צְלׇפְחָד (tse.loph.chad)
tse.loph.chad
Zelophehad
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Tzelophchad, meaning "first-born," identifies a Manassite patriarch whose story centers on inheritance rights in Numbers 26:33 and Joshua 17:3. He was the son of Hepher and grandson of Gilead, dying in the wilderness without leaving any sons behind.
His significance lies not in his own actions but in the legal precedent set by his five daughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Because no male heir existed, they petitioned Moses for their father’s portion of the land. This case led to a divine ruling that secured inheritance rights for women when there were no sons, ensuring Tzelophchad’s name remained within his tribal allotment.
The narrative highlights how God’s law adapted to preserve family lines and property distribution among the tribes of Israel. Tzelophchad appears in genealogical records in Numbers and Chronicles, serving as a link between the patriarch Gilead and the later settlement of the land under Joshua.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Zelophehad’s story reminds us that God cares about family lines and how we are remembered. He died in the wilderness without sons, yet his name endured because his daughters stood up for justice. Their courage opened a door for women to inherit land when no male heir existed. This shows that God’s law values fairness and protects those who might otherwise be overlooked.
For us today, this passage encourages us to speak truthfully about what is right. It also highlights the importance of preserving our heritage. When we honor our ancestors and stand for justice, we participate in something larger than ourselves. God uses ordinary people to shape His plans, ensuring that every voice matters in His story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Zelophehad7×
- to/ Zelophehad1×
- and/ to/ Zelophehad1×
- and/ Zelophehad1×
- [was] Zelophehad1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צְלָפְחָ֑ד2×
- צְלָפְחָד֮1×
- צְלָפְחָד֙1×
- צְלָפְחָֽד\׃1×
- צְלָפְחָ֥ד1×
- צְלָפְחָ֗ד1×
- צְלָפְחָ֔ד1×
- לִ/צְלָפְחָ֖ד1×
- וּ/צְלָפְחָ֣ד1×
- וְ/לִ/צְלָפְחָד֩1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 27:1
Then 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 came near. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
This verse introduces the daughters of Zelophehad approaching Moses, marking the moment they sought justice for their father’s inheritance.
-
Numbers 27:7
“The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.
God affirms that the daughters speak rightly, establishing a legal precedent for women to inherit when there are no sons.
-
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. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
This record confirms the fulfillment of the promise, showing Zelophehad’s daughters receiving their allotted land in Canaan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Zelophehad in the Bible?
Why is Zelophehad important for understanding inheritance laws?
Where does Zelophehad appear in Scripture?
Every Occurrence (9 verses across 3 books)
Numbers 7 verses
Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah,…
Numbers 27:1Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the…
Numbers 27:7“The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their…
Numbers 36:2They said, “Yahweh commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the children of Israel. My lord was…
Numbers 36:6This is the thing which Yahweh commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them be married to whom…
Numbers 36:10The daughters of Zelophehad did as Yahweh commanded Moses:
Numbers 36:11for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to their father’s brothers’…