Numbers 35:8
And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.
Original Language Analysis
מֵֽעָרָ֖יו
And the cities
H5892
מֵֽעָרָ֖יו
And the cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
1 of 20
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִתֵּ֥ן
shall give
H5414
יִתֵּ֥ן
shall give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
3 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
מֵֽאֲחֻזַּ֣ת
shall be of the possession
H272
מֵֽאֲחֻזַּ֣ת
shall be of the possession
Strong's:
H272
Word #:
4 of 20
something seized, i.e., a possession (especially of land)
בְּנֵֽי
of the children
H1121
בְּנֵֽי
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
5 of 20
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
6 of 20
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
מֵאֵ֤ת
H853
מֵאֵ֤ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָרַב֙
from them that have many
H7227
הָרַב֙
from them that have many
Strong's:
H7227
Word #:
8 of 20
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
וּמֵאֵ֥ת
H853
וּמֵאֵ֥ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַמְעַ֖ט
but from them that have few
H4592
הַמְעַ֖ט
but from them that have few
Strong's:
H4592
Word #:
11 of 20
a little or few (often adverbial or comparative)
תַּמְעִ֑יטוּ
ye shall give few
H4591
תַּמְעִ֑יטוּ
ye shall give few
Strong's:
H4591
Word #:
12 of 20
properly, to pare off, i.e., lessen; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective)
אִ֗ישׁ
every one
H376
אִ֗ישׁ
every one
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
13 of 20
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
כְּפִ֤י
according
H6310
כְּפִ֤י
according
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
14 of 20
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
נַֽחֲלָתוֹ֙
to his inheritance
H5159
נַֽחֲלָתוֹ֙
to his inheritance
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
15 of 20
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
16 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִנְחָ֔לוּ
which he inheriteth
H5157
יִנְחָ֔לוּ
which he inheriteth
Strong's:
H5157
Word #:
17 of 20
to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to bequeath, or (generally) distribute, instate
יִתֵּ֥ן
shall give
H5414
יִתֵּ֥ן
shall give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
18 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Cross References
Numbers 33:54And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.Numbers 26:54To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.Exodus 16:18And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
Historical Context
The tribal allotments varied significantly. Judah and Simeon in the south and Ephraim/Manasseh in the center received large territories and thus contributed more Levitical cities. Smaller tribes like Benjamin and Dan contributed fewer. Joshua 21:1-42 records the actual distribution, showing this proportional principle in action. The system remained functional until the exile (586 BC).
Questions for Reflection
- How does proportional giving (based on what you have, not absolute amounts) challenge both wealth and poverty as excuses for not supporting God's work?
- What would change in your church if everyone gave proportionally rather than fixed amounts?
- How can you discern what is truly 'proportional' sacrifice for you—not too little (stinginess) but also not beyond your actual capacity?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; from them that have few ye shall give few—This principle of proportional giving (מֵאֵ֤ת הָרַב֙ תַּרְבּ֔וּ וּמֵאֵ֥ת הַמְעַ֖ט תַּמְעִ֑יטוּ, mēʾēṯ hārāḇ tarbū ûmēʾēṯ hamʿaṭ tamʿîṭû) reflects both justice and equity. Larger tribes (like Judah, Ephraim) with more territory gave more cities; smaller tribes gave fewer. God didn't impose equal burden regardless of ability—He required proportional sacrifice.
This anticipates New Testament teaching on giving: 'according to what one has, not according to what one does not have' (2 Corinthians 8:12). The widow's mite was proportionally greater than the rich man's abundance (Mark 12:41-44). God sees percentages and heart attitude, not merely absolute amounts. This principle guards against both the pride of large gifts and the excuse of small resources.