Numbers 36:11 Meaning and Explanation
“For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father's brothers' sons:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The five daughters married their cousins from their father's side, keeping inheritance within the extended family and tribe.
The Context of Numbers 36:11
All five daughters married their father's brothers' sons, cousins within the tribe.
What Does Numbers 36:11 Mean?
By marrying their father's brothers' sons, the daughters made a choice that went beyond mere legal compliance—it preserved family unity and kept property within the extended kinship network. The naming of all five daughters honors each one and underscores that they made this choice individually; none rebelled or sought a husband outside the tribe.
This marriage pattern was not unusual in the ancient Near East for preserving family property and maintaining kinship bonds. The daughters' choice to marry cousins reflected both practical wisdom and family loyalty, ensuring their inherited land remained in close family hands and their children had clear claims to both sides of the family inheritance.
Numbers 36:11 in the Original Language
Hebrew שְׁנֵי־ ('sheni,' 'two') and כֹּל ('kol,' 'all') frame the phrase 'all five' and 'cousins,' emphasizing completeness and kinship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 36:11
What does Numbers 36:11 mean?
The five daughters married their cousins from their father's side, keeping inheritance within the extended family and tribe.
What is the context of Numbers 36:11?
All five daughters married their father's brothers' sons, cousins within the tribe.