How many times is inheritance mentioned in the Bible?
The word inheritance appears 239 times in the King James Version, in 203 verses. Counting every form (inheritance, inheritances), it appears 240 times in 203 verses across 33 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses inheritance 236 times (239 with every form).
Inheritance in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of inheritance counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| inheritance | 239 | 236 |
| inheritances | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 240 | 239 |
Which books mention inheritance most
Inheritance appears in 33 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Joshua has the most (59), then Numbers (50) and Deuteronomy (27).
Also in: Genesis (2), Exodus (2), 1 Samuel (2), 1 Chronicles (2), 2 Chronicles (2), Job (2), Luke (2), Colossians (2), Leviticus (1), 2 Kings (1), Ezra (1), Nehemiah (1), Ecclesiastes (1), Lamentations (1), Matthew (1), Mark (1), Galatians (1), 1 Peter (1).
First and last mention of inheritance
And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
The verse that uses it most is Numbers 33:54, 4 times (tied with Numbers 36:3, Numbers 36:4):
And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man’s inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.
Where the two translations differ
7 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 9 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Joshua 1:6: counted in the KJV only
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
“Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Joshua 13:15: counted in the KJV only
And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.
Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their families.
Numbers 26:56: counted in the World English Bible only
According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer.”
Numbers 34:17: counted in the World English Bible only
These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
“These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Verses with inheritance on our topic pages
13 verses that use inheritance in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
On: Hospitality, Purpose, Serving Others, What Does the Bible Say About Slavery? 26 Verses
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
On: Marriage, Relationships
to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you,
On: Heaven, Resurrection
You may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession; of them may you take your slaves forever; but over your brothers the children of Israel you shall not rule, one over another, with harshness.
“To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the Tent of Meeting.
On: Tithing
“Moreover you shall speak to the Levites, and tell them, ‘When you take of the children of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall offer up a wave offering of it for Yahweh, a tithe of the tithe.
On: Tithing
The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the foreigner living among you, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
On: Orphans
her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Yahweh. You shall not cause the land to sin, which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance.
On: Remarriage
Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.
On: Blessings
Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.
On: Provision
Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
On: Grace
Common questions
How many times is inheritance in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 222 of the 240 uses are in the Old Testament and 18 in the New Testament. Inheritance appears in 33 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Joshua has the most (59), then Numbers (50) and Deuteronomy (27).
Where is inheritance first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is Genesis 31:14: "And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?" The last is 1 Peter 1:4.
More word counts: Shimei, Ahimelech, zeal, vision, Tirzah, Teman, shame, Artaxerxes, or all 635 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-24.