Who was Tirzah in the Bible?

Tirzah was one of the five daughters of Zelophehad from the tribe of Manasseh. She and her sisters are notable for petitioning Moses for the right to inherit their father's property since he had no sons (Numbers 27:1-7).

Why are Tirzah and her sisters important?

Their case established a legal precedent for female inheritance in Israel, ensuring family property remained within the tribe. This landmark ruling is recorded in Numbers 27 and later affirmed in Numbers 36 regarding marriage within the tribe.

What happened to Tirzah after the inheritance ruling?

The Bible records that Tirzah and her sisters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, and Milcah—married their cousins to keep their inherited land within the tribe of Manasseh, as commanded (Numbers 36:10-12). Their story highlights faithfulness to God's community laws.

Tirzah

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessFemaleDaughter

Tirzah was one of the five daughters of Zelophehad who were granted inheritance rights in the absence of male heirs.

Tirzah

Biography

Tirzah was the youngest of the five daughters of Zelophehad of the tribe of Manasseh, whose father had died in the wilderness without male heirs. When Joshua was distributing the land of Canaan, Tirzah and her sisters, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, and Milcah, brought their case before Moses and Eleazar the priest, arguing that their father's name and inheritance should not disappear simply because he had no sons (Numbers 27:1–11). God affirmed their petition, ruling that daughters should inherit when no son exists. A subsequent ruling (Numbers 36) required them to marry within their own tribe to keep the inheritance within Manasseh. Tirzah and her sisters complied, marrying their cousins (Numbers 36:11). Their legal case established a landmark precedent in Israelite inheritance law.

Significance

Tirzah and her sisters represent one of Scripture's most striking examples of courageous faith and advocacy for justice. In a patriarchal society, these women approached the highest authorities in Israel, Moses, Eleazar, and the congregation, with a reasoned legal argument, and God vindicated them entirely. Their case established a legal principle that recognized the inheritance rights of daughters, reflecting a concern for justice and equity embedded within the Mosaic covenant. Their story anticipates the New Testament's radical affirmation that in Christ there is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28) and stands as an enduring testimony that God hears the petitions of those who bring legitimate claims to Him with faith and persistence.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherZelophehadSiblingMahlahSiblingMilcahSiblingHoglahSiblingNoa

Verse Appearances (4)

Numbers

Numbers 26:33 Numbers 27:1 Numbers 36:11

Josh

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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