The Meaning of Numbers 32:22 Explained

Numbers 32:22

KJV: And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.

YLT: and the land hath been subdued before Jehovah -- then afterwards ye do turn back, and have been acquitted by Jehovah, and by Israel; and this land hath been to you for a possession before Jehovah.

Darby: and the land is subdued before Jehovah, and afterwards ye return, ye shall be guiltless toward Jehovah and toward Israel, and this land shall be your possession before Jehovah.

ASV: and the land is subdued before Jehovah; then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless towards Jehovah, and towards Israel; and this land shall be unto you for a possession before Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the land  be subdued  before  the LORD:  then afterward  ye shall return,  and be guiltless  before the LORD,  and before Israel;  and this land  shall be your possession  before  the LORD. 

What does Numbers 32:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 32:20-42 - Warning Against Forsaking Their Brethren
These two and a half tribes never entered the national life, as did those on the other side of Jordan. They were far from the center of religious life, first at Shiloh and then at Jerusalem. On them first the tide of invasion broke, sweeping them and their cattle into captivity.
In Deborah's great song Reuben is rebuked for sitting "among the sheepfolds to hear the pipings for the flocks," instead of coming to the help of the Lord against the mighty. The Brahmins say that the holy man dies to every other sin earlier and easier than to the love of money. Their cattle kept these tribes on the wrong side of the river of separation! Let us beware of the cares of this world, if we are poor, and of the deceitfulness of riches, if we are rich. Better lose all than the soul. See Matthew 16:26. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 32

1  The Reubenites and Gadites ask for inheritance on the east side of Jordan
6  Moses reproves them
16  They offer him conditions with which he is content
33  Moses assigns them the land
39  They conquer it

What do the individual words in Numbers 32:22 mean?

And is subdued the land before Yahweh then afterward you may return and be blameless before Yahweh And before Israel and shall be land this your possession Yahweh
וְנִכְבְּשָׁ֨ה הָאָ֜רֶץ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ וְאַחַ֣ר תָּשֻׁ֔בוּ וִהְיִיתֶ֧ם נְקִיִּ֛ים מֵיְהוָ֖ה וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְ֠הָיְתָה הָאָ֨רֶץ הַזֹּ֥את לָכֶ֛ם לַאֲחֻזָּ֖ה יְהוָֽה

וְנִכְבְּשָׁ֨ה  And  is  subdued 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: כָּבַשׁ  
Sense: to subject, subdue, force, keep under, bring into bondage.
הָאָ֜רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
לִפְנֵ֤י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְאַחַ֣ר  then  afterward 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
תָּשֻׁ֔בוּ  you  may  return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
וִהְיִיתֶ֧ם  and  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
נְקִיִּ֛ים  blameless 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: נָקִי 
Sense: clean, free from, exempt, clear, innocent.
מֵיְהוָ֖ה  before  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-m, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  And  before  Israel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וְ֠הָיְתָה  and  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הָאָ֨רֶץ  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הַזֹּ֥את  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
לָכֶ֛ם  your 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
לַאֲחֻזָּ֖ה  possession 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲחֻזָּה  
Sense: possession, property.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.