Joshua 21:31 — Word Study
WLCאֶת־ חֶלְקָת֙ וְאֶת־ מִגְרָשֶׁ֔הָ וְאֶת־ רְחֹ֖ב וְאֶת־ מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ עָרִ֖ים אַרְבַּֽע׃ ס
BSAHelkathChelqath [a place of smooth terrain] and RehobRᵉchôb [a city of spaciousness] fourʼarbaʻ citiesʻîyr together withʼêth their pasturelandsmigrâsh [open areas for grazing, suburbs]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| חֶלְקָת֙ | Helkath | Noun proper |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| מִגְרָשֶׁ֔הָ | pasture lands its | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| רְחֹ֖ב | Rehob | Noun proper |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ | pasture lands its | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| עָרִ֖ים | cities | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| אַרְבַּֽע׃ ס | four | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Helkath, and Rehob—four cities, together with their pasturelands. |
| KJV | Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities. |
| ASV | Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities. |
| YLT | Helkath and its suburbs, and Rehob and its suburbs — four cities. |
| WEB | Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands: four cities. |
| BBE | Helkath and Rehob with their grass-lands, four towns. |
Where they part company is מִגְרָשֶׁ֔הָ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause listing the cities, with a subsequent phrase that adds detail about the pasturelands.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Joshua 21:31
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Cities Allocated to the Levitesgenerated
Joshua 21:31 details the cities given to the Levites from the tribe of Asher, highlighting Helkath and Rehob as significant locations. This allocation was part of a larger distribution of cities among the tribes of Israel, emphasizing the importance of these cities for the Levites' sustenance and service.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judges 1:31 | Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob. |
| 2 | Judges 18:21 | Putting their small children, their livestock, and their possessions in front of them, they turned and departed. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 6:75 | Hukok, and Rehob, together with their pasturelands. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חֶלְקָת, chel.Katgenerated
The word חֶלְקָת (chelqath) is a proper noun referring to a specific location in the territory of Asher. It means 'smooth' and indicates a place characterized by its terrain. The parsing as a noun proper shows that it is a name of a city, indicating its significance in the biblical context.
Helkath is associated with the Gershonite Levites, highlighting its role in the distribution of land among the tribes. The name's etymology connects it to the notion of smoothness, which may reflect the geographical features of the area.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is structured around the finite verb וְאֶת־, and, which connects the cities and their pasturelands. The sentence lists the cities in a straightforward manner, emphasizing the allocation of Helkath and Rehob.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the cities, with the noun phrases clearly delineating each city and its corresponding pasturelands, indicating the importance of these locations.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חֶלְקָת as Helkath, preserving the name and its significance. This shows a direct correspondence in the understanding of the location.
The term מִגְרָשׁ is rendered as pasture, indicating a shared understanding of the land's use and importance for the Levites.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 21:31 lists Helkath and Rehob as cities given to the tribe of Asher, along with their pasturelands. This allocation was part of a larger distribution of cities among the tribes of Israel, ensuring that the Levites had places to live and serve.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Helkath and Rehob were cities allocated to the Levites, providing them with places to live and serve within the tribe of Asher.
Pasturelands are mentioned to indicate the areas where the Levites could graze their flocks, essential for their sustenance.
In total, thirteen cities were allocated to the Gershonite clans, as noted in the surrounding verses.
The name Helkath means 'smooth,' reflecting the geographical characteristics of the area.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the allocation of cities to the Levites about God's provision for His people?
- How does understanding the significance of Helkath and Rehob enhance our reading of this passage?
- In what ways can we apply the concept of designated spaces for service in our own lives?
- How do the pasturelands contribute to our understanding of community and sustenance in biblical times?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 21:31 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHelkath with her suburbs,.... [See comments on Joshua 19:25]; the same with Hukok in 1 Chronicles 6:75; and Rehob with her suburbs, four cities; [See comments on Joshua 19:28].
Read John Gill on Joshua 21 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 21 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges31. Helkath] ch. Joshua 19:25; comp. 1 Chronicles 6:75; Rehob, Joshua 19:28.
Read Cambridge on Joshua 21 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible28-39. Dabareh — Joshua 19:12. En-gannim — Joshua 19:21.Kedesh — Joshua 12:22. Jokneam — Joshua 12:22. Ramoth — Joshua 13:26. Heshbon — Joshua 13:17; Joshua 13:26. Jazer — Joshua 13:25.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 21 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Helkath, and Rehob—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands: four cities.
Helkath, and Rehob—four cities, together with their pasturelands.
Helkath, and Rehob, along with the grazing areas of each – a total of four cities;
Tyndale line
Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities.
Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities.
Helkah with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbes: foure cities.
Strictly literal
Helkath and its suburbs, and Rehob and its suburbs: four cities;
Helkath and its suburbs, and Rehob and its suburbs — four cities.
Helkath and its outskirts, and Rehob and its outskirts—four cities.
Chelkath with its open spaces, and Rechob with its open spaces: four cities.
Helkath with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands—four cities in all.
From the Latin
And Helcath, and Rohob, with their suburbs, four cities.
Simplified
Helkath, and Rehob.
Helkath and Rehob with their grass-lands, four towns.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text lists the cities Helkath and Rehob, specifying that they are four cities along with their pasturelands. The Septuagint, while it matches 8 of the 10 words from the Masoretic Text, presents the information in a different order and structure, indicating a variation in translation rather than a direct textual disagreement. There are no significant differences in the core details provided by the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint regarding the names of the cities and their number.
אֶת־ חֶלְקָת֙ וְאֶת־ מִגְרָשֶׁ֔הָ וְאֶת־ רְחֹ֖ב וְאֶת־ מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ עָרִ֖ים אַרְבַּֽע׃ ס
8 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Joshua 21:31
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Conj | DirObjM — ParticleHTo
חֶלְקָת (chelqath) refers to a location in Palestine, specifically a city in the territory of Asher. The name means 'smooth' and is associated with the boundaries of the tribe of Asher and the Gershonite Levites. It is derived from the root meaning 'smoothness' and is linked to the related term חוּקֹק (chu.qoq), which also refers to a place.
חֶלְקָת֙ n.pr.loc. (portion, possession) city in Asher
base
H2520 חֶלְקָת֙, חֶלְקַת
2520 Chelqath khel-kath'
a form of 2513; smoothness; Chelkath, a place in
Palestine:--Helkath.
see HEBREW for 02513
חֶלְקָת֙ (chel.qat) — Helkath.
Helkath = "smooth"
the town named as the starting point for the boundary of the tribe of Asher and allotted with its suburbs to the Gershonite Levites
Also named: chu.qoq (חוּקֹק "Hukok" H2712B)
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
Helkath
Smoothness, a town of Asher, on the east border (Josh. 19:25; 21:31); called also Hukok (1 Chr. 6:75).
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
מִגְרָשׁ (migrash) refers to common or open land, often associated with areas where flocks are driven for pasture. It can denote a suburb or the space around a building, and is noted in Ezekiel 27:28. The term is derived from a root meaning to drive out.
מִגְרָשׁ n.m. common, common-land, open land
base
H4054 מִגְרָשׁ
4054 migrash mig-rawsh'
also (in plural) feminine (Ezek. 27:28) migrashah
{mig-raw-shaw'}; from 1644; a suburb (i.e. open country
whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area
around a building, or the margin of the sea:--cast out,
suburb.
see HEBREW for 01644
מִגְרָשׁ (mig.rash) — pasture.
common, common land, open land, suburb
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3fs
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
רְחוֹב (Rechob) means "broad place" and refers to a location in Syria and a town in Asher. It is associated with several figures, including a man from Zobah, the father of Hadadezer, and a Levite who sealed a covenant with Nehemiah. The term also marks the northern limit of the spies' exploration in Canaan.
רְחוֹב, רְחֹב n.pr.
loc.:
towards Hamath
in Asher
m.:
Aram. name
post-exilic Levite
base
H7340 רְחוֹב, רְחֹב
7340 Rchob rekh-obe'
or Rchowb {rekh-obe'}; the same as 7339; Rechob, the name of
a place in Syria, also of a Syrian and an Israelite:--Rehob.
see HEBREW for 07339
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — Rehob.
§ Rehob = "broad place"
the northern limit of the exploration of the spies in Canaan; on the road to Hamath
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — Rehob.
§ Rehob = "broad place"
a town in Asher
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — Rehob.
A man of Zobah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.8.3;
father of: Hadadezer (H1909)
§ Rehob = "broad place"
1) father of Hadadezer the king of Zobah who was killed by David
2) a Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
3) the northern limit of the exploration of the spies in Canaan; on the road to Hamath
4) a town in Asher
5) a second town by the same name also in Asher
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — Rehob.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.10.11
§ Rehob = "broad place"
1) father of Hadadezer the king of Zobah who was killed by David
2) a Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
re'-hob (rechobh; Rhoob, Rhaab):
(1) Etymologically the word means "broad" and might be applied either to a road or a plain. Rehob is given (Nu 13:21) as the northern limit of Israel as reached by the spies. This agrees with the position assigned to Beth-rehob in the narrative of the settlement of the Danites (Jud 18:28). It is mentioned again along with the kingdom of Zobah in connection with the wars of Saul (1Sa 14:47 Septuagint Lag.), and as having been associated with, Zobah and Maacah against David in the Ammonite war and as having been defeated by him (2Sa 10:6). Robinson sought to identify it with Hunin, but it hardly suits the references. Buhl (GAP, 240) following…
Rehob
Street; broad place. (1.) The father of Hadadezer, king of Tobah (2 Sam. 8:3, 12).
(2.) Neh. 10:11.
(3.) The same, probably, as Beth-rehob (2 Sam. 10:6, 8; Judg. 18:28), a place in the north of Palestine (Num. 13:21). It is now supposed to be represented by the castle of Hunin, south-west of Dan, on the road from Hamath into Coele-Syria.
(4.) A town of Asher (Josh. 19:28), to the east of Zidon.
(5.) Another town of Asher (Josh. 19:30), kept possession of by the Canaanites (
The father of Hadadezer king of Zobah, whom David smote at the Euphrates. (2 Samuel 8:3,12) (B.C. before 1043.) A Levite or family of Levites who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:11) (B.C. 410.) The northern limit of the exploration of the spies. (Numbers 13:21) Robinson fixes the position of Rehob as not far from Tell el-Kady and Banias . One of the towns allotted to Asher. (Joshua 19:28) Asher contained another Rehob, (Joshua 19:30) but the situation of these towns is unknown.
1. A Levitical city in Asher, Jos 19:28; 21:31, on the northern border of the Holy Land, called also Beth-rehob, and lying in a valley south of Anti-Lebanon, not far north of Dan, Nu 13:21; Jud 18:28. It was long governed by its own kings, Jud 1:31, but in the time of David was rendered tributary, 2Sa 10:6,8,19. Some think there were two cities of this name in Asher.
2. The father of Hadadezer king of Zobah in Syria, 2Sa 8:3.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
מִגְרָשׁ (migrash) refers to common or open land, often associated with areas where flocks are driven for pasture. It can denote a suburb or the space around a building, and is noted in Ezekiel 27:28. The term is derived from a root meaning to drive out.
מִגְרָשׁ n.m. common, common-land, open land
base
H4054 מִגְרָשׁ
4054 migrash mig-rawsh'
also (in plural) feminine (Ezek. 27:28) migrashah
{mig-raw-shaw'}; from 1644; a suburb (i.e. open country
whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area
around a building, or the margin of the sea:--cast out,
suburb.
see HEBREW for 01644
מִגְרָשׁ (mig.rash) — pasture.
common, common land, open land, suburb
HNcmpc/Sp3fs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3fs
The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.
עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage
base
עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town
city, town, abode of men
of fortress in a city
appar. fortified place, of any size
base
H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men
. of fortress in a city
. appar. fortified place, of any size
5892 `iyr eer
or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)
{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a
watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or
post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
see HEBREW for 05782
עִיר (ir) — excitement.
1) excitement, anguish
1a) of terror
עִיר (ir) — city.
1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town
עִיר (ir) — City (of On).
Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)
This name means city, town
Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)
עִיר (ir) — Ir-.
#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;
son of: Tehinnah (H8468)
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
The earliest notice in Scripture of city-building is of Enoch by Cain, in the land of his exile. (Genesis 4:17) After the confusion of tongues the descendants of Nimrod founded Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar, and Asshur, a branch from the same stock, built Nineveh, Rehoboth-by-the-river, Calah and Resen, the last being "a great city." The earliest description of a city, properly so called, is that of Sodom, (Genesis 19:1-22) Even before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt, (Genesis 12:14,15; Numbers 13:22) and the Israelites, during their sojourn there, were employed in building or fortifying the "treasure cities" of Pithom and Raamses.…
אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.
אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
base
H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
702 'arba` ar-bah'
masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.
see HEBREW for 07251
אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.
four
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;