Numbers 27:8

KJV

And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.

KJV (with Strong's)

And thou shalt speak {H1696} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, saying {H559}, If a man {H376} die {H4191}, and have no son {H1121}, then ye shall cause his inheritance {H5159} to pass {H5674} unto his daughter {H1323}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Moreover, say to the people of Isra'el, 'If a man dies and does not have a son, you are to have his inheritance pass to his daughter.

Berean Standard Bible

Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter.

American Standard Version

And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 27:8 records a pivotal divine ruling that established a groundbreaking legal precedent for inheritance in ancient Israel. In response to the petition of Zelophehad's daughters, who faced the loss of their family's tribal land portion due to their father having no male heirs, God directly commanded that in the absence of sons, a man's inheritance was to pass to his daughters. This decree ensured the continuity of family lineage and the preservation of tribal land tenure, demonstrating God's profound commitment to justice and equity within His covenant community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the direct divine response to a specific legal challenge brought before Moses by the five daughters of Zelophehad (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah), as detailed in [Numbers 27:1-7](/numbers/27-1 "Numbers 27:1-7 - The Petition of Zelophehad's Daughters"). Their father had died in the wilderness, and with no sons, his family's portion of the tribal land allotment in the Promised Land was in jeopardy. Moses, unable to find a precedent in existing law, brought their case directly to the Lord. God's affirmative and detailed ruling in [Numbers 27:8-11](/numbers/27-8 "Numbers 27:8-11 - God's Law on Inheritance") not only resolves their immediate situation but also establishes a new, enduring legal principle for all of Israel regarding inheritance. This law is further elaborated and qualified in [Numbers 36](/numbers/36 "Numbers 36 - Marriage Laws for Inheriting Daughters"), where a subsequent stipulation is made concerning the marriage of inheriting daughters to ensure the land remains within its designated tribal lineage.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, inheritance typically followed the male line. Daughters were generally not considered primary heirs to land or significant property, as they would marry into other families, and their inheritance would often be in the form of a dowry or specific movable goods. The concept of a family's name and land portion being perpetually linked was central to Israelite society, especially concerning the tribal land allotments promised by God. This land, known as the _naḥălāh_, was not merely personal property but a perpetual family possession, intended to be passed down through generations to maintain tribal boundaries and identity, as emphasized in [Leviticus 25:23](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23 - The Land Belongs to God"). God's ruling in Numbers 27:8 was therefore remarkably progressive and unique for its time, directly challenging prevailing patriarchal norms to uphold a higher principle of divine justice and the preservation of the covenantal land inheritance.
* **Key Themes:** The central themes illuminated by [Numbers 27:8](/numbers/27-8 "Numbers 27:8 - God's Law on Inheritance for Daughters") include **Divine Justice and Equity**, as God demonstrates a profound concern for fairness, even in matters of property rights and family lineage, ensuring that families without male heirs are not dispossessed. This ruling highlights **Inheritance Rights for Daughters**, a groundbreaking legal innovation that secured the continuity of a family's name and its vital portion within the tribal land, which was foundational for Israel's socio-economic and tribal identity. Furthermore, it powerfully illustrates that **God's Law is Responsive**; while divine and immutable in its core principles, God's law is shown to be dynamic and capable of providing practical solutions to unforeseen challenges and specific needs of His people, always ensuring that justice prevails and the covenant promises are maintained.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Inheritance (Hebrew, _naḥălāh'_):** This term refers specifically to the tribal land allotment, which was not merely personal property but a perpetual family possession, an inalienable legacy tied to the covenant and Israel's identity in the Promised Land. The concept of _naḥălāh_ was central to Israel's identity and livelihood, representing God's faithfulness to His promises (see [Numbers 26:53-56](/numbers/26-53 "Numbers 26:53-56 - Allotment of Land by Lot")).
* **Daughter (Hebrew, _bat'_):** The direct and explicit mention of "daughter" as the recipient of the inheritance is revolutionary. In a society where patrilineal descent was the norm for land ownership, this word signifies a divine intervention that elevates the legal standing of women in specific circumstances, ensuring the continuation of the family line and its land portion through female heirs.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying":** This opening phrase underscores the divine authority behind the pronouncement. It is not merely a judicial decision for a specific case but a universal law to be proclaimed and observed by the entire nation of Israel, establishing a new legal precedent for all future generations.
* **"If a man die, and have no son":** This clause precisely defines the specific condition under which this new law applies. It addresses the critical issue of a male lineage ending, which, under traditional inheritance laws, would lead to the forfeiture of the family's land portion and the potential extinction of its name within the tribe.
* **"then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter":** This is the groundbreaking legal directive. The verb "cause to pass" (Hebrew, _he'evar_ from _'avar_) signifies a direct and mandated transfer of the _naḥălāh_ (inheritance) to the daughter(s). This command ensures that the family's land, and by extension its name and identity, remains within the tribal framework, even in the absence of male heirs, reflecting God's commitment to justice and the preservation of His covenant promises.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 27:8 exemplifies **Case Law**, where a specific legal challenge (Zelophehad's daughters' petition) leads to the establishment of a general, enduring legal principle. This method of law-giving highlights the practical and responsive nature of God's statutes, demonstrating how divine wisdom addresses real-life complexities. The verse also functions as a **Divine Fiat**, a direct and authoritative declaration from God ("thou shalt speak... saying... ye shall cause"). This underscores the divine origin and unchallengeable nature of the law, emphasizing that this is not a human innovation but a divine command. Furthermore, the very nature of the law itself, by addressing a potentially marginalized group (daughters without brothers) and securing their rights, demonstrates God's concern for **Equity** and **Inclusivity**, revealing a foundational principle of divine justice woven into the fabric of Israelite society.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 27:8 profoundly reveals God's character as a just and equitable sovereign who cares deeply for the vulnerable and ensures that His covenant promises are upheld. It demonstrates that divine law is not rigid or arbitrary but is responsive to human needs and designed to promote flourishing within the community. God's concern extends beyond mere legalism to the practical well-being and continuity of families, ensuring that no one is dispossessed or forgotten due to circumstances outside their control. This groundbreaking ruling sets a precedent for how justice should be pursued, even when it requires challenging established norms, affirming that God's righteousness demands fairness for all.

* [Numbers 36:6-9](/numbers/36-6 "Numbers 36:6-9 - Marriage Stipulations for Inheriting Daughters")
* [Deuteronomy 21:15-17](/deuteronomy/21-15 "Deuteronomy 21:15-17 - Inheritance Rights for Firstborn")
* [Job 42:15](/job/42-15 "Job 42:15 - Daughters Inheriting in Job")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 27:8 offers a timeless lesson in divine justice and compassion. It challenges us to consider how we, as individuals and communities, reflect God's character in our interactions and societal structures. The passage reminds us that true justice often requires looking beyond conventional norms or established practices to ensure that the marginalized, the overlooked, or those in vulnerable positions are not dispossessed of their rightful dignity or inheritance. For believers, this means actively advocating for fairness, protecting the rights of all, and seeking solutions that uphold equity and human flourishing, even when it requires courageous re-evaluation of current systems. It highlights that God’s laws are ultimately for our good, designed to foster a just and compassionate society that reflects His own heart.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this passage challenge our assumptions about "traditional" roles or rights in ancient societies, and what does it reveal about God's character?**
* **In what ways can we, as followers of Christ, advocate for justice and equity in our contemporary contexts, particularly for those who might be overlooked or marginalized by societal norms?**
* **How does the responsiveness of God's law to specific human needs, as seen in this verse, encourage us in our walk with Him and our understanding of His providence?**

### FAQ
**Was this law truly unique in the ancient world?**

Answer: Generally, yes. While some ancient Near Eastern legal codes (like those of Mesopotamia) had provisions for daughters to inherit in specific, limited circumstances (e.g., if adopted as a son, or if a will explicitly specified it), a direct, divinely mandated law granting daughters inheritance rights to tribal land in the *absence of sons* was highly progressive and unusual for its time. This law in Numbers 27:8 was not merely a custom but a divine decree, specifically designed to protect the family name and its perpetual land portion within the covenant community of Israel, a concept deeply tied to their identity and God's promises (see [Leviticus 25:23-24](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23-24 - The Land is Mine")).

**Why was land inheritance so important in Israel?**

Answer: Land, or the _naḥălāh_ (inheritance), was absolutely fundamental to Israel's identity, livelihood, and covenant relationship with God. It was God's direct gift, a tangible fulfillment of His promise to Abraham (e.g., [Genesis 12:7](/genesis/12-7 "Genesis 12:7 - God's Promise of Land to Abram")). Each tribe and family was allotted a specific portion of land, which served as their economic base, social security, and a physical link to their covenant identity. Losing one's tribal land meant losing economic security, social standing, and a direct connection to the covenant promises. The law aimed to keep land within its assigned tribal and family lines, ensuring the stability and continuity of the nation as God's people in His promised land (see also [Joshua 13](/joshua/13 "Joshua 13 - Division of the Land East of the Jordan")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 27:8, with its emphasis on securing an inheritance and ensuring justice, powerfully foreshadows the spiritual inheritance we receive in Christ. Just as God intervened to secure the earthly inheritance for Zelophehad's daughters, Christ, through His sacrificial death and resurrection, secured for us an eternal, imperishable inheritance that transcends earthly boundaries and human limitations. In Him, the barriers of gender, lineage, or social status are abolished, for "there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Male or Female in Christ")). We are no longer defined by our earthly family lines but are adopted as sons and daughters of God, becoming "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ" ([Romans 8:17](/romans/8-17 "Romans 8:17 - Heirs with Christ")). This divine act of inclusion ensures that all who believe are predestined "to obtain an inheritance" ([Ephesians 1:11](/ephesians/1-11 "Ephesians 1:11 - Predestined to an Inheritance")), a "heavenly inheritance" that is "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Imperishable Inheritance")). Christ, the ultimate mediator of a new covenant, guarantees this eternal inheritance, fulfilling God's promise to those who are called ([Hebrews 9:15](/hebrews/9-15 "Hebrews 9:15 - Christ, the Mediator of a New Covenant and Inheritance")), ultimately leading to the promise that "The one who is victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children" ([Revelation 21:7](/revelation/21-7 "Revelation 21:7 - Inheriting All Things")).

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.