Joshua 21:37
New International Version
Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands—four towns;

New Living Translation
Kedemoth, and Mephaath—four towns.

English Standard Version
Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands—four cities;

Berean Standard Bible
Kedemoth, and Mephaath—four cities, together with their pasturelands.

King James Bible
Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.

New King James Version
Kedemoth with its common-land, and Mephaath with its common-land: four cities;

New American Standard Bible
Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands; four cities.

NASB 1995
Kedemoth with its pasture lands and Mephaath with its pasture lands; four cities.

NASB 1977
Kedemoth with its pasture lands and Mephaath with its pasture lands; four cities.

Legacy Standard Bible
Kedemoth with its pasture lands and Mephaath with its pasture lands; four cities.

Amplified Bible
Kedemoth with its pasture lands and Mephaath with its pasture lands; four cities.

Christian Standard Bible
Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands—four cities.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands—four cities.

American Standard Version
Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.

English Revised Version
Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Kedemoth, and Mephaath.

Good News Translation
Kedemoth, and Mephaath, with their pasture lands.

International Standard Version
Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities.

Majority Standard Bible
Kedemoth, and Mephaath?four cities, together with their pasturelands.

NET Bible
Kedemoth, and Mephaath, along with the grazing areas of each--a total of four cities;

New Heart English Bible
Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.

Webster's Bible Translation
Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.

World English Bible
Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands: four cities.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Kedemoth and its outskirts, and Mephaath and its outskirts—four cities.

Young's Literal Translation
Kedemoth and its suburbs, and Mephaath and its suburbs -- four cities.

Smith's Literal Translation
The original Julia E. Smith Bible does not contain this specified verse
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
and Jethson and Mephaath, four cities with their suburbs.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and Jethson and Mephaath, four cities with their suburbs;

New American Bible
Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands: four cities.

New Revised Standard Version
Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands—four towns.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Ramin with its suburbs, and Jahlah with its suburbs, four cities with their suburbs.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Raman and its fields and Yahla and its fields four towns and their fields
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Kedemoth with the open land about it, and Mephaath with the open land about it; four cities.]

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and Jazer and its suburbs; and Decmon and its suburbs; and Mapha and its suburbs; four cities.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites
36From the tribe of Reuben they were given Bezer, Jahaz, 37 Kedemoth, and Mephaath— four cities, together with their pasturelands. 38And from the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Mahanaim,…

Cross References
Numbers 35:1-8
Again the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho: / “Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities. / The cities will be for them to live in, and the pasturelands will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other livestock. ...

Deuteronomy 4:41-43
Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east / to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities: / Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.

Joshua 20:1-9
Then the LORD said to Joshua, / “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, / so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood. ...

1 Chronicles 6:54-81
Now these were the territories assigned to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clan for their settlements, because the first lot fell to them: / They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands. / But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. ...

Leviticus 25:32-34
As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the cities they possess. / So whatever belongs to the Levites may be redeemed—a house sold in a city they possess—and must be released in the Jubilee, because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the Israelites. / But the open pastureland around their cities may not be sold, for this is their permanent possession.

Numbers 18:20-24
Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. / Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting. / No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die. ...

Exodus 21:13
If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

Hebrews 6:18
Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

Acts 7:45
And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,

Matthew 5:17
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.

Romans 8:3-4
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, / so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Galatians 3:24
So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Hebrews 4:8
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

Ephesians 2:14-16
For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility / by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace / and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.

Colossians 2:17
These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.

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Cities Kedemoth Ked'emoth Lands Mephaath Meph'a-Ath Open Pasture Pasturelands Suburbs Together Towns
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Cities Kedemoth Ked'emoth Lands Mephaath Meph'a-Ath Open Pasture Pasturelands Suburbs Together Towns
Joshua 21
1. Forty-eight cities given by lot, out of the other tribes unto the Levites.
43. God gives the land, and rest unto the Israelites, according to his promise














Kedemoth
Kedemoth was a city allocated to the tribe of Reuben, located in the territory east of the Jordan River. It is mentioned in the context of the Levitical cities given to the Merarite clan. The name Kedemoth means "eastern parts," which may indicate its geographical position. In Deuteronomy 2:26, Moses sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon, king of Heshbon, seeking passage through his land. This highlights its strategic location and its role in Israel's journey to the Promised Land. The city served as a reminder of God's provision and the fulfillment of His promises to the tribes of Israel.

and Mephaath
Mephaath was another city given to the tribe of Reuben and assigned to the Levites. It is mentioned in Jeremiah 48:21 as part of the Moabite territory, indicating its proximity to Moab. The name Mephaath means "splendor" or "beauty," suggesting a place of significance or attractiveness. The allocation of Mephaath to the Levites underscores the importance of providing for those who served in the temple, ensuring they had resources to sustain their ministry. This reflects the broader biblical principle of supporting those dedicated to spiritual service.

four cities
The mention of "four cities" refers to the total number of cities given to the Merarite Levites from the tribe of Reuben. This allocation was part of the larger distribution of Levitical cities throughout Israel, as commanded by God. The Levites were not given a specific territory like the other tribes but were instead dispersed among the tribes to perform their priestly duties and teach the Law. This distribution ensured that the spiritual needs of the entire nation were met and that the Levites could serve as a unifying spiritual influence.

together with their pasturelands
The inclusion of "pasturelands" highlights the practical needs of the Levites, who required land to support their livestock and sustain their families. This provision reflects God's care for the Levites' material needs, allowing them to focus on their spiritual responsibilities. The pasturelands also symbolize the idea of rest and provision, themes that are echoed throughout Scripture, such as in Psalm 23, where God is depicted as a shepherd providing for His flock. This allocation ensured that the Levites could maintain their livelihood while fulfilling their sacred duties.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Kedemoth
A city allocated to the tribe of Reuben, located in the territory east of the Jordan River. It was given to the Levites as part of their inheritance.

2. Mephaath
Another city in the territory of Reuben, also given to the Levites. It is mentioned in the context of the cities of refuge and Levitical cities.

3. Levites
The priestly tribe of Israel, who were given specific cities and pasturelands instead of a contiguous territory. Their role was to serve in the temple and teach the law.

4. Pasturelands
These were the lands surrounding the Levitical cities, used for grazing livestock, which provided sustenance for the Levites.

5. Allocation of Cities
This event is part of the broader distribution of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, with specific cities set aside for the Levites.
Teaching Points
God's Provision for His Servants
The allocation of cities to the Levites demonstrates God's care and provision for those who serve Him. Just as the Levites were provided for, God provides for those who dedicate their lives to His service today.

The Importance of Spiritual Leadership
The Levites were responsible for teaching the law and leading worship. This highlights the importance of spiritual leadership and the need for dedicated individuals to guide the community in faith.

Community and Support
The distribution of pasturelands emphasizes the need for community support and shared resources. In the church today, believers are called to support one another and share their resources for the common good.

Inheritance and Stewardship
The Levites' inheritance was unique, focusing on their role rather than land ownership. This teaches us about stewardship and the value of spiritual inheritance over material possessions.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Kedemoth,
קְדֵמוֹת֙ (qə·ḏê·mō·wṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6932: Kedemoth -- a city in Reuben

and Mephaath—
מֵיפָ֖עַת (mê·p̄ā·‘aṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4158: Mephaath -- a Levitical city in Reuben

four
אַרְבַּֽע׃ (’ar·ba‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 702: Four

cities,
עָרִ֖ים (‘ā·rîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

along with
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

their pasturelands.
מִגְרָשֶׁ֑הָ (miḡ·rā·še·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4054: A suburb, the area around a, building, the margin of the sea


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OT History: Joshua 21:37 Kedemoth with its suburbs and Mephaath (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 21:36
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