Who was Hepher in the Bible?

Hepher was a son of Gilead and a grandson of Manasseh, making him a clan leader within the tribe of Manasseh. His descendants were known as the Hepherites (Numbers 26:32-33).

Why is Hepher significant in the Bible?

Hepher is significant primarily through his descendants, as his clan received a territorial inheritance in the Promised Land. His lineage is notably connected to Zelophehad, whose daughters successfully petitioned for the right to inherit land (Joshua 17:2-3).

What key events involve Hepher's family?

The key event involving Hepher's family was the petition of Zelophehad's daughters, who were Hepher's great-granddaughters. Their case established a precedent for daughters to inherit property when there were no sons (Numbers 27:1-11).

Hepher

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleSon

Hepher was a son of Gilead and ancestor of the Hepherite clan in the tribe of Manasseh. (Num.26.32,33; 27.1; Jos.17.2,3)

Hepher

Biography

Hepher was a son of Gilead and a grandson of Machir, placing him within the prominent half-tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan River. His name appears in the tribal census of Numbers 26:32-33 and in the land allotment narratives of Joshua 17:2-3, where the Hepherite clan is recognized as a distinct subdivision of Manasseh. Hepher himself died leaving only daughters, most famously Zelophehad's daughters, who boldly approached Moses to claim their father's inheritance (Numbers 27:1). This made Hepher's lineage a pivotal test case for inheritance law in ancient Israel, ultimately resulting in a landmark ruling that expanded the rights of daughters to inherit land.

Significance

Hepher's greatest contribution to biblical history is indirect yet profound: through his son Zelophehad's daughters, his family line prompted a groundbreaking legal precedent. When his granddaughters petitioned Moses (Numbers 27:1-11), God affirmed their right to inherit, establishing a principle of equity that anticipated broader themes of justice within the covenant community. This episode demonstrates that God's law is not a rigid system immune to equity, but a living framework that upholds the dignity of all people within His covenant. Hepher's lineage thus becomes a vehicle through which Scripture addresses questions of fairness, belonging, and the equal standing of all God's people before Him.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherGileadChildZelophehadSiblingAbiezerSiblingAsrielSiblingHelekSiblingShemidaSiblingShechem

Verse Appearances (5)

Numbers

Numbers 26:32 Numbers 26:33 Numbers 27:1

Josh

Josh 17:2 Josh 17:3

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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