Numbers 33:53
New International Version
Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

New Living Translation
Take possession of the land and settle in it, because I have given it to you to occupy.

English Standard Version
And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.

Berean Standard Bible
You are to take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

King James Bible
And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.

New King James Version
you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

New American Standard Bible
and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.

NASB 1995
and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.

NASB 1977
and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.

Legacy Standard Bible
and you shall take possession of the land and inhabit it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.

Amplified Bible
and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess.

Christian Standard Bible
You are to take possession of the land and settle in it because I have given you the land to possess.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You are to take possession of the land and settle in it because I have given you the land to possess.

American Standard Version
and ye shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein; for unto you have I given the land to possess it.

Contemporary English Version
Then settle in the land--I have given it to you as your own.

English Revised Version
and ye shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein: for unto you have I given the land to possess it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Take possession of the land and live there, because I will give it to you for your own.

Good News Translation
Occupy the land and settle in it, because I am giving it to you.

International Standard Version
take possession of the land, and live in it, because I've given you the land to inherit.

Majority Standard Bible
You are to take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

NET Bible
You must dispossess the inhabitants of the land and live in it, for I have given you the land to possess it.

New Heart English Bible
You shall take possession of the land, and dwell in it; for I have given the land to you to possess it.

Webster's Bible Translation
And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell in it; for I have given you the land to possess it.

World English Bible
You shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein; for I have given the land to you to possess it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have possessed the land and dwelt in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.

Young's Literal Translation
and ye have possessed the land, and dwelt in it, for to you I have given the land -- to possess it.

Smith's Literal Translation
And dispossess ye the land and dwell in it, for to you, I gave the land to possess it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Cleansing the land, and dwelling in it. For I have given it you for a possession.

Catholic Public Domain Version
cleansing the land and living in it. For I have given it you as a possession,

New American Bible
You will take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

New Revised Standard Version
You shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall possess the land and dwell therein; for I have given you the land to possess it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall inherit the land and you shall dwell in it because I have given the land to you to inherit it.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And ye shall drive out the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein; for unto you have I given the land to possess it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And ye shall destroy all the inhabitants of the land, and ye shall dwell in it, for I have given their land to you for an inheritance.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Instructions for Occupying Canaan
52you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53You are to take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your fathers.…

Cross References
Joshua 1:3-6
I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses. / Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—and west as far as the Great Sea. / No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ...

Deuteronomy 1:8
See, I have placed the land before you. Enter and possess the land that the LORD swore He would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants after them.”

Genesis 12:7
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Exodus 6:8
And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’”

Deuteronomy 11:31
For you are about to cross the Jordan to enter and possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you. When you take possession of it and settle in it,

Joshua 21:43-45
Thus the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled in it. / And 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. / Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.

Leviticus 20:24
But I have told you that you will inherit their land, since I will give it to you as an inheritance—a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the peoples.

Deuteronomy 7:1-2
When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— / and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.

Deuteronomy 9:1-3
Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens. / The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?” / But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8
Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

Acts 7:5
He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.

Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Genesis 15:18-21
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates— / the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, / Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, ...

Nehemiah 9:8
You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites and Hittites, of the Amorites and Perizzites, of the Jebusites and Girgashites—to give it to his descendants. You have kept Your promise, because You are righteous.

Psalm 105:44
He gave them the lands of the nations, that they might inherit the fruit of others’ labor,


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.

Deuteronomy 32:8
When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

Psalm 24:1,2
A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein…

Psalm 115:16
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

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Numbers 33
1. The forty-two journeys of the Israelites
50. The Canaanites are to be destroyed














Take possession
The phrase "take possession" in Numbers 33:53 is derived from the Hebrew word "yarash," which means to inherit, occupy, or seize. This command from God to the Israelites is not merely about occupying land but signifies a divine inheritance. The land of Canaan was promised to Abraham and his descendants as part of God's covenant (Genesis 15:18-21). This act of taking possession is both a fulfillment of God's promise and a call to obedience. It underscores the idea that the land is a gift from God, and the Israelites are stewards of His promise.

of the land
The "land" refers specifically to Canaan, a region that holds significant historical and theological importance. Canaan is the land flowing with milk and honey, a symbol of abundance and divine blessing (Exodus 3:8). Archaeological evidence supports the existence of Canaanite cities and cultures during the time of the Israelite conquest, providing a historical backdrop to the biblical narrative. Theologically, the land represents God's faithfulness and the physical manifestation of His covenant with Israel.

and settle in it
The phrase "and settle in it" implies a sense of permanence and establishment. The Hebrew word "yashab" means to dwell or reside. This command goes beyond mere occupation; it involves building a life, establishing communities, and living according to God's laws. Settling in the land is an act of faith and trust in God's provision and protection. It also signifies a transition from a nomadic lifestyle to one of stability and rootedness, reflecting God's desire for His people to flourish in the land He has given them.

for I have given you the land
This phrase emphasizes God's sovereignty and generosity. The land is a divine gift, not something earned by the Israelites' own efforts. The use of "I have given" highlights God's active role in the fulfillment of His promises. It serves as a reminder that all blessings come from God and that the Israelites' success in taking possession of the land is due to His power and faithfulness. This assurance of divine provision is meant to inspire confidence and gratitude among the Israelites as they embark on the conquest of Canaan.

to possess
The repetition of the concept of possession underscores its importance. The Hebrew word "yarash" is used again, reinforcing the idea of inheritance and divine right. Possession of the land is not just a physical act but a spiritual one, symbolizing the Israelites' relationship with God and their role as His chosen people. It is a call to live in accordance with God's will and to uphold His commandments as they inhabit the land. This possession is both a privilege and a responsibility, requiring faithfulness and obedience to God's covenant.

Verse 53. - I have given you the land. "The earth is the Lord's," and no one, therefore, can dispute his right in the abstract to evict any of his tenants and to put others in possession. But while the whole earth was the Lord's, it is clear that he assumed a special relation towards the land of Canaan, as to which he chose to exercise directly the rights and duties of landlord (see on Deuteronomy 22:8 for a small but striking instance). The first duty of a landlord is to see that the occupancy of his property is not abused for illegal or immoral ends; and this duty excuses, because it necessitates, eviction under certain circumstances. It is not, therefore, necessary to argue that the Canaanites were more infamous than many others; it is enough to remember that God had assumed towards the land which they occupied (apparently by conquest) a relation which did not allow him to overlook their enormities, as he might those of other nations (see on Exodus 23:23-33; 34:11-17, and cf. Acts 14:16; Acts 17:30). It was (if we like to put it so) the misfortune of the Canaanites that they alone of "all nations" could not be suffered to "walk in their own ways," because they had settled in a land which the Lord had chosen to administer directly as his own earthly kingdom.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You are to take possession of
וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּ֥ם (wə·hō·w·raš·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

the land
הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and settle
וִֽישַׁבְתֶּם־ (wî·šaḇ·tem-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in it,
בָּ֑הּ (bāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I have given
נָתַ֥תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you the land
הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

to possess.
לָרֶ֥שֶׁת (lā·re·šeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin


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OT Law: Numbers 33:53 And you shall take possession (Nu Num.)
Numbers 33:52
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