Joshua 21:10
Joshua 21:10 in Multiple Translations
to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them:
Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.
and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.
These were for the children of Aaron among the families of the Kohathites, of the children of Levi: for they came first in the distribution.
to the families of the Kothaites, descendants of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi, since the first lot fell to them:
And they were the childrens of Aaron being of the families of the Kohathites, and of the sonnes of Leui, (for theirs was the first lot)
and they are for the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathite, of the sons of Levi, for theirs hath been the first lot;
and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.
Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.
To the sons of Aaron, of the families of Caath of the race of Levi (for the first lot came out for them)
First, they allotted cities to the members of the Kohath clans.
Berean Amplified Bible — Joshua 21:10
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Joshua 21:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַֽ/יְהִי֙
לִ/בְנֵ֣י
אַהֲרֹ֔ן
מִ/מִּשְׁפְּח֥וֹת
הַ/קְּהָתִ֖י
מִ/בְּנֵ֣י
לֵוִ֑י
כִּ֥י
לָ/הֶ֛ם
הָיָ֥ה
הַ/גּוֹרָ֖ל
רִיאשֹׁנָֽה
וַֽ/יְהִי֙
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
לִ/בְנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
son
Prep | N-mp
אַהֲרֹ֔ן
ʼAhărôwn
H175
Aaron
N-proper
מִ/מִּשְׁפְּח֥וֹת
mishpâchâh
H4940
family
Prep | N-fp
הַ/קְּהָתִ֖י
Qŏhâthîy
H6956
Kohathite
Art | Ngmsa
מִ/בְּנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
son
Prep | N-mp
לֵוִ֑י
Lêvîy
H3878
Levi
N-proper
כִּ֥י
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
לָ/הֶ֛ם
Prep | Suff
הָיָ֥ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
הַ/גּוֹרָ֖ל
gôwrâl
H1486
allotted
Art | N-ms
רִיאשֹׁנָֽה
riʼshôwn
H7223
first
Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Joshua 21:10
וַֽ/יְהִי֙
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לִ/בְנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
"son"
Prep | N-mp
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
אַהֲרֹ֔ן
ʼAhărôwn
H175
"Aaron"
N-proper
Aaron was the brother of Moses and the first high priest of the Israelites. He was a leader in the Exodus from Egypt and played a key role in the early history of the Israelites. His story is told in Exodus and Leviticus.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.4.14; son of: Amram (H6019) and Jochebed (H3115); brother of: Moses (H4872) and Miriam (H4813); married to Elisheba (H0472); father of: Nadab (H5070), Abihu (H0030), Eleazar (H0499) and Ithamar (H0385) Also named: Aarōn (Ἀαρών "Aaron" G0002) § Aaron = "light bringer" brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest
Usage: Occurs in 328 OT verses. KJV: Aaron. See also: Exodus 4:14; Exodus 34:31; Numbers 3:39.
מִ/מִּשְׁפְּח֥וֹת
mishpâchâh
H4940
"family"
Prep | N-fp
This word refers to a family or clan, and can also mean a tribe or nation, such as the people of Israel, emphasizing the importance of family ties.
Definition: 1) clan, family 1a) clan 1a1) family 1a2) tribe 1a3) people, nation 1b) guild 1c) species, kind 1d) aristocrats
Usage: Occurs in 224 OT verses. KJV: family, kind(-red). See also: Genesis 8:19; Numbers 26:41; Esther 9:28.
הַ/קְּהָתִ֖י
Qŏhâthîy
H6956
"Kohathite"
Art | Ngmsa
A Kohathite was a descendant of Kohath, a man from the tribe of Levi. The Kohathites were a family group in the tribe of Levi, named after Kohath, meaning assembly.
Definition: Someone descended from Kohath who was a man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.11; son of: Levi (H3878); brother of: Gershon (H1648), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115); father of: Amram (H6019), Izhar (H3324), Hebron (H2275B) and Uzziel (H5816) Group of qe.hat (קְהָת "Kohath" H6955) § Kohathites, of Kohath "assembly" the descendants of Kohath, the 2nd son of Levi
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: Kohathites. See also: Numbers 3:27; Joshua 21:4; 2 Chronicles 34:12.
מִ/בְּנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
"son"
Prep | N-mp
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
לֵוִ֑י
Lêvîy
H3878
"Levi"
N-proper
Levi was a son of Jacob and Leah, mentioned in Genesis 29:34. He was a brother of Reuben, Simeon, and Judah, and the father of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi's name is significant in the tribe of Levi.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.34; son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812); brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); father of: Gershon (H1648), Kohath (H6955), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115) § Levi = "joined to" the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites
Usage: Occurs in 61 OT verses. KJV: Levi. See also H3879 (לֵוִי), H3881 (לֵוִיִּי). See also: Genesis 29:34; Deuteronomy 27:12; Psalms 135:20.
כִּ֥י
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
לָ/הֶ֛ם
""
Prep | Suff
הָיָ֥ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
הַ/גּוֹרָ֖ל
gôwrâl
H1486
"allotted"
Art | N-ms
In the Bible, this word means a pebble or small stone used for making decisions by casting lots. It symbolizes a portion or destiny assigned by chance, like the drawing of lots to determine an outcome. This concept is central to ancient Israelite decision-making practices.
Definition: 1) lot 1a) lot-pebbles used for systematically making decisions 2) portion 2a) lot, portion (thing assigned by casting lots) 2b) recompense, retribution
Usage: Occurs in 67 OT verses. KJV: lot. See also: Leviticus 16:8; Judges 1:3; Psalms 16:5.
רִיאשֹׁנָֽה
riʼshôwn
H7223
"first"
Adj
This word means 'first' or 'primary', referring to something that comes before others in time, place, or rank. It is used to describe the first or most important thing in a series or list.
Definition: : first adj 1) first, primary, former 1a) former (of time) 1a1) ancestors 1a2) former things 1b) foremost (of location) 1c) first (in time) 1d) first, chief (in degree) adv 2) first, before, formerly, at first
Usage: Occurs in 174 OT verses. KJV: ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past. See also: Genesis 8:13; 1 Chronicles 27:3; Psalms 79:8.
Study Notes — Joshua 21:10
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites
8So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these cities, together with their pasturelands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
9From the tribes of Judah and Simeon, they designated these cities by name
10to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them:
11They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pasturelands, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.) 12But they had given the fields and villages around the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 21:4 | The first lot came out for the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. |
| 2 | Numbers 3:27 | From Kohath came the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites. |
| 3 | Exodus 6:20–26 | And Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years. The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the clans of the Korahites. Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans. It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their divisions.” |
| 4 | Numbers 3:2–4 | These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These were Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. And since they had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron. |
| 5 | Numbers 4:2 | “Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families, |
| 6 | Numbers 3:19 | The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. |
| 7 | Exodus 6:18 | The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years. |
Joshua 21:10 Summary
Joshua 21:10 tells us that the descendants of Aaron, who were part of the Kohathite clans of the Levites, received the first lot of cities because of their important role in serving God. This shows us that God cares about the needs of those who serve Him, just as we see in Deuteronomy 18:1-2. The Israelites were obedient to God's commands and made sure the Levites had what they needed, which is a great example for us to follow in our own lives, as seen in Joshua 1:7-8. By trusting in God's provision and caring for one another, we can reflect His love and heart for His people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the descendants of Aaron receive the first lot in Joshua 21:10?
The descendants of Aaron received the first lot because of their priestly lineage and the importance of their role in the community, as seen in Exodus 4:14 and Numbers 3:6-10, where God sets apart the Levites for His service.
What is the significance of the Kohathite clans of the Levites in this verse?
The Kohathite clans were a subset of the Levites, and their mention in Joshua 21:10 highlights the careful organization and division of the Levites, as outlined in Numbers 3:27-30, to ensure the proper distribution of responsibilities and resources.
How does this verse relate to the larger theme of God's provision for the Levites?
Joshua 21:10 demonstrates God's provision for the Levites, as promised in Deuteronomy 18:1-2, where God assures the Levites that He will provide for them, and in Numbers 35:1-8, where He designates cities for their habitation.
What can we learn from the way the Israelites allotted cities to the Levites in this chapter?
The way the Israelites allotted cities to the Levites, as seen in Joshua 21:1-45, teaches us about the importance of obedience to God's commands, as emphasized in Joshua 1:7-8, and the value of providing for those who serve God, as seen in 1 Timothy 5:17-18.
Reflection Questions
- How does God's provision for the Levites in Joshua 21:10 encourage me to trust in His provision for my own life?
- What role do I play in supporting and caring for those who serve God, just as the Israelites did for the Levites?
- How can I apply the principles of obedience and faithfulness seen in Joshua 21:10 to my own life and service to God?
- What does this verse reveal about God's heart for His people, and how can I reflect that heart in my own relationships and community?
Gill's Exposition on Joshua 21:10
Which the children of Aaron, [being] of the families of the Kohathites,.... Who descending from Kohath, in the line of Aaron, were priests: [who were] of the children of Levi, had; they were Levites,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joshua 21:10
Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Joshua 21:10
Of the families, i.e. of the family, the plural number for the singular, which is not unusual.