Numbers 26:33 (KJV)

What does Numbers 26:33 mean?

Numbers 26:33 states that Zelophehad, a descendant of Hepher, had no sons but only daughters, and it lists the names of his daughters as Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. This detail is part of a census record, noting a unique family situation among the Israelites.

This verse appears during a census Moses is conducting of the Israelite tribes as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The mention that Zelophehad had only daughters is important because it sets up a later discussion about inheritance laws, since land typically passed through sons. The listing of the daughters’ names highlights their significance in Israel’s history.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 26:33

• בַּת (bat, H1323): This word means "daughter." The verse repeats it to emphasize that Zelophehad had only daughters, not sons, which was unusual and legally significant in the context of inheritance.
• שֵׁם (shem, H8034): This word means "name." The verse specifically lists the names of the daughters, underscoring their importance and foreshadowing their later role in Israelite law.
• מַחְלָה (Mahlah, H4244), נֹעָה (Noah, H5270), חָגְלָה (Hoglah, H2295), מִלְכָּה (Milcah, H4435), תִּרְצָה (Tirzah, H8656): These are the daughters’ names, each given in Hebrew, showing that each woman is recognized individually in the record.

Why Numbers 26:33 matters

• Numbers 26:33 highlights a family situation that was unusual for its time, drawing attention to the absence of male heirs and setting the stage for a change in inheritance practices among the Israelites.
• The verse connects directly to later chapters (Numbers 27 and 36), where these daughters approach Moses to request their father’s inheritance, leading to a new law about daughters’ rights.
• By naming the daughters, Numbers 26:33 gives them a place of honor in Israel’s story, showing that their actions and situation were memorable and important enough to be recorded in detail.