Original Word: אֲחֻזָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: achuzzah
Pronunciation: a-khoo-zaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-ooz-zaw')
KJV: possession
NASB: possession, property, site, possessions
Word Origin: [feminine passive participle from H270 (אָחַז - seized)]

1. something seized, i.e. a possession (especially of land)

possession

Feminine passive participle from 'achaz; something seized, i.e. A possession (especially of land) -- possession.

see HEBREW 'achaz

Word Origin
from achaz
Definition
a possession
NASB Translation
possession (40), possessions (2), property (19), site (5).

אֲחֻזָּה₆₆ noun feminine possession — ׳א Genesis 47:11 11t.; construct אֲחֻזַּת Genesis 17:8 21t.; suffix אֲחֻזָּ˜תְךָ Psalm 2:8; — possession, P & late; of landed property Genesis 47:11; Leviticus 14:34; Leviticus 25:10,13,25,27,28,33 (houses); Leviticus 25:41; Leviticus 25:45; Leviticus 21:46; Numbers 27:4; Numbers 32:5,22,29; Numbers 35:8; Deuteronomy 32:49; Joshua 21:12,39; Ezekiel 44:28; Ezekiel 45:5,6,7 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 45:8; Ezekiel 46:18 (3 t. in verse); Ezekiel 48:20,21,22 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 7:28; 1 Chronicles 9:2; 2Chronicles 11:14; 31:1; Nehemiah 11:3; with אֶרֶץ, אֲחֻזָּה ׳א = land possessed, one's own land Genesis 36:43; Leviticus 14:34; Leviticus 25:24; Numbers 35:28; Joshua 22:4,9,19 (twice in verse), compare אֲחֻזַּת הָאָרֶץ Leviticus 27:24; with שָׂדֶה, אֲחֻזָּה ׳שׂ Leviticus 27:16,22,28, compare Leviticus 27:21; with עִיר, אֲתֻּזָּה ׳ע Leviticus 25:32,33; אֲחֻזַּת נַחֲלָה = possession by right of inheritance Numbers 27:7; Numbers 32:32, & ׳נַחֲלַת א Numbers 35:2 compare בְּנַחֲלָה ׳א Ezekiel 46:16 (but Co as Numbers 27:7 so B); אֲחֻזַּת קֶבֶר Genesis 23:4,9,20; Genesis 49:30; Genesis 50:13; עוֺלם ׳א Genesis 17:8; Genesis 48:4; Leviticus 25:34; in promise to Davidic king וַאֲחֻזָּ˜תְךָ אַסְפֵיאָֿרֶץ Psalm 2:8 ("" נַחֲלָה); figurative of ׳י as portion of Levitical priests Ezekiel 44:28 ("" נַחֲלָה).

Root Sense and Range of Meaning

אֲחֻזָּה describes ground or built property held by legal right—an “estate” or “possession” generally measured in parcels of land. While often translated “possession,” the word always retains a tangible, geographic focus, distinguishing it from broader terms for wealth.

Patriarchal Estates and the Pledge of Promise

From the patriarchs forward, אֲחֻזָּה undergirds the unfolding covenant storyline. Abraham’s only piece of ground in Canaan during his life was “the field and the cave that were in it, purchased from the sons of Heth as a burial site” (Genesis 23:20). That burial plot is twice called an אֲחֻזָּה (Genesis 23:4; 49:30), functioning as a down payment on God’s pledge that “to you and your descendants I will give this land as an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:8). Jacob later testifies, “He said to me, ‘I will give you this land as a permanent possession’ ” (Genesis 48:4). In the patriarchal narratives, the term thus weaves together mortality (the grave) and immortality (the covenant promise), rooting eschatological hope in literal soil.

National Allotment under Joshua

In the conquest era the word explodes in frequency. The land parcels meted out “by lot” to the tribes are repeatedly labelled אֲחֻזּוֹת—permanent inheritances ratified by divine decree (Joshua 13–21). For example, “These towns together with their pasturelands are to be the possession of the Levites” (Joshua 21:12). Every Israelite family therefore received a sacred trust, anchoring worship, civil life, and future identity to specific acres of promised territory.

Levitical Pasturelands

Unique attention is given to priestly holdings. “You shall give the Levites… towns to live in, with pasturelands around them” (Numbers 35:2). Though the tribe of Levi held no broad tribal territory, their forty-eight towns constituted an אֲחֻזָּה safeguarded by statute. Ministry flowed out of these towns as centers for Torah instruction, refuge, and praise.

Royal and Common Estates in the Monarchic Period

With the rise of monarchy, אֲחֻזָּה begins to denote royal estates (1 Chronicles 27:26) and sizable family plots. Naboth’s vineyard is deemed “the vineyard of Naboth, which was in Jezreel, close beside the palace of Ahab” (1 Kings 21:1). The ensuing injustice highlights the inviolability of inherited holdings against tyrannical seizure. Conversely Solomon appoints overseers “over the vineyards and over the produce of the fields” (1 Chronicles 27:26-31), illustrating administrative stewardship of large-scale אֲחֻזּוֹת for the king’s house.

Legal Safeguards: Redemption and Jubilee

Leviticus 25 places אֲחֻזָּה at the heart of redemptive economics. “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine and you are but foreigners and sojourners with Me” (Leviticus 25:23). Two principles emerge:
• Near-kin redemption (go’el) restores family property that fell into debt (25:25-28).
• The Jubilee in the fiftieth year resets all hereditary lands (25:10-13).

Thus the word embodies divine ownership, human stewardship, social equity, and the anticipation of ultimate restoration.

Prophetic Reproof and Hope

Prophets indict covenant breakers who manipulate אֲחֻזּוֹת. Isaiah condemns land-grabbers who “join house to house and add field to field” (Isaiah 5:8). Micah laments, “They covet fields and seize them” (Micah 2:2). Yet Ezekiel foretells a righteous apportionment in the coming age: “The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests… it shall be for them a place for houses and a holy place for the sanctuary” (Ezekiel 45:4). Restoration language employs the term as a pledge that God will yet secure rightful inheritances for both priesthood and prince (Ezekiel 46:16-18; 48:20-22).

Typological and Theological Significance

1. Covenant Fidelity: The physical continuity of family holdings foreshadows the immutable nature of God’s promises (Hebrews 6:13-20).
2. Redemption Pattern: The go’el mechanism points ahead to Christ the Redeemer who liberates His people and restores their lost inheritance (Ephesians 1:11-14).
3. Kingdom Geography: Specific boundaries teach that the kingdom of God is not merely spiritual but will culminate in a renewed earth where every redeemed believer enjoys an incorruptible “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4).

Ministry Applications

• Stewardship: Congregations are reminded that property—whether land, facilities, or resources—belongs ultimately to the Lord and must serve His purposes.
• Social Justice: Biblical land laws model protection for the vulnerable, informing contemporary advocacy for equitable economic practices.
• Eschatological Expectation: Teaching on אֲחֻזָּה fuels hope for the final fulfillment when the meek “shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5), transforming personal griefs over loss into anticipation of restoration.

Representative References

Genesis 23:4; 23:20; 48:4

Leviticus 25:23-28

Numbers 35:2, 8

Joshua 21:12

1 Kings 21:1-3

1 Chronicles 27:26

Isaiah 5:8

Ezekiel 45:4; 46:18; 48:20-22

אֲחֻזַּ֖ת אֲחֻזַּ֣ת אֲחֻזַּ֤ת אֲחֻזַּ֥ת אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֑ם אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֔ם אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֗ם אֲחֻזַּתְכֶֽם׃ אֲחֻזַּת־ אֲחֻזָּ֔ה אֲחֻזָּה֙ אֲחֻזָּת֑וֹ אֲחֻזָּת֔וֹ אֲחֻזָּת֖וֹ אֲחֻזָּת֗וֹ אֲחֻזָּתָ֑ם אֲחֻזָּתָ֔ם אֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם אֲחֻזָּתָ֥ם אֲחֻזָּתָֽם׃ אֲחֻזָּתָם֙ אֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃ אחזה אחזת אחזת־ אחזתו אחזתו׃ אחזתכם אחזתכם׃ אחזתם אחזתם׃ בַּאֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם בַּאֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃ בַּאֲחֻזָּתוֹ֙ באחזתו באחזתו׃ באחזתם וְלַאֲחֻזַּ֣ת וְלַאֲחֻזַּ֪ת וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ וַאֲחֻזַּ֨ת וַאֲחֻזָּ֗ה וַאֲחֻזָּתָ֔ם וַאֲחֻזָּתָם֙ וּמֵאֲחֻזַּ֣ת וּמֵאֲחֻזַּ֤ת ואחזה ואחזת ואחזתך ואחזתם ולאחזת ומאחזת לַֽאֲחֻזָּ֖ה לַֽאֲחֻזָּֽה׃ לַאֲחֻזַּ֖ת לַאֲחֻזַּת־ לַאֲחֻזָּ֑ה לַאֲחֻזָּ֖ה לַאֲחֻזָּֽה׃ לַאֲחֻזָּת֖וֹ לַאֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃ לאחזה לאחזה׃ לאחזת לאחזת־ לאחזתו לאחזתו׃ מֵאֲחֻזַּ֣ת מֵאֲחֻזָּת֑וֹ מֵאֲחֻזָּת֖וֹ מֵאֲחֻזָּתָ֔ם מֵאֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃ מאחזת מאחזתו מאחזתו׃ מאחזתם ’ă·ḥuz·zā·ṯām ’ă·ḥuz·zā·ṯōw ’ă·ḥuz·zāh ’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ ’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ- ’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ·ḵem ’ăḥuzzāh ’ăḥuzzaṯ ’ăḥuzzaṯ- ’ăḥuzzāṯām ’ăḥuzzaṯḵem ’ăḥuzzāṯōw achuzZah achuzzat achuzzaTam achuzzatChem achuzzaTo ba’ăḥuzzāṯām ba’ăḥuzzāṯōw ba·’ă·ḥuz·zā·ṯām ba·’ă·ḥuz·zā·ṯōw baachuzzaTam baachuzzaTo la’ăḥuzzāh la’ăḥuzzaṯ la’ăḥuzzaṯ- la’ăḥuzzāṯōw la·’ă·ḥuz·zā·ṯōw la·’ă·ḥuz·zāh la·’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ la·’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ- laachuzZah laachuzZat laachuzzaTo mê’ăḥuzzaṯ mê’ăḥuzzāṯām mê’ăḥuzzāṯōw mê·’ă·ḥuz·zā·ṯām mê·’ă·ḥuz·zā·ṯōw mê·’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ meachuzZat meachuzzaTam meachuzzaTo ū·mê·’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ ūmê’ăḥuzzaṯ umeachuzZat vaachuzZah vaachuzZat vaachuzzaTam vaachuzzatecha velaachuzZat wa’ăḥuzzāh wa’ăḥuzzaṯ wa’ăḥuzzāṯām wa’ăḥuzzāṯəḵā wa·’ă·ḥuz·zā·ṯām wa·’ă·ḥuz·zā·ṯə·ḵā wa·’ă·ḥuz·zāh wa·’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ wə·la·’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ wəla’ăḥuzzaṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts