Joshua 17:14 Meaning and Explanation
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The descendants of Joseph complain to Joshua that one allotment is too small for so numerous a people.
What Does Joshua 17:14 Mean?
The tribes of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh together, come to Joshua with a complaint. They protest that they have been given only one lot, though they are a great and numerous people whom the Lord has blessed. They ask why their portion is not larger.
There is irony in their words. They rightly confess that the Lord has blessed them, yet they use that very blessing as grounds for grievance rather than gratitude. The blessing that should have stirred thanksgiving instead fuels discontent. It is a familiar temptation: to measure what we have against what we want, and to forget that the same hand which gave already has given enough for the calling set before us.
Joshua 17:14 in the Original Language
lot (גּוֹרָל), 'portion by lot' -- the allotment assigned by casting lots, understood as the Lord's own assignment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 17:14
What does Joshua 17:14 mean?
The descendants of Joseph complain to Joshua that one allotment is too small for so numerous a people.