Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
27:3-4 Zelophehad had not been part of Korah’s rebellion (16:1-50); if he had been, his property rights would apparently have been voided (see 15:30; cp. 1 Kgs 21:7-16). Israelite society was patriarchal and patrilineal, tracing ancestry and property through the male line. Zelophehad had no sons, but his daughters wanted his family property rights to continue. Zelophehad’s daughters thus made a reasonable appeal for property rights equal to those of males.
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
27:3-4 Zelophehad had not been part of Korah’s rebellion (16:1-50); if he had been, his property rights would apparently have been voided (see 15:30; cp. 1 Kgs 21:7-16). Israelite society was patriarchal and patrilineal, tracing ancestry and property through the male line. Zelophehad had no sons, but his daughters wanted his family property rights to continue. Zelophehad’s daughters thus made a reasonable appeal for property rights equal to those of males.
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
Why should the name of our father be taken away from his family, because he has no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father.
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father.
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father.”
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
Why is the name of our father to be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give us a heritage among our father's brothers.