁ֥בֶט  the  tribe 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
הַֽמְנַשֶּֽׁה  of  Manasseh 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְנַשֶּׁה  
Sense: the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh.