Caleb's Inheritance

Joshua 14

As the division of the land west of the Jordan begins under Eleazar and Joshua, Caleb the son of Jephone recalls his faithful report as a spy sent by Moses and asks for the hill country he was promised. Joshua blesses him and gives him Chebron as his inheritance because he had wholly followed the Lord.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW these are they of the children of Israel who got possessions in the land of Chanaan, to whom Eleazar the priest, and Joshua, son of Naue, and the chiefs of the patriarchal families of the tribes of Israel, gave possessions.

BrentonAnd these are they of the children of Israel that received their inheritance in the land of Chanaan, to whom Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Naue, and the heads of the families of the tribes of the children of Israel, gave inheritance.

GreekΚαὶ οὗτοι οἱ κατακληρονομήσαντες υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ἐν τῇ γῇ Χαναὰν, οἷς κατεκληρονόμησαν αὐτοῖς Ἐλεάζαρ ὁ ἱερεὺς, καὶ Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ναυῆ, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες πατριῶν φυλῶν τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.

JPSAnd these are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed unto them,

ThomsonThey gave possessions by lot, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Joshua, to nine tribes and the half of a tribe on this side the Jordan;

BrentonThey inherited according to their lots, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Joshua to the nine tribes and the half tribe, on the other side of Jordan.

GreekΚατὰ κλήρους ἐκληρονόμησαν, ὃν τρόπον ἐνετείλατο Κύριος ἐν χειρὶ Ἰησοῦ ταῖς ἐννέα φυλαῖς, καὶ τῷ ἡμίσει φυλῆς

KJVBy lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.

JPSby the lot of their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.—

Thomsonbut to the Levites he gave no lot among them.

BrentonBut to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.

Greekἀπὸ τοῦ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου. Καὶ τοῖς Λευίταις οὐκ ἔδωκε κλῆρον ἐν αὐτοῖς,

KJVFor Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.

JPSFor Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but unto the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.

ThomsonBecause the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasses and Ephraim; there was therefore no portion of land given to the Levites, but only cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for their cattle; for they had cattle.

BrentonFor the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasse and Ephraim; and there was none inheritance in the land given to the Levites, only cities to dwell in, and their suburbs separated for the cattle, and their cattle.

Greekὅτι ἦσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰωσὴφ δύο φυλαὶ Μανασσὴ καὶ Ἐφραΐμ· καὶ οὐκ ἐδόθη μερὶς ἐν τῇ γῇ τοῖς Λευίταις, ἀλλʼ ἤ πόλεις κατοικεῖν, καὶ τὰ ἀφωρισμένα αὐτῶν τοῖς κτήνεσι, καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτῶν.

KJVFor the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

JPSFor the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim; and they gave no portion unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with the open land about them for their cattle and for their substance.—

ThomsonAs the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, when they divided the land.

BrentonAs the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel; and they divided the land.

GreekὋν τρόπον ἐνετείλατο Κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ, οὕτως ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐμέρισαν τὴν γῆν.

KJVAs the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

JPSAs the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

ThomsonNow the children of Juda had come to Joshua at Galgal, and Chaleb the son of Jephonne, the Kenezite said to him, Thou knowest the word which the Lord said to Moses, the man of God, respecting me and thee at Kades-Barne; for I was forty years old, when Moses the servant of God sent me from Kades-Barne to spy the land, and I made him a report to his mind.

BrentonAnd the children of Juda came to Joshua in Galgal, and Chaleb the son of Jephone the Kenezite said to him, Thou knowest the word that the Lord spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Cades Barne.

GreekΚαὶ προσήλθοσαν οἱ υἱοῖ Ἰούδα πρὸς Ἰησοῦν ἐν Γαλγάλ· καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Χάλεβ ὁ τοῦ Ἰεφονὴ ὁ Κενεζαῖος, σὺ ἐπίστῃ τὸ ῥῆμα, ὃ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἄνθρωπον τοῦ Θεοῦ περὶ ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ ἐν Κάδης Βαρνῆ.

KJVThen the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

JPSThen the children of Judah drew nigh unto Joshua in Gilgal; and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said unto him: ‘Thou knowest the thing that the LORD spoke unto Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning thee in Kadesh-barnea.

Thomson—

BrentonFor I was forty years old when Moses the servant of God sent me out of Cades Barne to spy out the land; and I returned him an answer according to his mind.

GreekΤεσσαράκοντα γὰρ ἐτῶν ἤμην ὅτε ἀπέστειλέ με Μωυσῆς ὁ παῖς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκ Κάδης Βαρνῆ κατασκοπεῦσαι τὴν γῆν· καὶ ἀπεκρίθην αὐτῷ λόγον κατὰ τὸν νοῦν αὐτοῦ.

KJVForty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

JPSForty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him back word as it was in my heart.

ThomsonMy brethren who went up with me disturbed the heart of the people; but I determined to follow the Lord my God;

BrentonMy brethren that went up with me turned away the heart of the people, but I applied myself to follow the Lord my God.

GreekΟἱ ἀδελφοί μου οἱ ἀναβάντες μετʼ ἐμοῦ μετέστησαν τὴν καρδίαν τοῦ λαοῦ, ἐγὼ δὲ προσετέθην ἐπακολουθῆσαι Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ μου.

KJVNevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

JPSNevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

Thomsonso Moses solemnly promised that day, saying, The land to which thou hast gone up shall be thy lot, and thy children’s forever, for a possession, because thou hast determined to follow the Lord our God.

BrentonAnd Moses sware on that day, saying, The land on which thou art gone up, it shall be thy inheritance and thy children's for ever, because thou hast applied thyself to follow the Lord our God.

GreekΚαὶ ὤμοσε Μωυσῆς ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, λέγων, ἡ γῆ ἐφʼ ἣν ἐπέβης, σοὶ ἔσται ἐν κλήρῳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ὅτι προσετέθης ἐπακολουθῆσαι ὀπίσω Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν.

KJVAnd Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

JPSAnd Moses swore on that day, saying: Surely the land whereon thy foot hath trodden shall be an inheritance to thee and to thy children for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

ThomsonNow the Lord hath kept me alive as he said. This is the forty-fifth year since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, and Israel commenced their wanderings in the wilderness. And behold I am now eighty-five years of age;

BrentonAnd now the Lord has kept me alive as he said: this is the forty-fifth year since the Lord spoke that word to Moses; and Israel journeyed in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν διέθρεψέ με Κύριος ὃν τρόπον εἶπε· τοῦτο τεσσαρακοστὸν καὶ πέμπτον ἔτος, ἀφʼ οὗ ἐλάλησε Κύριος τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο πρὸς Μωυσῆν· καὶ ἐπορεύθη Ἰσραὴλ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ· καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ σήμερον ὀγδοήκοντα καὶ πέντε ἐτῶν·

KJVAnd now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

JPSAnd now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as He spoke, these forty and five years, from the time that the LORD spoke this word unto Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness; and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

Thomsonyet I am now as strong as when Moses sent me; as able now as then to go out and come into battle;

BrentonI am still strong this day, as when the Lord sent me: just so strong am I now to go out and to come in for war.

GreekἜτι εἰμὶ σήμερον ἰσχύων, ὡσεὶ ὅτε ἀπέστειλέ με Μωυσῆς, ὡσαύτως ἰσχύω νῦν ἐζελθεῖν καὶ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν πόλεμον.

KJVAs yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

JPSAs yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me; as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, and to go out and to come in.

Thomsonnow therefore I ask of thee that mountain, as the Lord said on that day; for thou didst hear the word on that day. The Enakims indeed are now there; the cities are fortified and large; if then the Lord be with me, I will exterminate them, as the Lord said to me.

BrentonAnd now I ask of thee this mountain, as the Lord said in that day; for thou heardest this word on that day; and now the Enakim are there, cities great and strong: if then the Lord should be with me, I will utterly destroy them, as the Lord said to me.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν αἰτοῦμαί σε τὸ ὄρος τοῦτο, καθὰ εἰπε Κύριος τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, ὅτι σὺ ἀκήκοας τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ· νῦν δὲ οἱ Ἐνακὶμ ἐκεῖ εἰσι, πόλεις ὀχυραὶ καὶ μεγάλαι· ἐὰν οὖν Κύριος μετʼ ἐμοῦ ᾖ, ἐξολοθρεύσω αὐτοὺς, ὃν τρόπον εἶπέ μοι Κύριος.

KJVNow therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

JPSNow therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spoke in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there, and cities great and fortified; it may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as the LORD spoke.’

ThomsonThereupon Joshua blessed him, and gave to Chaleb son of Jephonne, the Kenezite, Chebron for a possession.

BrentonAnd Joshua blessed him, and gave Chebron to Chaleb the son of Jephone the son of Kenez for an inheritance.

GreekΚαὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτὸν Ἰησοῦς, καὶ ἔδωκε Χεβρὼν τῷ Χάλεβ υἱῷ Ἰεφονῆ υἱῷ Κενὲζ ἐν κλήρῳ.

KJVAnd Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

JPSAnd Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.

ThomsonFor this cause Chebron had become the possession of Chaleb son of Jephonne, the Kenezite, at this day, because he followed the command of the Lord God of Israel.

BrentonTherefore Chebron became the inheritance of Chaleb the son of Jephone the Kenezite until this day, because he followed the commandment of the Lord God of Israel.

GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο ἐγενήθη ἡ Χεβρὼν τῷ Χάλεβ τῷ τοῦ Ἰεφονῆ τοῦ Κενεζαίου ἐν κλήρῳ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, διὰ τὸ αὐτὸν ἐπακολουθῆσαι τῷ προστάγματι Κυρίου Θεοῦ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVHebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

JPSTherefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, unto this day; because that he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.

ThomsonNow the name of Chebron, formerly, was city Argob. It was the metropolis of the Enakims.

BrentonAnd the name of Chebron before was the city Argob, it is the metropolis of the Enakim: and the land rested from war.

GreekΤὸ δὲ ὄνομα τῆς Χεβρὼν ἦν τὸ πρότερον πόλις Ἀργὸβ, μητρόπολις τῶν Ἐνακὶμ αὕτη· καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐκόπασε τοῦ πολέμου.

KJVAnd the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

JPSNow the name of Hebron beforetime was Kiriath-arba, which Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. And the land had rest from war.