57Possess

yarash — Hebrew

To possess is to take and hold as legal owner — to enter into lawful ownership, often by dispossessing a prior holder. “Go up and possess it” (Deuteronomy 1:21) is a command to take legal title to the land, driving out those who held it without right. Yarash carries both taking possession and holding it: seizure ripening into ownership. To possess the inheritance is to come into full legal ownership of the estate, not merely to occupy it. This is why possession is spoken of as secured or lost — it is title, held or forfeited. To possess is to own by right, entered on the record as the lawful holder.

The Root

yarash (H3423) — to take possession, to inherit, to dispossess; to seize and hold as owner.

The Courtroom Word

An ownership term — taking and holding lawful title to an estate.

Its Role in the Court

To possess is to hold legal title — to take ownership and keep it, sometimes by dispossessing a prior holder without right. Israel was to possess the land: enter into lawful ownership of the inheritance. Possession is title held, which is why it can be secured or forfeited. To possess the estate is to own it by right, entered on the record as the lawful holder, not merely to occupy the ground.

Proof Texts

Deuteronomy 1:21 “Go up and possess it, as Yahuah... hath said.” The command to take legal title.

Deuteronomy 30:5 “Thou shalt possess it.” The inheritance held as owner.

Genesis 15:7 “To give thee this land to inherit it.” The possession granted by covenant.

Psalm 25:13 “His seed shall inherit the earth.” Possession held by right.

In Plain Terms

To possess is to take and hold legal ownership — to come into title, sometimes by removing a holder who had no right. ‘Go up and possess the land’ means take lawful ownership of it, not just walk on it. Possession is title, held or forfeited.

Bring It Home

To possess is more than to occupy — it is to hold legal title, to own by right. When Israel was told to ‘possess the land,’ they were to enter into lawful ownership of the inheritance. Possession is a deed in hand, not just feet on the ground — and like any title, it can be kept or lost.

Courtroom Roles

Yahuah (the Grantor) gives the estate to be possessed.
The heir (the owner) takes and holds lawful title.
The estate (the inheritance) possessed as owned property.

Where It Sits

IThere Is a Court

IIThe Court Runs on One Code

IIIYou Are Named on the Docket

IVThe Acquittal

VYour Life Is the Testing

VIIt Is All Entered as Evidence

VIIThe Bench Convenes

Movement III — You Are Named on the Docket. You are not watching the trial. You are a party to it, entered by name, with standing and an estate.