Numbers 27:3

KJV

Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.

KJV (with Strong's)

Our father {H1} died {H4191} in the wilderness {H4057}, and he was not in {H8432} the company {H5712} of them that gathered themselves together {H3259} against the LORD {H3068} in the company {H5712} of Korah {H7141}; but died {H4191} in his own sin {H2399}, and had no sons {H1121}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Our father died in the desert. He wasn't part of the group who assembled themselves to rebel against ADONAI in Korach's group, but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons.

Berean Standard Bible

“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.

American Standard Version

Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not among the company of them that gathered themselves together against Jehovah in the company of Korah: but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 27:3 is a crucial declaration made by Zelophehad's daughters to Moses, clarifying the precise circumstances of their father's death. This statement distinguishes his demise from the severe judgment meted out to those who directly rebelled against the LORD, particularly Korah's company. This careful distinction forms the bedrock of their unprecedented petition to inherit their father's land, ensuring his name and legacy are preserved within Israel despite his lack of male heirs.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Numbers 27, immediately following the second census of Israel in [Numbers 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census of Israel"). This census was conducted to prepare for the imminent distribution of the Promised Land by tribal inheritance, a process generally predicated on land passing through male heirs. Zelophehad, a descendant of Manasseh, had died without sons, leaving five daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their bold and revolutionary petition, initiated in [Numbers 27:1-2](/numbers/27-1-2 "Numbers 27:1-2 - Zelophehad's Daughters Approach Moses"), directly challenges the established legal framework of inheritance. Their statement in verse 3 is a pivotal component of their legal argument, meticulously crafted to preempt any objection that their father's death might disqualify them from inheritance due to a capital offense or direct rebellion against God. The narrative flow demonstrates a unique instance where a legal precedent is established based on a direct appeal to divine justice, highlighting God's dynamic interaction with His people and His law.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Near Eastern societies, including Israel, were fundamentally patriarchal, with inheritance typically flowing from father to son to ensure the continuity of family lineage and economic stability. Land was not merely property but the primary source of wealth, identity, and tribal affiliation, deeply intertwined with covenantal promises. The profound fear of a family's name "perishing" or being "cut off" signified the loss of identity, legacy, and a share in the covenantal land. The wilderness generation, including Zelophehad, was under a divine judgment, prophesied in [Numbers 14:29](/numbers/14-29 "Numbers 14:29 - Judgment on the Wilderness Generation"), that all those twenty years and older who had disbelieved would die in the wilderness and not enter the Promised Land. This historical backdrop underscores the daughters' courageous challenge to established norms and their deep concern for their father's enduring legacy within the context of God's covenant promises for the land. Their plea represents a significant moment of legal and social innovation, reflecting a deep understanding of both human law and divine justice.
* **Key Themes:** The narrative surrounding [Numbers 27:3](/numbers/27-3 "Numbers 27:3 - The Daughters' Plea Regarding Their Father's Death") powerfully illuminates several key themes. First, **Justice and Equity** are paramount, as the daughters advocate for a fair application of inheritance law that considers their unique circumstances and prevents a profound injustice. Their plea highlights a gap in the existing legislation and appeals to a higher principle of divine justice. Second, the **Nuance of Sin and Judgment** is meticulously drawn. By clarifying that their father "died in his own sin" but "was not in the company of Korah," the daughters differentiate between the general consequence of the wilderness generation's disobedience and the specific, egregious rebellion of [Korah](/numbers/16 "Numbers 16 - Korah's Rebellion"), which carried a far more severe and exclusionary judgment. This distinction underscores the varying degrees of divine judgment and accountability. Third, **Divine Attentiveness and the Flexibility of Law** are profoundly evident. God's immediate and positive response to the daughters' petition, as seen in [Numbers 27:6-7](/numbers/27-6-7 "Numbers 27:6-7 - God's Affirmation of the Daughters' Request"), demonstrates His willingness to hear appeals, expand His law, and ensure that justice and compassion prevail, even within a seemingly rigid legal framework. This highlights God's character as a compassionate and responsive Lawgiver.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sin (Hebrew, _chêṭᵉʼ_):** The Hebrew word חֵטְא (*chêṭᵉʼ*) for "sin" is a comprehensive term encompassing various forms of transgression, ranging from unintentional errors to deliberate rebellion. In the context of "died in his own sin," it refers to Zelophehad's participation in the general disobedience and unbelief of the wilderness generation, which led to their collective judgment of dying before entering the Promised Land. It implies a consequence of the general covenant breaking rather than a specific, capital offense that would merit being "cut off" from Israel or having one's name erased from the tribal register in a punitive way. This contrasts sharply with the specific, direct challenge to God's authority seen in Korah's rebellion.
* **Company (Hebrew, _ʻêdâh_):** The Hebrew word עֵדָה (*ʻêdāh*) refers to an "assembly," "congregation," or "company." When used in the phrase "company of Korah," it specifically denotes the organized, rebellious faction that "gathered themselves together against the LORD" and His appointed leaders, Moses and Aaron. The daughters' careful use of this term emphasizes that their father was not part of this particular, egregious, and divinely condemned collective act of insurrection, which resulted in a unique and devastating judgment (the earth swallowing them whole). This distinction is vital for their argument, as association with Korah's rebellion would have likely disqualified Zelophehad's family from any inheritance.
* **Sons (Hebrew, _bên_):** The Hebrew word בֵּן (*bên*) translates as "son," but in a broader sense, it encompasses descendants and is crucial for understanding the patrilineal inheritance system. In the context of "and had no sons," it highlights the legal predicament that necessitated the daughters' petition. The absence of male heirs meant that Zelophehad's name and portion of the Promised Land would be lost to his family, a significant concern in a society where land tenure and lineage were inextricably linked to identity and covenantal blessing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Our father died in the wilderness":** This opening clause acknowledges the factual circumstance of Zelophehad's death. It places him squarely within the generation condemned to die outside the Promised Land as a consequence of their collective unbelief and rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea, as detailed in [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - The Spies' Report and Israel's Rebellion"). This statement is not an accusation but a simple, direct declaration of his fate, setting the stage for the crucial distinction that follows.
* **"and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah;":** This is the core of the daughters' defensive and exculpatory argument. They emphatically distance their father from the most severe and publicly condemned rebellion in Israel's wilderness history—that of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, recorded in [Numbers 16](/numbers/16 "Numbers 16 - Korah's Rebellion"). This rebellion was a direct challenge to God's divinely established authority in Moses and Aaron, resulting in a unique and terrifying judgment of being swallowed by the earth. By stating Zelophehad was not part of this "company," they assert that his death was not due to such a heinous, capital offense that would warrant the forfeiture of his family's land inheritance.
* **"but died in his own sin, and had no sons.":** This concluding clause clarifies the nature of Zelophehad's death and succinctly states the legal predicament. "Died in his own sin" means his death was a consequence of his personal participation in the general sin of the wilderness generation (unbelief, grumbling), not a specific, direct act of rebellion against God's leadership or a capital crime. It implies a natural death within the parameters of the broader judgment, not an exclusionary one that would sever his family's rights. The final phrase, "and had no sons," succinctly states the legal vacuum that necessitated their plea, as male heirs were the traditional recipients of inheritance, leaving their family's name and land portion vulnerable to extinction.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices to convey its powerful message and argument. **Distinction** is paramount, as the daughters meticulously differentiate between the general consequence of the wilderness generation's sin and the specific, egregious rebellion of Korah. This careful delineation serves to elevate their father's standing and justify their claim. **Negation** ("he was not in the company of them...") is used powerfully to emphasize this distinction, explicitly ruling out any association with the most severe form of rebellion. This rhetorical strategy aims to preempt objections and strengthen their case. Furthermore, there is an element of **Pleading** and **Petition**, as the verse is part of a direct address to authority, crafted to evoke a just and compassionate response. The concise yet comprehensive nature of their statement also demonstrates a sophisticated form of **Legal Argumentation**, presenting the facts of their father's death in a way that precisely supports their revolutionary request for inheritance and the preservation of their family's legacy.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 27:3, and the subsequent divine ruling, profoundly illustrates God's character as both just and compassionate, willing to expand His law to address specific situations and ensure equity. It highlights that while sin always carries consequences, there are distinctions in the severity and nature of judgment. Zelophehad's death, though a result of "his own sin" (participating in the general unbelief), did not carry the same exclusionary penalty as the direct rebellion against God's appointed authority. This narrative teaches us that God is attentive to the cries of the marginalized and is not bound by rigid human interpretations of law when they lead to injustice. It underscores the importance of a name and legacy within God's covenant people, and how God provides a way to preserve it even when traditional means are absent, demonstrating His commitment to the flourishing of every family within the covenant.

* [Deuteronomy 24:16](/deuteronomy/24-16 "Deuteronomy 24:16 - Individual Responsibility for Sin")
* [Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - Equality in Christ")
* [James 2:13](/james/2-13 "James 2:13 - Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The petition of Zelophehad's daughters, anchored by their careful statement in Numbers 27:3, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It challenges us to look beyond rigid interpretations of rules and customs, particularly when they lead to inequity or hardship for vulnerable groups. Their bold advocacy for justice, coupled with God's compassionate response, calls us to be agents of change in our own communities, speaking up for those whose voices might otherwise be unheard. It reminds us that our God is not an unyielding taskmaster but a loving Father who listens to the cries of His children and is willing to adapt or clarify His principles to ensure fairness and uphold the dignity of every individual. Furthermore, the distinction drawn between types of sin serves as a subtle reminder of the varying degrees of accountability and consequences, yet ultimately, all sin separates us from God, necessitating divine intervention. This narrative encourages a nuanced understanding of sin and judgment, fostering both humility and hope in God's redemptive plan and His unwavering commitment to justice and mercy for all.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might we, like the daughters of Zelophehad, need to challenge existing norms or interpretations to advocate for justice and equity in our contexts?**
* **How does God's response to the daughters' petition deepen your understanding of His character as both just and compassionate?**
* **What "gaps" in current societal or church practices might be causing hardship, and how can we, with wisdom and courage, bring them before God and His people?**
* **How does the distinction between Zelophehad's "own sin" and Korah's rebellion inform our understanding of personal responsibility and the varying consequences of sin?**

### FAQ
**What was the "sin" Zelophehad died in, if not Korah's rebellion?**

Answer: Zelophehad's "own sin" refers to his participation in the general sin of the wilderness generation, which included widespread unbelief, murmuring, and disobedience against the LORD. This collective sin led to God's judgment that all Israelites twenty years and older, except for Joshua and Caleb, would die in the wilderness and not enter the Promised Land (as detailed in [Numbers 14:29-35](/numbers/14-29-35 "Numbers 14:29-35 - The Wilderness Judgment")). His death was a consequence of this general judgment, not a specific, capital offense or a direct challenge to God's authority like Korah's rebellion. The daughters' point was that his death, while a consequence of sin, did not carry the additional penalty of being "cut off" from the community or forfeiting his family's inheritance rights, as was the case for those who actively rebelled with [Korah](/numbers/16 "Numbers 16 - Korah's Rebellion").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Zelophehad's daughters, and the divine ruling in [Numbers 27](/numbers/27 "Numbers 27 - The Daughters of Zelophehad"), finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. The daughters' plea for justice and the preservation of their father's name foreshadows the ultimate work of Christ, who secures a spiritual inheritance for those who would otherwise have none. Just as the daughters sought to prevent their father's name from perishing in Israel, Jesus Christ, through His atoning sacrifice, ensures that the names of believers are written in the [Lamb's Book of Life](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - The Book of Life"), granting them an eternal inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled ([1 Peter 1:3-4](/1_peter/1-3-4 "1 Peter 1:3-4 - A Living Hope and Inheritance")). Furthermore, the divine attentiveness to the daughters' unique situation reflects God's compassionate nature, which is fully revealed in Christ. Jesus, the ultimate advocate and mediator ([1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator, Jesus Christ")), addresses the deepest injustices of humanity—our sin and separation from God—by bearing the consequences of "our own sin" on the cross, thereby securing our adoption as sons and daughters and making us co-heirs with Him ([Romans 8:17](/romans/8-17 "Romans 8:17 - Heirs with Christ")). Through Christ, the barriers of gender, status, and even the consequences of sin are overcome, granting access to the full spiritual blessings and inheritance that God has prepared for His people ([Galatians 3:28-29](/galatians/3-28-29 "Galatians 3:28-29 - Heirs According to the Promise")). He is the true and perfect fulfillment of God's justice and mercy, ensuring that no one who trusts in Him will have their name perish or be denied their rightful place in God's eternal family.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 26:64

But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.

Numbers 26:65

For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Numbers 14:35

I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

Ezekiel 18:4

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Numbers 16:19

And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

Numbers 16:49

Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.