Zelophehad
maleExodusMeaning: “Firstborn; shadow from terror”
A man of Manasseh who died in the wilderness leaving only daughters, whose appeal established a landmark law of female inheritance in Israel.
Biography
Zelophehad was a man of the tribe of Manasseh who died in the wilderness leaving no sons — only five daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their bold appeal made him the occasion of an important precedent in Israelite law.
The daughters' appeal
The daughters came before Moses and the leaders, asking why their father's name should disappear for lack of a son: "Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father" (Numbers 27:4). Moses brought their case before the LORD, who answered, "The daughters of Zelophehad speak right" — and established that a man's inheritance would pass to his daughters when he had no son (Numbers 27:7–8). The ruling, later refined so inheritances stayed within the tribe (Numbers 36), became a landmark protection of women's rights to property in Israel.
Life Timeline
His daughters' appeal establishes the law of female inheritance
On the Bible timeline
Zelophehad belongs to the The Exodus & Wilderness era (c. 1446 BC (early) / 1260 BC (late)).
- c. 1446 BC (early) / 1260 BC (late)The Exodus from Egypt
- c. 1446 BCThe Law Given at Sinai
- c. 1406 BCThe Conquest of Canaan
Themes & lessons from Zelophehad
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Zelophehad appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
9 verses in 3 booksNumbers7 verses
Numbers 26:33
And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
Numbers 27:1
Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.
Numbers 27:7
The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.
Numbers 36:2
And they said, The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters.
Numbers 36:6
This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry. marry: Heb. be wives
Numbers 36:10
Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:
Numbers 36:11
For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father's brothers' sons:
Joshua1 verse
Joshua 17:3
But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
1 Chronicles1 verse
1 Chronicles 7:15
And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
Frequently asked about Zelophehad
Who was Zelophehad in the Bible?
A man of Manasseh who died in the wilderness leaving only daughters, whose appeal established a landmark law of female inheritance in Israel.
What does the name Zelophehad mean?
The name Zelophehad means “Firstborn; shadow from terror”.
Where does Zelophehad appear in the Bible?
Zelophehad is mentioned 9 times across 3 books: Numbers, Joshua, 1 Chronicles.
What can we learn from Zelophehad?
The story of Zelophehad touches on themes of milcah, noah, zelophehad, daughter — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Zelophehad's life.
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