Numbers 26 · Verse 54

Numbers 26:54

To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.
Numbers 26:54, King James Version

Numbers 26:54 in other translations

BSBIncrease the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered.
WEBTo the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. To everyone according to those who were counted of him shall his inheritance be given.
ASVTo the more thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to the fewer thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one according to those that were numbered of him shall his inheritance be given.
YLTto the many thou dost increase their inheritance, and to the few thou dost diminish their inheritance; to each according to his numbered ones is given his inheritance.
DARBYto the many thou shalt increase their inheritance, and to the few thou shalt diminish their inheritance; to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.
BBETo those families who are more in number, give a greater heritage; to those who are less in number, a smaller part: to every one let the heritage be given in relation to the number in his family.
WebsterTo many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given, according to those that were numbered of him.

What does Numbers 26:54 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
54. To many thou shalt give the more inheritance--that is, to the more numerous tribes a larger allotment shall be granted. according to those that were numbered--the number of persons twenty years old at the time of the census being made, without taking into account either the increase of those who might have attained that age, when the land should be actually distributed, or the diminution from that amount, occasioned during the war of invasion.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 26:52-56

In distributing these tribes, the general rule of equity is prescribed; that to many should be given more, and to fewer less. Though it seems left to the prudence of their prince, the matter at last must be settled by the providence of God, with which all must be satisfied.

Read the full comment on Numbers 26:52-56 →

Numbers 26:54 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לָרַ֗בla.Ravfor the manyH7227
תַּרְבֶּה֙tar.Behyou will make greatH7235
נַחֲלָת֔וֹna.cha.la.Toinheritance itsH5159
וְלַמְעַ֕טve.lam.'Atand for the fewH4592
תַּמְעִ֖יטtam.'Ityou will make smallH4591
נַחֲלָת֑וֹna.cha.la.Toinheritance itsH5159
אִ֚ישׁ'isheachH376
לְפִ֣יle.Fito [the] mouth ofH6310
פְקֻדָ֔יוfe.ku.Davenrolled [men] hisH6485
יֻתַּ֖ןyu.Tanit will be givenH5414
נַחֲלָתֽוֹ\׃na.cha.la.Toinheritance itsH5159

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 26:54

  • Numbers 33:54

    And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man’s inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.

  • Numbers 32:5

    Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.

  • Joshua 17:14

    And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto?

  • Numbers 32:3

    Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
many.
32:3,5; 33:54; Jos 17:14
give the more. Heb. multiply his. give the less. Heb.diminish his.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 26:53

    Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.

  • Numbers 26:54

    To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.

  • Numbers 26:55

    Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.

Read all of Numbers 26

Numbers 26:54 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		A los más darás mayor heredad, y á los menos menor; y á cada uno se le dará su heredad conforme á sus contados.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		À ceux qui sont nombreux, tu augmenteras l’héritage; et à ceux qui sont peu nombreux, tu diminueras l’héritage: tu donneras à chacun son héritage en proportion de ses dénombrés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Den Vielen sollst du ihr Erbteil mehren und den Wenigen ihr Erbteil mindern; einem jeden soll nach Verhältnis seiner Gemusterten sein Erbteil gegeben werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Pluribus majorem partem dabis, et paucioribus minorem: singulis, sicut nunc recensiti sunt, tradetur possessio: