Genesis 49:16 — Word Study
WLCדָּ֖ן יָדִ֣ין עַמּ֑וֹ כְּאַחַ֖ד שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
BSA◂DanDân [the judge, founder of a tribe] shall provide justicedîyn▸ [judge, govern, bring justice to, fairness, righteousness, verdict] for his peopleʻam [nation, clan, community] as oneʼechâd [like, similar to, united, single] of the tribesshêbeṭ [clans, families] of IsraelYisrâʼêl [God's chosen, descendants of Jacob]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| דָּ֖ן | Dan | Noun proper masculine |
| יָדִ֣ין | he will judge | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עַמּ֑וֹ | people his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| כְּאַחַ֖ד | like one of | Preposition |
| שִׁבְטֵ֥י | [the] tribes of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | Israel | Noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Dan shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. |
| KJV | ¶ Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. |
| ASV | Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel. |
| YLT | Dan doth judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel; |
| WEB | “Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. |
| BBE | Dan will be the judge of his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. |
Translations agree on the essential meaning of Dan's role in providing justice.
The main clause is followed by phrases that clarify the context and scope of Dan's role.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectדָּן
verbדִּין
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 49:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Blessing of Jacobgenerated
Genesis 49:16 is part of Jacob's blessings to his sons, where he speaks of the future roles and characteristics of each tribe. This particular blessing for Dan highlights the tribe's function as a provider of justice, which is essential for the community's well-being and governance. The context of Jacob's blessings sets the stage for understanding the significance of each tribe in Israel's history.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 30:6 | Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan. |
| 2 | Numbers 10:25 | Finally, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard, serving as the rear guard for all units, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 33:22 | Concerning Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s cub, leaping out of Bashan.” |
| 4 | Judges 13:2–24 | Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children. |
| 5 | Judges 15:20 | And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָדִין, ya.Dingenerated
The verb יָדִין (ya.Din) is an imperfect form, indicating an ongoing action in the future — he will judge. This word encompasses the act of judging, governing, and bringing justice, which are vital roles for a leader within the community.
The root of the word, דִּין (diyn), means to judge or plead a cause. It implies not just the act of judgment but also the fairness and righteousness expected of a judge, making it a fitting description for Dan's future role as a leader among the tribes.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יָדִין (he will judge) governs the main clause, with a noun phrase as the subject and a prepositional phrase indicating for whom he judges. The structure emphasizes Dan's role as a judge for his people, linking him directly to the tribes of Israel.
The sentence flows from the subject to the action, highlighting the future expectation of Dan's leadership and the justice he will bring.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָדִין as κρινεῖ (krinei), meaning he will judge. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing Dan's role as a judge in a way that resonates with Greek-speaking audiences.
This translation reflects a direct understanding of Dan's function within the Israelite community, maintaining the focus on justice.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 49:16 tells us that Dan will act as a judge for his people, just like the other tribes of Israel. This blessing from Jacob highlights Dan's important role in providing justice and leadership within the community.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Dan's role as a judge signifies his responsibility to ensure fairness and righteousness among his people, reflecting the values of leadership in Israel.
Each tribe has a unique role, but Dan's function as a judge emphasizes the importance of justice, which is a common theme among the tribes of Israel.
Justice is essential for maintaining order and community well-being, and leaders like Dan are expected to uphold these values.
Dan's blessing teaches the significance of justice and leadership, reminding us of the responsibilities that come with authority.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I promote justice in my community, following Dan's example?
- How do I understand the role of leadership in my own life, as seen in the blessings of Jacob?
- What qualities do I think are essential for a leader, based on Dan's role?
- How can I apply the principles of fairness and righteousness in my daily interactions with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church Fathers comment on this verse to highlight the prophetic nature of Dan's role and its implications for justice and leadership in Israel.
Hipp. The Lord is represented to us as a horseman; and the "heel" points us to the "last times." And His "falling" denotes His death;Early Church Fathers on Genesis 49 →
If one from Dan judges his people, how much more will that one from Judah, to whom the kingdom belongs, judge all the nations? For our Lord became a serpent to that first serpent and a viper to Satan,Early Church Fathers on Genesis 49 →
The simple meaning of this is that Dan also gave a judge to Israel. For after Joshua, judges were appointed for the people from the various tribes. Indeed, Samson was also from the tribe of Dan, and he judged Israel for twenty years.Early Church Fathers on Genesis 49 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 49:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. There is an elegant paronomasia, or an allusion to the name of Dan in those words, which signifies to judge, and the sense of them is, there
Read John Gill on Genesis 49 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryDan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 49 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. Rule and govern them. Though he be the son of my concubine, yet he shall not be subject to any other tribe, but shall have an absolute power within himself. What is said of him is to be understood of the rest of the sons of the concubines, and hereby all difference between the sons of the wives and concubines is taken away. It is said of Dan, because he is the first mentioned of that sort. As the rest of the tribes do, having distinct governments and governors amongst them. See ,16.
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 49 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 49:16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.Ver. 16. Dan shall judge.] Here is an allusion to his name in the original; q.d., the Judger shall judge. This is a high honour, to sit in the seat of judicature, and no less a burden: Fructus honos oneris, fructus honoris onus. They that are called to this office must neither spare the great for might, nor the mean for misery; as they must have nothing to lose, so nothing to get neither; they must be above all price or sale; and straining out all self-affections, see to it that "justice, justice" - as Moses speaks, Deuteronomy 16:20, marg.; that is, pure justice, without mud - run down as a mighty torrent.
Read John Trapp on Genesis 49 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16, 17) Dan.—In passing on to the sons of the handmaids it was necessary to assure them of an independent rank among their brethren. The four tribes descended from them did always hold an inferior position, but Jacob by his words to Dan prevented their ever becoming subject states. Playing, then, upon the name Dan (a judge), he says that he shall judge his people as a distinct and separate tribe, possessed of all those rights of self-government and tribal independence which this rank implied. It seems also that Dan’s symbol was a serpent, and from this Jacob prophesies that though too weak a tribe to take the foremost place in war, yet that Dan should not be without military importance…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 49 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible16. Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel. 17. Dan shall be a serpent on the way, A cerastes upon the track, Biting the heels of the horse, And his rider shall fall backwards. Verse 16. Dan shall judge] Dan, whose name signifies judgment, was the eldest of Jacob's sons by Bilhah, Rachel's maid, and he is here promised an equal rule with those tribes that sprang from either Leah or Rachel, the legal wives of Jacob. Some Jewish and some Christian writers understand this prophecy of Samson, who sprang from this tribe, and judged, or as the word might be translated avenged, the people of Israel twenty years. See Judges 13:2; Judges 15:20.
Read AdamClarke on Genesis 49 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. Dan] In this and the following verse we have two independent oracles concerning the tribe of Dan. (1) Genesis 49:16 deals with its position in Israel; (2) Genesis 49:17, with its attitude towards its foes. judge] For the play on the name Dan, see Genesis 30:6. The word “judge” carries with it the sense of “pleading the cause of” and “helping.” Cf. Jeremiah 22:16, “he judged the cause of the poor and needy.” Targum of Onkelos understood a reference to Samson to be contained in the word “judge” (Judges 13-16.). his people] The people of his tribe; not the people of Israel generally. The tribe possessed independence, not supremacy. As one of the tribes] Dan, though smaller than other…
Read Cambridge on Genesis 49 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible16. Dan shall judge — A play upon the name of Dan, which means a judge, or judging. Comp. Genesis 30:6.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 49 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Dan shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
“Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
Tyndale line
¶ Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall iudge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
Strictly literal
Dan will judge his people, As another of the tribes of Israel.
Dan doth judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel;
Dan judges his people, || As one of the tribes of Israel;
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
From the Latin
Dan shall judge his people like another tribe in Israel.
Simplified
Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan will be the judge of his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word on this verse, confirming the consistency of the text across these traditions. The Septuagint matches the Hebrew closely, preserving the essential meaning and structure.
דָּ֖ן יָדִ֣ין עַמּ֑וֹ כְּאַחַ֖ד שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
דן ידין עמו כאחד שׁבטי ישׂראל
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 49:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
דָּן (Dan) means 'judge' and refers to the fifth son of Jacob and Bilhah. It encompasses the tribe descended from him and a city located in northern Israel, significant as a landmark in Palestine. The entries consistently highlight these aspects without notable disagreement.
דָּן n.pr.m. (judge)
son of Jacob and Bilhah
the tribe of Dan
a city on northern frontier of Israel at one of the sources of the Jordan
base
H1835 דָּן judge . son of Jacob and Bilhah
. the tribe of Dan
. a city on northern frontier of Israel at one of the sources of the Jordan
1835 Dan dawn
from 1777; judge; Dan, one of the sons of Jacob; also the
tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place
in Palestine colonized by them:--Dan.
see HEBREW for 01777
דָּן (dan) — Dan.
§ Dan = "a judge"
1) the territory of the tribe of Dan 2) a city in Dan, the most northern landmark of Palestine
דָּן (dan) — Dan.
A man of the tribe of Dan living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.6;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Bilhah (H1090A);
brother of: Naphtali (H5321);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Hushim (H2366B)
§ Dan = "a judge"
1) the 5th son of Jacob, the 1st of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid
2) the tribe descended from Dan, the son of Jacob
3) a city in Dan, the most northern landmark of Palestine
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Dan
A judge. (1.) The fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s maid (Gen. 30:6, “God hath judged me”, Heb. dananni). The blessing pronounced on him by his father was, “Dan shall judge his people” (49:16), probably in allusion to the judgeship of Samson, who was of the tribe of Dan.
The tribe of Dan had their place in the march through the wilderness on the north side of the tabernacle (Num. 2:25, 31; 10:25). It was the last of the tribes to receive a portion in the Land of Promise. Its position and extent are described in Josh. 19:40-48.
The territory of Dan extended from the west of that of Ephraim and Benjamin to the sea. It was a small territory, but was very fertile. It included in it, among others, the…
(a judge). The fifth son of Jacob, and the first of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. (Genesis 30:6) (B.C. after 1753.) The origin of the name is given in the exclamation of Rachel. The records of Dan are unusually meagre. Only one son is attributed to him, (Genesis 46:23) but his tribe was, with the exception of Judah, the most numerous of all. In the division of the promised land Dan was the last of the tribes to receive his portion, which was the smallest of the twelve. (Joshua 19:48) But notwithstanding its smallness it had eminent natural advantages. On the north and east it was completely embraced by its two brother tribes Ephraim and Benjamin, while on the southeast and south it joined Judah, and was thus surrounded by the three…
A judge,
1. A son of Jacob by Bilhah, Ge 30:3 35:25. The tribe of Dan was second only to that of Judah in numbers before entering Canaan, Nu 1:39 26:43. A portion was assigned to Dan, extending southeast from the seacoast near Joppa. It bordered on the land of the Philistines, with whom the tribe of Dan had much to do, Jud 13:1-16:31. Their territory was fertile, but small, and the natives were powerful. A part of the tribe therefore sought and conquered another home, Jos 19:1-51 Jud 18:1-31
judgment; he that judges
דִּין (diyn) means to judge or govern, encompassing actions like executing judgment, pleading a cause, and contending. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal and Niphal, indicating both active and passive roles in judgment and strife. Strong's entry also notes a connection to a straight course, particularly in Genesis 6:3.
דִּין vb. judge
Qal
act as judge, minister judgment
plead the cause
execute judgment, vindicate
execute judgment, requite
govern
he cannot contend with one mightier than he
Niph. and all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel
base
H1777 דִּין judge .. act as judge, minister judgment
. plead the cause
. execute judgment, vindicate
. execute judgment, requite
. govern
. he cannot contend with one mightier than he
. and all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel
1777 diyn deen
or (Gen. 6:3) duwn {doon}; a primitive roy a straight course,
i.e. sail direct:--(come) with a straight course.
דִּין (din) — to judge.
1) to judge, contend, plead
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to act as judge, minister judgment
1a2) to plead a cause
1a3) to execute judgment, requite, vindicate
1a4) to govern
1a5) to contend, strive
1b) (Niphal) to be at strife, quarrel
Aramaic equivalent: din (דִּין "to judge" H1778)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
juj (shopheT; New Testament dikastes, krites): In the early patriarchal times the heads of families and the elders of the tribes were the judges (compare Ge 38:24), and their authority was based on custom. In the wilderness Moses alone was the judge until Jethro suggested a scheme of devolution. On his advice Moses divided the people into groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and over each group a wise and good man was set as a judge. Thereafter only the most important cases were brought before Moses (Ex 18:13-26; De 1:9-17). This arrangement ceased to be practicable when the children of Israel settled down in Canaan. Although David took counsel with the heads of thousands and hundreds (
Judge
(Heb. shophet, pl. shophetim), properly a magistrate or ruler, rather than one who judges in the sense of trying a cause. This is the name given to those rulers who presided over the affairs of the Israelites during the interval between the death of Joshua and the accession of Saul (Judg. 2:18), a period of general anarchy and confusion. “The office of judges or regents was held during life, but it was not hereditary, neither could they appoint their successors. Their authority was limited by the law alone, and in doubtful cases they were directed to consult the divine King through the priest by Urim and Thummim (Num. 27:21). Their authority extended only over those tribes by whom they had been elected or acknowledged. There was no income attached to their office, and they…
→ Appointed by the Persians Ezr 7:25
→ Kings and other rulers as 2Sa 8:15; 15:2; 1Ki 3:16-28; 10:9; 2Ki 8:1-6; Ps 72:1-4; Mt 27:11-26; Ac 23:34,35; 24; 25:11,12
→ Priests and Levites as De 17:9; 2Ch 19:8; Eze 44:23,24; Mt 26:57-62
עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.
עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people
a people, nation
= smaller units
= common people
people in gen., persons
phrases
base
[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)
base
H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)
5971 `am am
from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a
tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or
attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,
people.
see HEBREW for 06004
עַם (am) — people.
: people/nation
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — kinsman.
kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Ammi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — People's (Gate).
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.
Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Amaw.
This name means nation, people
עַם (am) — people: soldiers.
: soldiers/army
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — people: creatures.
: creatures
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.
אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one
one
= each, every
= a certain
= indef. art.
only, & (fem.) once
one … another, one … the other
as ordinal first
in combin.
base
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
259 'echad ekh-awd'
a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an
ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,
any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +
eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,
other, some, together,
see HEBREW for 0258
אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Acfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
שֵׁ֫בֶט (shebet) refers to both a physical object and a social group. It can mean a rod, staff, or sceptre, often associated with authority or punishment, as well as a tribe or clan. The word is built from a root likely meaning to branch off, indicating both literal and figurative uses.
שֵׁ֫בֶט 189 n.m. 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe
base
H7626 שֵׁ֫בֶט 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe
7626 shebet shay'-bet
from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion,
i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting,
ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan:--X
correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: staff.
: staff
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)
1e) clan, tribe
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe.
: tribe
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)
1e) clan, tribe
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: javelin.
: javelin
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)
1e) clan, tribe
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: ruler.
: ruler
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) refers to both the second name of Jacob, meaning 'God prevails,' and the name of the Hebrew nation descended from him. It is derived from roots meaning 'to rule' and 'God.' The term encompasses Jacob's descendants and is used historically for the northern kingdom of Israel and the nation as a whole after the Babylonian exile.
יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)
n.pr.m. second name of Jacob
n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation
base
H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth) . n. pr. m. second name of Jacob
. n. pr. gent. name of Hebrew nation
3478 Yisra'el yis-raw-ale'
from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical
name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:
--Israel.
see HEBREW for 08280
see HEBREW for 0410
יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis.ra.el) — Israel.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;
son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);
brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);
father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently
§ Israel = "God prevails"
1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel
2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob
2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
iz'-ra-el.
See JACOB.
Israel
The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because “as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,” the “children of Israel” (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the “house of Israel” (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).
This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3;
(the prince that prevails with God). The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of…
Who prevails with God, a name given to Jacob, after having wrestled with the Angel-Jehovah at Penuel. Ge 32:1,2,28,30 Ho 12:3. See JACOB. By the name Israel is sometimes understood all the posterity of Israel, the seed of Jacob, 1Co 10:18; sometimes all true believers, his spiritual seed, Ro 9:6; and sometimes the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, as distinct from the kingdom of Judah.