And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.

JOSHUA 15:13KJV
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Joshua 15:13 (KJV)

What does Joshua 15:13 mean?

Joshua 15:13 says that Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, received a portion of land among the people of Judah, as God had commanded Joshua to do. This land included the city of Arba, also known as Hebron, which was named after Arba, the ancestor of the Anakim.

In this verse, the book of Joshua records how the land of Canaan was divided among the Israelite tribes after their conquest. Caleb is singled out because of a special promise God made to him for his faithfulness years earlier. The verse highlights that Caleb’s inheritance was given by direct command from the LORD (יהוה, Yahweh) to Joshua, showing that this was not just a human decision but a fulfillment of God’s word.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 15:13

  • יהוה (Yahweh): This is the personal name of the LORD, emphasizing that the command to give Caleb this land came directly from God, not just from Joshua’s own authority.
  • חלק (ḥeleq, “part” or “portion”): This word refers to the specific share of land Caleb received, underlining that his inheritance was a distinct and honored allotment.
  • חברון (Ḥevron, “Hebron”): The city’s name is highlighted, connecting Caleb’s inheritance to a place with deep historical and spiritual roots, as Hebron was associated with the patriarchs and the Anakim.

Why Joshua 15:13 matters

  • Joshua 15:13 clarifies that Caleb’s inheritance was not just a reward from people but a fulfillment of a divine promise, reinforcing the idea that God keeps His word.
  • The verse connects Caleb’s story to the larger narrative of faith and obedience, since Caleb was one of only two spies who trusted God’s promise about the land.
  • By naming Hebron and its association with Arba and the Anakim, the verse sets up the significance of Caleb’s courage in taking possession of a region known for its formidable inhabitants.

Where else these words appear

“Arba” Hebrew H704 · used in 2 verses

  • Joshua 21:11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.

“Anak” Hebrew H6061 · used in 8 verses

  • Numbers 13:22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were.(Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
  • Numbers 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
  • Joshua 15:14 And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

“Arba” Hebrew H7153 · used in 9 verses

  • Genesis 23:2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
  • Joshua 14:15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
  • Joshua 21:11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.

“Jephunneh” Hebrew H3312 · used in 16 verses

  • Numbers 13:6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
  • Numbers 32:12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.
  • Joshua 14:14 Hebron 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.