Appertain
Definition and Usage
The word "appertain" means to belong to by right, to be proper or fitting, or to relate to something by nature or appointment. In its most significant biblical occurrence, Jeremiah 10:7 uses the Hebrew ya'ah, which carries the sense of "it is becoming" or "it is fitting." The prophet declares that reverence is fitting for God alone: "Who would not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you" (Jeremiah 10:7). What "appertains" to God is the honor and fear that rightly belong to Him as sovereign Creator.
Appertain in the Law of Moses
In Leviticus 6:5, the concept appears in the context of restitution for theft or fraud. When someone has wrongly taken something, they must restore it "to whom it appertains," meaning the rightful owner. This legal principle establishes that property and possessions have legitimate owners, and justice requires that stolen or fraudulently obtained goods be returned with an additional penalty. The concept of rightful belonging thus undergirds Israel's system of justice and economic fairness.
Belonging and Proper Order
In Nehemiah 2:8, Nehemiah requests timber from Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, for the construction of gates for "the castle which appertained to the house" (the fortress connected to the temple). Here, appertain describes the physical and administrative relationship between structures. The castle belonged to the temple complex by function and design. This usage reflects the broader biblical theme that God's arrangements have a proper order, and things belong where God has placed them.
God's Rightful Due
The theological heart of "appertain" centers on what properly belongs to God. Jeremiah 10:7 asserts that fear, reverence, and honor appertain to God because of who He is. No human ruler or pagan deity deserves what belongs to the Lord. This connects to Jesus's later teaching: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). The question of what appertains to whom is ultimately a question about recognizing God's supreme claim on all creation.
The Rebellion of Korah
A dramatic negative example appears in Numbers 16:30-33, where the ground opened to swallow Korah and "all that appertained" to him. Korah had challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron, and God's judgment fell on him and everything that belonged to him: his household, his possessions, and his followers. This severe outcome demonstrated that God's appointed order must be respected and that rebellion against divinely established authority has dire consequences.
Principles of Rightful Belonging
The biblical use of "appertain" consistently reinforces that God has established a proper order in which things, persons, roles, and honor belong where He has placed them. Disrupting this order, whether by withholding what is due to God, stealing from others, or usurping authority, brings judgment. Restoring proper order, by giving God His due, returning what belongs to others, and respecting divinely appointed structures, brings blessing.
Biblical Context
Appertain appears in Jeremiah 10:7 (what is fitting for God), Leviticus 6:5 (restoring property to its rightful owner), Nehemiah 2:8 (the fortress belonging to the temple), and Numbers 16:30-33 (all that belonged to Korah). The concept spans legal, prophetic, and narrative contexts, consistently addressing the theme of rightful belonging and proper order.
Theological Significance
The concept of appertaining establishes that God has a rightful claim on human reverence and obedience, that property and roles have legitimate owners and holders, and that justice requires restoring what has been wrongly taken. The word reflects the biblical worldview of divine order where everything belongs ultimately to God and must be treated according to His purposes.
Historical Background
The concept of rightful belonging was fundamental to ancient Near Eastern legal systems. Property rights, inheritance laws, and restitution practices were central to maintaining social order. Israel's laws about restitution (Leviticus 6:1-7) reflected broader regional practices while grounding them in the covenant relationship with God. The English word 'appertain' entered Bible translation through the medieval English legal vocabulary, where it had a similar meaning of rightful connection or belonging.