Numbers 36:4
And when the jubile of the children of Israel shall be, then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.
Original Language Analysis
וְאִם
H518
וְאִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 18
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה
H1961
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הַיֹּבֵל֮
And when the jubile
H3104
הַיֹּבֵל֮
And when the jubile
Strong's:
H3104
Word #:
3 of 18
the blast of a horn (from its continuous sound); specifically, the signal of the silver trumpets; hence, the instrument itself and the festival thus i
לִבְנֵ֣י
of the children
H1121
לִבְנֵ֣י
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 18
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵל֒
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵל֒
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
5 of 18
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וְנֽוֹסְפָה֙
be put
H3254
וְנֽוֹסְפָה֙
be put
Strong's:
H3254
Word #:
6 of 18
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
נַֽחֲלָתָֽן׃
from the inheritance
H5159
נַֽחֲלָתָֽן׃
from the inheritance
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
7 of 18
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
עַ֚ל
H5921
עַ֚ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
נַֽחֲלָתָֽן׃
from the inheritance
H5159
נַֽחֲלָתָֽן׃
from the inheritance
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
9 of 18
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
מַטֵּ֣ה
of the tribe
H4294
מַטֵּ֣ה
of the tribe
Strong's:
H4294
Word #:
10 of 18
a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
תִּֽהְיֶ֖ינָה
H1961
תִּֽהְיֶ֖ינָה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
12 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
נַֽחֲלָתָֽן׃
from the inheritance
H5159
נַֽחֲלָתָֽן׃
from the inheritance
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
14 of 18
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
מַטֵּ֣ה
of the tribe
H4294
מַטֵּ֣ה
of the tribe
Strong's:
H4294
Word #:
15 of 18
a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),
אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ
of our fathers
H1
אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ
of our fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
16 of 18
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
Historical Context
The Jubilee year occurred after seven sabbatical cycles (7×7=49 years), beginning on the Day of Atonement. It was announced by ram's horn (shofar/yovel), hence the name. While Jubilee provisions are detailed in Leviticus 25, historical evidence for its consistent practice is limited, though the principles shaped Israel's economic theology.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Jubilee principle challenge modern economic systems that concentrate wealth without periodic redistribution?
- What does the interplay between different laws (inheritance, marriage, jubilee) teach about biblical interpretation?
- In what ways does Christ's proclamation of 'the year of the Lord's favor' (Luke 4:19) represent the ultimate Jubilee?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And when the jubile of the children of Israel shall be, then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received—The yovel (יוֹבֵל, 'jubilee,' every 50th year) normally restored sold land to original tribal owners (Leviticus 25:10-28). However, if heiresses married into other tribes, even jubilee couldn't restore land to the original tribe—the transfer would be permanent. This unique situation required legislative clarification beyond standard jubilee provisions.
Jubilee embodied God's economic justice: debt forgiveness, land restoration, liberty for indentured servants. Yet jubilee had limits—it couldn't override marital unity or inheritance law. God's laws work in harmony, each principle balanced against others.