HERITAGE (נַחֲלָה֒, H5709, meaning inheritance, Job 27:13; יְרֻשָּׁה, H3772, meaning possession, Ps 61:5 מﯴרָשָׁה, H4627, meaning possession, Exod 6:8; κλῆρος, G3102, meaning lot, 1 Pet 5:3). The word “heritage” often is interchanged by trs. of the Bible with the word “inheritance.” The two basic Heb. words used (see above) carry a slight difference in root meaning. נַחֲלָה֒, H5709, can refer to property or movable goods. The root yarash tends to emphasize a little more the actual possession. The Gr. word κλῆρος, G3102, carries the basic meaning of “lot” or “allotment.”

In some of the modern Eng. VSS there is a tendency to use “heritage” to emphasize spiritual matters (Deut. 9:26; Josh 18:7) and to use “inheritance” in contexts dealing with material affairs (Num 36:9; Deut 10:9). However, a clear distinction is not always possible.