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What the Bible Says About Heir

Overview

The Bible addresses heir across 39 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Numbers, Ruth and Joshua. Closely related themes include Land, Daughter, Zelophehad and Marriage. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Boaz, Zelophehad and Naomi.

Key Bible verses about heir

Old Testament

Numbers

Numbers 27:8

And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.

Numbers 27:9

And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.

Numbers 27:10

And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.

Numbers 27:11

And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 36:1

And the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spake before Moses, and before the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel:

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 36:3

And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be put to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance. whereunto: Heb. unto whom they shall be

Numbers 36:4

And when the jubile of the children of Israel shall be, then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.

Numbers 36:5

And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well.

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 36:7

So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. keep: Heb. cleave to the, etc

Numbers 36:8

And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers.

Ruth

Ruth 4:1

Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

Ruth 4:2

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

Ruth 4:3

And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:

Ruth 4:4

And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. I thought: Heb. I said, I will reveal in thine ear

Ruth 4:5

Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

Ruth 4:6

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

Ruth 4:7

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

Ruth 4:8

Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

Ruth 4:9

And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.

Ruth 4:10

Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

Ruth 4:11

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: do thou: or, get thee riches, or, power be famous: Heb. proclaim thy name

Ruth 4:12

And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

People in the Bible and heir

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying heir for yourself

  • Begin with Genesis 25:5, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Numbers, Ruth and Joshua each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Moses, Boaz and Zelophehad and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Land, Daughter, Zelophehad and Marriage.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about heir?

The Bible addresses heir across 39 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Numbers, Ruth and Joshua. Closely related themes include Land, Daughter, Zelophehad and Marriage. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Boaz, Zelophehad and Naomi.

How many Bible verses are about heir?

The Bible references heir in 39 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention heir?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 25:5: “And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with heir?

Moses, Boaz, Zelophehad, Naomi and Abraham.

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