Joshua 21:42
Joshua 21:42 in Multiple Translations
Each of these cities had its own surrounding pasturelands; this was true for all the cities.
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus it was with all these cities.
Every one of these towns had grass-lands round it.
Each of these towns had pastures around them.
These cities lay euery one seuerallie with their suburbes round about them: so were all these cities.
These cities are each city and its suburbs round about it; so to all these cities.
Each of these cities included their pasture lands around them. It was this way with all these cities.
These cities were every one with their suburbs around them. Thus were all these cities.
And he gave them peace from all nations round about: and none of their enemies durst stand against them, but were brought under their dominion.
and each city had surrounding pastureland.
Berean Amplified Bible — Joshua 21:42
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Joshua 21:42 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תִּֽהְיֶ֨ינָה֙
הֶ/עָרִ֣ים
הָ/אֵ֔לֶּה
עִ֣יר
עִ֔יר
וּ/מִגְרָשֶׁ֖י/הָ
סְבִיבֹתֶ֑י/הָ
כֵּ֖ן
לְ/כָל
הֶ/עָרִ֥ים
הָ/אֵֽלֶּה
תִּֽהְיֶ֨ינָה֙
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Imperf-3fp
הֶ/עָרִ֣ים
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
Art | N-fp
הָ/אֵ֔לֶּה
ʼêl-leh
H428
these
Art | Pron
עִ֣יר
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
N-fs
עִ֔יר
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
N-fs
וּ/מִגְרָשֶׁ֖י/הָ
migrâsh
H4054
pasture
Conj | N-mp | Suff
סְבִיבֹתֶ֑י/הָ
çâbîyb
H5439
around
N-cp | Suff
כֵּ֖ן
kên
H3651
right
Part
לְ/כָל
kôl
H3605
all
Prep | N-ms
הֶ/עָרִ֥ים
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
Art | N-fp
הָ/אֵֽלֶּה
ʼêl-leh
H428
these
Art | Pron
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Joshua 21:42
תִּֽהְיֶ֨ינָה֙
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
הֶ/עָרִ֣ים
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
Art | N-fp
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
הָ/אֵ֔לֶּה
ʼêl-leh
H428
"these"
Art | Pron
This Hebrew word is used to point out specific people or things, like saying 'these' or 'those'. It appears in the book of Genesis, where God says 'let there be light' and separates the light from the darkness.
Definition: 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)
Usage: Occurs in 697 OT verses. KJV: an-(the) other; one sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those, thus, which, who(-m). See also: Genesis 2:4; Exodus 35:1; Deuteronomy 1:35.
עִ֣יר
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
N-fs
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
עִ֔יר
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
N-fs
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
וּ/מִגְרָשֶׁ֖י/הָ
migrâsh
H4054
"pasture"
Conj | N-mp | Suff
A pasture or open land, often the area around a building or the margin of the sea. This term describes a common or shared space in the Bible.
Definition: common, common land, open land, suburb
Usage: Occurs in 69 OT verses. KJV: cast out, suburb. See also: Leviticus 25:34; Joshua 21:37; Ezekiel 48:17.
סְבִיבֹתֶ֑י/הָ
çâbîyb
H5439
"around"
N-cp | Suff
This word describes something that surrounds or encompasses, like a circle or neighborhood, and can also mean around or about, as in on every side. It is used to describe physical locations and proximity. The KJV translates it as about or circuit.
Definition: : around/border subst 1) places round about, circuit, round about adv 2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about prep 3) in the circuit, from every side
Usage: Occurs in 282 OT verses. KJV: (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side. See also: Genesis 23:17; 1 Kings 7:24; Psalms 3:7.
כֵּ֖ן
kên
H3651
"right"
Part
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable
Usage: Occurs in 737 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, [phrase] there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:7; Exodus 37:19; Judges 7:17.
לְ/כָל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הֶ/עָרִ֥ים
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
Art | N-fp
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
הָ/אֵֽלֶּה
ʼêl-leh
H428
"these"
Art | Pron
This Hebrew word is used to point out specific people or things, like saying 'these' or 'those'. It appears in the book of Genesis, where God says 'let there be light' and separates the light from the darkness.
Definition: 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)
Usage: Occurs in 697 OT verses. KJV: an-(the) other; one sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those, thus, which, who(-m). See also: Genesis 2:4; Exodus 35:1; Deuteronomy 1:35.
Study Notes — Joshua 21:42
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites
40In all, twelve cities were allotted to the clans of Merari, the remaining Levite clans.
41For the Levites, then, there were forty-eight cities in all, together with their pasturelands, within the territory of the Israelites.
42Each of these cities had its own surrounding pasturelands; this was true for all the cities.
43Thus the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled in it. 44And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.Joshua 21:42 Summary
Joshua 21:42 tells us that each of the cities given to the Levites had its own surrounding pasturelands, which means they had land to raise animals and grow food. This shows us that God provides for His people and wants to give them what they need to thrive (as seen in Psalm 37:3-4). Just like the Levites had everything they needed, we can trust God to meet our needs and provide for us, even when we don't see how it will happen (like in Matthew 6:25-34). By trusting in God's provision, we can have peace and rest, just like the Israelites did when they settled in the land God had given them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the phrase 'surrounding pasturelands' mean in Joshua 21:42?
The phrase 'surrounding pasturelands' refers to the land around each city where animals could graze, as seen in other passages like Leviticus 25:34, which talks about the pasturelands of the Levites' cities being inalienable.
Why were the cities and pasturelands given to the Levites?
The cities and pasturelands were given to the Levites as part of God's provision for them, since they did not receive a large tract of land like the other tribes, as explained in Joshua 21:1-3 and Numbers 35:1-8.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of the book of Joshua?
This verse is part of the larger narrative of God fulfilling His promises to the Israelites, as seen in Joshua 21:43-44, where it says that God gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their fathers.
What can we learn from the organization and provision seen in Joshua 21:42?
We can learn about God's attention to detail and His desire to provide for His people, as seen in other passages like Matthew 6:33, which reminds us to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness, and He will provide for our needs.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God provides for me, just like He provided for the Levites in Joshua 21:42?
- How can I trust God to meet my needs, just like the Israelites trusted Him to give them the land He had promised?
- What are some 'pasturelands' in my life where God is providing for me, and how can I be more grateful for them?
- In what ways can I seek to follow God's plan and provision for my life, just like the Israelites followed His plan for the conquest of Canaan?
Gill's Exposition on Joshua 21:42
These cities were everyone with their suburbs round about them,.... Which reached to the space of two thousand cubits on every side; and such a space was assigned to everyone of the above cities for
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joshua 21:42
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Barnes' Notes on Joshua 21:42
After this verse, the Septuagint introduces a passage (in part a repetition from Joshua 19:49-50), recording the grant of a special inheritance to Joshua, and also that he buried at Timnath-serah the
Whedon's Commentary on Joshua 21:42
42. To this verse the LXX add the following, partly taken from Joshua 19:49-50, and partly legendary: “And Joshua finished dividing the land in their borders, and the children of Israel gave a