Joshua 21:42 · Bible study
Joshua 21:42 Commentary: Each City with Its Pasture Lands
Hebrew · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore why Joshua 21:42 emphasizes that every Levitical city had its own pasture lands, highlighting God's faithful provision for the Levites.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A concluding note that every Levitical city was equipped with its surrounding pasture lands, fulfilling God’s command.
- Key words: Pasture lands (H4054 migrāš), open common land for grazing; around (H5439 sāvīv), surrounding circuit.
- Main debate: Minimal for this verse; the Septuagint adds a passage about Joshua’s inheritance (Barnes notes it as a later legend).
- Theological theme: God’s faithful provision for His servants, down to the last detail, as part of His covenant promises.
- Best use: A reminder that God’s care covers both spiritual and practical needs, and that obedience to His instructions is thorough and complete.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Each of these cities had its own surrounding pasturelands; this was true for all the cities.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Each of these cities included their pasture lands around them. It was this way with all these cities.
KJV King James Version 1769
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus it was with all these cities.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
These cities are each city and its suburbs round about it; so to all these cities.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Each one of these cities had its suburbs round about it: thus were all these cities.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he gave them peace from all nations round about: and none of their enemies durst stand against them, but were brought under their dominion.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y estas ciudades estaban apartadas la una de la otra cada cual con sus ejidos alrededor de ellas: lo cual fué en todas estas ciudades.
E estas cidades estavam separadas a uma da outra cada qual com seus campos ao redor delas: o qual foi em todas estas cidades.
Chacune de ces villes avait sa banlieue qui l’ entourait; il en était de même pour toutes ces villes.
Und eine jegliche dieser Städte hatte ihre Vorstadt um sich her, eine wie die andere.
Deze steden waren elk met haar voorsteden rondom haar; alzo was het met al die steden.
Ciascuna di queste città aveva il suo contado tutt’intorno; così era di tutte queste città.
A miały te wszystkie miasta, każde z osobna, przedmieścia około siebie; a tak było około wszystkich onych miast.
При городах сих были при каждом городе предместья вокруг него: так было при всех городах сих. [Когда Иисус кончил разделение земли по пределам ее, тогда сыны Израилевы дали часть Иисусу по повелению Господню, дали ему город, которого он просил, Фимнаф-Сару дали ему на горе Ефремовой, и построил Иисус город, которого просил, и жил в нем. И взял Иисус каменные ножи, которыми обрезал сынов Израилевых, родившихся на пути в пустыне, ибо они не были обрезаны в пустыне; и положил их в Фимнаф-Саре.]
這些 城 四圍 都有 屬城 的郊野，城 城 都 是 如此。
Every one of these towns had grass-lands round it.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Joshua 21:42
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this verse closes the catalogue of forty-eight Levitical cities by stating emphatically that each one included its surrounding pasture lands. Gill’s Exposition notes the pasture lands extended two thousand cubits on every side, a regulation from Numbers 35:4-5. Barnes’ Commentary observes that after this verse the Septuagint inserts a passage about Joshua’s inheritance and a tradition about the flint knives of circumcision, material the Septuagint alone preserves. The Geneva Bible simply confirms the wording: ‘These cities lay every one severally with their suburbs round about them.’ The shared point is that the text underlines the complete and orderly provision for the Levites, fulfilling the command given through Moses. The repetition of every one and all these cities leaves no room for oversight; God’s instructions were carried out to the last detail.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse states that every Levitical city was provided with surrounding pasture lands, fulfilling the Mosaic command and highlighting God’s complete provision.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of the pasture lands | The pasture lands (suburbs) were open areas around each city for the Levites' cattle and storage, as commanded in Numbers 35. | No significant debate; the function is uniformly understood. |
| Number of cities (48 vs 42 in Chronicles) | Joshua 21 lists 48 cities. The Chronicler (1 Ch 6:39-66) names 42, yet also says the total was 48. | Lange's Commentary suggests the Chronicler omitted several cities by oversight or used a different source. Some harmonize by assuming different stages of the list. |
| Septuagint addition after this verse | The Septuagint adds a passage about Joshua’s inheritance and the flint knives of circumcision. | Barnes considers this a Jewish legend of early date, while the Masoretic Text omits it. Traditions differ on whether to regard the addition as historically reliable. |
| Significance of the summary | This verse concludes the catalogue of Levitical cities, emphasizing completeness. | Some commentators focus on the transition to Joshua’s own inheritance (via the Septuagint), while others see it purely as a structural marker. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Joshua 21:42 sits at the end of a long chapter listing the cities given to the Levites, a tribe that received no single territorial inheritance. Numbers 35:1-8 had commanded that the Levites be given forty-eight cities with pasture lands (migrāš) around them, open land for their cattle, flocks, and storage (H4054). The Hebrew word migrāš specifically refers to common land attached to a walled city, used for grazing and other communal needs. The pasture lands extended a fixed distance from the city wall, as described in Numbers 35:4-5: one thousand cubits from the wall for the suburbs, then two thousand cubits for fields and vineyards.
Literarily, this verse is a summary that transitions into the triumphant conclusion in verses 43-45: ‘So Yahweh gave to Israel all the land… Nothing failed of any good thing which Yahweh had spoken to the house of Israel.’ The mention of pasture lands is not incidental. It shows that the Levites, though scattered among the tribes, were fully equipped to sustain their families and livestock. Every city with its pastures meant the tribe of Levi could fulfill its duties without lacking basic resources. The verse echoes God’s earlier promise to provide for those who served Him, a theme that runs from the wilderness instructions to the settlement in Canaan.
Culturally, the pasture lands also served a practical purpose. In an agrarian society, access to grazing land was essential for survival. By giving each city its own pasture, the land distribution prevented the Levites from being dependent on the charity of others. This arrangement honored the Levites’ unique role as teachers and ministers of the sanctuary while integrating them into the life of the nation. The summary in verse 42 drives home that the entire plan was executed with precision, not a single city was left without its due provision.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Joshua 21:42 in the Masoretic Text. Barnes’ Commentary mentions that the Septuagint introduces an additional passage after this verse, recording a special inheritance for Joshua and a tradition about flint knives used for circumcision (see Joshua 5:2). However, the Septuagint addition is not present in the Hebrew tradition and is regarded by Barnes as a Jewish legend of early date. The verse itself is stable across the major manuscripts.
Reception History
Christian interpreters have generally treated Joshua 21:42 as a straightforward historical summary, noting the care God took to provide for the Levites. The verse is rarely the focus of extended theological reflection, but it appears in commentaries emphasizing the faithfulness of God to fulfill His commands. In the Reformation era, commentators like Calvin and Matthew Henry used the verse to illustrate that God’s provision extends to every detail of life, including the material needs of those who serve Him. The Levitical cities with their pasture lands became a type for the Church’s care for its ministers, a pattern of support grounded in Scripture. Jewish tradition, reflected in the Targums and Talmud, focused on the precise measurements of the pasture lands and the integration of the Levites into the tribal structure. The verse is also cited in discussions of urban planning and the allocation of common land in the ancient Near East.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God provides for His servants. The Levites received no land inheritance, yet God gave them cities with pasture lands. Their needs were met not by chance but by deliberate command.
- Obedience is detailed. The list of forty-eight cities with their pastures shows that God’s instructions were followed to the letter. Small details matter in God’s kingdom.
- Fulfillment leads to celebration. The summary of the cities immediately precedes a declaration that God kept every promise. Provision for the Levites is part of the larger story of God’s faithfulness.
Five-point outline
- Every city, every pasture. The repetition of ‘each’ and ‘all’ emphasizes completeness. God does not do half measures.
- The Levites’ unique portion. While other tribes farmed fields, the Levites received cities with surrounding land, a sign of their special calling.
- Pasture lands as provision. The Hebrew migrāš (pasture) was not just green space; it was life support for cattle and families. God thought of everything.
- A pattern for ministry support. The system foreshadows the New Testament principle that those who serve the altar should live from the altar (1 Cor 9:13-14).
- Transition to rest. This verse leads directly into ‘Yahweh gave them rest all around.’ Provision precedes peace.
Illustration hooks
- The careful landlord: Imagine a property developer who not only builds houses but also sets aside community gardens and playgrounds for each neighborhood. God did the same for the Levites, designing every city with its own open space.
- Team support roles: In a successful company, every department gets the resources it needs to function. The Levites were the ‘worship and teaching department’ of Israel, and God made sure they had what they required.
- A promised corner of peace: Picture a family moving into a home where the previous owner left the yard fully landscaped and ready to use. The pasture lands were like that, ready-made provision so the Levites could begin serving immediately.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did the Levites get cities and not a large territory like other tribes?
- What was the purpose of the pasture lands around each city?
- How does this ancient system of supporting religious workers apply to how we support pastors and missionaries today?
Leading a Discussion
This verse might seem like a simple inventory note, but it marks the completion of a crucial stage in Israel’s settlement of the land. God had commanded the Levites to be given cities with pasture lands, and now the record shows that every requirement was met. As you discuss this passage, pay attention to the themes of provision, obedience, and the care God shows for those who serve Him.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you about the way the Levitical cities are described? Why do you think each city’s pasture lands are mentioned specifically?
- Read Numbers 35:1-8. How does the instruction given to Moses compare with what was actually carried out in Joshua 21? What does the correspondence say about God’s faithfulness?
- The Levites were distributed among all the tribes. What advantages can you see in this arrangement for both the Levites and the other tribes?
- Pasture lands were for cattle and storage. In what ways does God provide for the practical needs of His people today, especially those in ministry?
- How does the detailed fulfillment of this command (48 cities, each with its pasture) encourage you when you face situations that require patience and attention to detail?
- Verse 42 transitions to a statement of God giving rest and fulfilling every promise. How does seeing God’s care in the small details of the past build trust for the future?
- What parallels can you draw between the Levites’ provision and the New Testament teaching that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14)?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
3 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the Septuagint adds a postscript about Joshua's inheritance and the burial of flint-knives used for circumcision. He treats the knife-burial story as a Jewish legend with the authority of the Greek translation only, not the original Hebrew text.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes observe that each city had its own separate suburbs arranged around it, and this arrangement was uniform for all the cities mentioned. The point emphasises that every city received its own distinct territorial allocation with surrounding open land.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that each Levitical city was assigned a surrounding space of two thousand cubits on every side for grazing cattle and storing provisions. Of these forty-eight cities, six served as cities of refuge while the remaining forty-two housed priests and Levites, all with equal provision for their herds.