And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants.

DEUTERONOMY 3:13KJV
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Deuteronomy 3:13 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 3:13 mean?

Deuteronomy 3:13 records Moses describing how he gave the remaining part of Gilead and all of Bashan, which had belonged to King Og, to the half tribe of Manasseh. This included the region of Argob, an area known as the land of giants.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites, recounting how the land east of the Jordan River was divided after their victory over King Og. The verse highlights the specific territory given to half of the tribe of Manasseh, emphasizing that this land was once ruled by a powerful king and was famous for its legendary inhabitants.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 3:13

  • גִּלְעָד (Gil‘ad, "Gilead"): This name refers to a fertile and hilly region east of the Jordan, known for its balm and pastures. Mentioning Gilead helps clarify the specific area given to Manasseh.
  • בָּשָׁן (Bashan, "Bashan"): Bashan was a rich, well-watered land, famous for its strong cities and large inhabitants. The word signals the significance and desirability of this territory.
  • עֲרֹגֹב (‘Argov, "Argob"): Argob was a district within Bashan, noted for its fortified towns. Including Argob shows the extent and strategic value of the land given.
  • רְפָאִים (Refa’im, "giants"): This word is often understood as referring to a race of large, legendary people who lived in the area. Calling it the "land of giants" underlines the reputation and former strength of the region.

Why Deuteronomy 3:13 matters

  • Deuteronomy 3:13 clarifies how the land conquered from King Og was distributed, showing the careful division among the tribes and the fulfillment of earlier promises.
  • By calling Bashan the "land of giants," the verse reminds readers of the challenges Israel faced and overcame, highlighting the significance of their victory.
  • The verse sets the stage for understanding the boundaries and tribal inheritances east of the Jordan, which is important for following the story of Israel’s settlement.

Where else these words appear

“Argob” Hebrew H709 · used in 5 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:4 And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
  • Deuteronomy 3:14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after his own name, Bashanhavothjair, unto this day.
  • 1 Kings 4:13 The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:

“Og” Hebrew H5747 · used in 22 verses

  • Numbers 21:33 And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.
  • Deuteronomy 3:11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.
  • Joshua 13:12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.

“giants” Hebrew H7497 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 14:5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
  • Joshua 15:8 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:
  • 2 Samuel 21:22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

“which” Hebrew H1931 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 2:11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
  • Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
  • 1 Samuel 1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.