Joshua 19:30 — Word Study
WLCוְעֻמָ֥ה וַאֲפֵ֖ק וּרְחֹ֑ב עָרִ֛ים עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁתַּ֖יִם וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן׃
BSAUmmahʻUmmâh△ [a place of union] AphekʼĂphêq [an enclosure] and RehobRᵉchôb [a spacious place] [There were] twenty-twoʻesrîym [two and twenty] citiesʻîyr [towns with walls, settlements] along with their villageschâtsêr [small settlements, unwalled places]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְעֻמָ֥ה | and Umah | Conjunction, noun proper |
| וַאֲפֵ֖ק | and Aphek | Conjunction, noun proper |
| וּרְחֹ֑ב | and Rehob | Conjunction, noun proper |
| עָרִ֛ים | cities | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| עֶשְׂרִ֥ים | twenty | Adj |
| וּשְׁתַּ֖יִם | and two | Conjunction |
| וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן׃ | and villages their | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages. |
| KJV | Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages. |
| ASV | Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages. |
| YLT | and Ummah, and Aphek, and Rehob; twenty and two cities and their villages. |
| WEB | Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two cities with their villages. |
| BBE | And Ummah and Aphek and Rehob; twenty-two towns with their unwalled places. |
Where they part company is in the expression of the total count of cities and villages — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause lists the cities, followed by a numerical phrase and a prepositional phrase providing additional detail.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 — Joshua 19:30
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 Cities of Ashergenerated
Joshua 19:30 lists the cities allocated to the tribe of Asher, highlighting their geographical significance. The mention of these cities reflects the historical and cultural landscape of ancient Israel, as well as the fulfillment of God's promises to the tribes of Israel regarding their inheritance in the land.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 12:18 | the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; |
| 2 | Joshua 13:4 | to the south, all the land of the Canaanites, from Mearah of the Sidonians to Aphek, as far as the border of the Amorites; |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 4:1 | Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 20:30 | The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room. |
| 5 | Joshua 19:28 | It went on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עֻמָּה, ve.'u.Mahgenerated
The name עֻמָּה (Ummah) is a proper noun referring to a city of Asher. It suggests a place of union, indicating a location of significance within the tribal territory. The parsing as a noun proper shows it is a specific name rather than a common term.
The context of its use in Joshua 19:30 emphasizes its role among other cities, marking it as part of the geographical heritage of the tribe.
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 main clause is structured around the listing of cities: עֻמָּה, אֲפֵק, and רְחֹב, followed by a statement about the total number of cities and villages. This structure emphasizes the cities first, followed by their collective count.
The sentence is straightforward, listing proper nouns followed by a numerical phrase that quantifies the cities and their associated settlements.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עֻמָּה as αρξωβ, which does not carry the same meaning as 'union' but rather presents a different interpretation of the city's significance.
This choice suggests a possible narrowing of meaning or a focus on a different aspect of the location, differing from the Hebrew emphasis on union.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 19:30 mentions the cities of Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob, stating there were twenty-two cities along with their villages. This verse highlights the geographical distribution of cities in the territory of the tribe of Asher.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Ummah means 'a place of union' and is one of the cities allocated to the tribe of Asher.
These cities are part of the inheritance given to the tribes of Israel, marking their settlement in the Promised Land.
Aphek means 'an enclosure' and refers to several locations in ancient Palestine.
Rehob means 'a spacious place' and is associated with various locations in biblical accounts.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What do the names of these cities reveal about the culture and history of the tribe of Asher?
- How does the concept of 'union' in Ummah reflect the community values of ancient Israel?
- In what ways do the cities listed contribute to our understanding of the geography of the Promised Land?
- How can we apply the significance of these cities to our understanding of community and belonging today?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 19:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleUmmah also,.... Ummah is not mentioned any where else; and Aphek; of which, [See comments on Joshua 12:18]; and Rehob; of which, [See comments on Joshua 19:28]; twenty and two cities with their
Read John Gill on Joshua 19 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryUmmah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 19 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHere are more named, but some of them were not within this tribe, but only bordering places.
Read Matthew Poole on Joshua 19 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 30. Twenty and two cities] There are nearly thirty cities in the above enumeration instead of twenty-two, but probably several are mentioned that were but frontier towns, and that did not belong to this tribe, their border only passing by such cities; and on this account, though they are named, yet they do not enter into the enumeration in this place. Perhaps some of the villages are named as well as the cities.
Read AdamClarke on Joshua 19 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges30. Ummah also] Of the three cities here mentioned, Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob, the first and third are unknown. Aphek apparently lay in the extreme north of Asher, and is probably the same place as that alluded to above, ch. Joshua 13:4, beyond Sidon, the Aphaca of classical, and the Afka of modern, times. twenty and two cities] Which number does not correspond with the cities given, and at present the explanation is not clear.
Read Cambridge on Joshua 19 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible30. Ummah — Dr. Thomson endeavours to identify it with Alma, in the highlands on the coast. Aphek — See on Joshua 13:4. But that Aphek could hardly have been assigned to Asher, being too far beyond his border.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 19 →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
Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages.
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two cities with their villages.
Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages.
Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had twenty-two cities and their towns.
Tyndale line
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
Vmmah also and Aphek, and Rehob: two and twentie cities with their villages.
Strictly literal
and Ummah, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two cities and their hamlets.
and Ummah, and Aphek, and Rehob; twenty and two cities and their villages.
and Ummah, and Aphek, and Rehob; twenty-two cities and their villages.
And 'Ummah and Aphek, and Rechob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, including their villages.
From the Latin
And Amma and Aphec and Rohob: twenty-two cities, and their villages.
Simplified
Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob—twenty-two towns with their associated villages.
And Ummah and Aphek and Rehob; twenty-two towns with their unwalled places.
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 lists the same cities and their total count, while the Septuagint only partially matches the Hebrew text, indicating some differences in translation and interpretation.
וְעֻמָ֥ה וַאֲפֵ֖ק וּרְחֹ֑ב עָרִ֛ים עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁתַּ֖יִם וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן׃
3 of the 7 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.
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 Joshua 19:30
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.
עֻמָּה (Ummah) refers to a location in Palestine, specifically one of the cities of the tribe of Asher. It is associated with the concept of 'union' and is mentioned in Joshua 19:30. The entries indicate that it is derived from a similar term, but do not provide further details on its usage.
עֻמָּה n.pr.loc. Jos 19:30
ref
H5981 עֻמָּה
5981 `Ummah oom-maw'
the same as 5980; association; Ummah, a place in
Palestine:--Ummah.
see HEBREW for 05980
עֻמָּה (um.mah) — Ummah.
§ Ummah = "union"
one of the cities of Asher; also probably 'Acco'
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
The Hebrew word אֲפֵק (Apheq) refers to a location, specifically Aphek or Aphik, which means 'enclosure.' It denotes several cities in ancient Palestine, including one near Jezreel and another in the territory of Asher. The term is derived from a root meaning strength, suggesting a fortified place.
אֲפֵק, אֲפִיק n.pr.loc. Aphek (perh. enclosure, or fortress).
city near Jezreel
city in tribe of Asher
city NE. of Beirût, mod. Afqa
place near Mizpah
base
H663 אֲפֵק, אֲפִיק
663 'Apheq af-ake'
or rAphiyq {af-eek'}; from 662 (in the sense of strength);
fortress; Aphek (or Aphik), the name of three places in
Palestine:--Aphek, Aphik.
see HEBREW for 0662
אֲפֵק (a.pheq) — Aphek.
Aphek or Aphik = "enclosure"
a Canaanite city near Jezreel
Also named: a.phe.qah (אֲפֵקָה "Aphekah" H0664)
אֲפֵק (a.pheq) — Aphek.
§ Aphek or Aphik = "enclosure"
a city northeast of Beirut in Transjordan
אֲפֵק (a.pheq) — Aphek.
§ Aphek or Aphik = "enclosure"
a city in territory of Asher
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
a'-fek ('apheq, "fortress"; Aphek):
(1) In Jos 12:18 we should probably read with the Septuagint "the king of Aphek in Sharon." This may correspond to Aphek in 1Sa 4:1. It was a royal city of the Canaanites whose king was slain by Josh. Probably it is the Aphek mentioned by Josephus as being near to Antipatris (BJ, II, xix, 1). Kakon, a strong position commanding the main entrance to Samaria might suit; but the name has perished.
(2) (Greek Taphek or Apheka): A city in the lot of Asher (Jos 13:4). The inhabitants were not ejected by Asher, nor is it said that they became tributary (Jud 1:31). In this passage it is written 'aphiq (Hebrew). It may be represented by 'Afqa on Nahr…
(strength), the name of several places in Palestine. A royal city of the Canaanites, the king of which was killed by Joshua, (Joshua 12:18) probably the same as APHEKAH in (Joshua 15:53) A city, apparently in the extreme north of Asher, (Joshua 19:30) from which the Canaanites were not ejected, (Judges 1:31) though here it is APHIK. This is probably the same place as APHEK, (Joshua 13:4) on the extreme north "border of the Amorites,"; identified with the Aphaca of classical times, the modern Afka . A place at which the Philistines encamped while the Israelites pitched in Eben-ezer, before the fatal battle in which the…
strength
1. A city in Lebanon, assigned to the tribe of Asher, Jos 13:4; 19:30; but not subdued, Jud 1:31. Its site may be still found in Mount Lebanon, called Aphka.
2.A city of the tribe of Issachar, in the valley of Jezreel, noted in the wars with Philistines, 1Sa 4:1; 29:1.
3.A city five miles east of the sea of Galilee, the walls of which fell upon twenty-seven thousand Syrians under Benhadad, after his defeat by the Israelites, 1Ki 20:26-34.
Aphekah, Aphik, strength; a rapid torrent
רְחוֹב (Rechob) means "broad place" and refers to a location in Syria and a town in Asher. It is associated with several figures, including a man from Zobah, the father of Hadadezer, and a Levite who sealed a covenant with Nehemiah. The term also marks the northern limit of the spies' exploration in Canaan.
רְחוֹב, רְחֹב n.pr.
loc.:
towards Hamath
in Asher
m.:
Aram. name
post-exilic Levite
base
H7340 רְחוֹב, רְחֹב
7340 Rchob rekh-obe'
or Rchowb {rekh-obe'}; the same as 7339; Rechob, the name of
a place in Syria, also of a Syrian and an Israelite:--Rehob.
see HEBREW for 07339
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — Rehob.
§ Rehob = "broad place"
the northern limit of the exploration of the spies in Canaan; on the road to Hamath
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — Rehob.
§ Rehob = "broad place"
a town in Asher
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — Rehob.
A man of Zobah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.8.3;
father of: Hadadezer (H1909)
§ Rehob = "broad place"
1) father of Hadadezer the king of Zobah who was killed by David
2) a Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
3) the northern limit of the exploration of the spies in Canaan; on the road to Hamath
4) a town in Asher
5) a second town by the same name also in Asher
רְחוֹב (re.chov) — Rehob.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.10.11
§ Rehob = "broad place"
1) father of Hadadezer the king of Zobah who was killed by David
2) a Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun properHC/Npl
re'-hob (rechobh; Rhoob, Rhaab):
(1) Etymologically the word means "broad" and might be applied either to a road or a plain. Rehob is given (Nu 13:21) as the northern limit of Israel as reached by the spies. This agrees with the position assigned to Beth-rehob in the narrative of the settlement of the Danites (Jud 18:28). It is mentioned again along with the kingdom of Zobah in connection with the wars of Saul (1Sa 14:47 Septuagint Lag.), and as having been associated with, Zobah and Maacah against David in the Ammonite war and as having been defeated by him (2Sa 10:6). Robinson sought to identify it with Hunin, but it hardly suits the references. Buhl (GAP, 240) following…
Rehob
Street; broad place. (1.) The father of Hadadezer, king of Tobah (2 Sam. 8:3, 12).
(2.) Neh. 10:11.
(3.) The same, probably, as Beth-rehob (2 Sam. 10:6, 8; Judg. 18:28), a place in the north of Palestine (Num. 13:21). It is now supposed to be represented by the castle of Hunin, south-west of Dan, on the road from Hamath into Coele-Syria.
(4.) A town of Asher (Josh. 19:28), to the east of Zidon.
(5.) Another town of Asher (Josh. 19:30), kept possession of by the Canaanites (
The father of Hadadezer king of Zobah, whom David smote at the Euphrates. (2 Samuel 8:3,12) (B.C. before 1043.) A Levite or family of Levites who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:11) (B.C. 410.) The northern limit of the exploration of the spies. (Numbers 13:21) Robinson fixes the position of Rehob as not far from Tell el-Kady and Banias . One of the towns allotted to Asher. (Joshua 19:28) Asher contained another Rehob, (Joshua 19:30) but the situation of these towns is unknown.
1. A Levitical city in Asher, Jos 19:28; 21:31, on the northern border of the Holy Land, called also Beth-rehob, and lying in a valley south of Anti-Lebanon, not far north of Dan, Nu 13:21; Jud 18:28. It was long governed by its own kings, Jud 1:31, but in the time of David was rendered tributary, 2Sa 10:6,8,19. Some think there were two cities of this name in Asher.
2. The father of Hadadezer king of Zobah in Syria, 2Sa 8:3.
The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.
עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage
base
עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town
city, town, abode of men
of fortress in a city
appar. fortified place, of any size
base
H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men
. of fortress in a city
. appar. fortified place, of any size
5892 `iyr eer
or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)
{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a
watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or
post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
see HEBREW for 05782
עִיר (ir) — excitement.
1) excitement, anguish
1a) of terror
עִיר (ir) — city.
1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town
עִיר (ir) — City (of On).
Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)
This name means city, town
Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)
עִיר (ir) — Ir-.
#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;
son of: Tehinnah (H8468)
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
The earliest notice in Scripture of city-building is of Enoch by Cain, in the land of his exile. (Genesis 4:17) After the confusion of tongues the descendants of Nimrod founded Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar, and Asshur, a branch from the same stock, built Nineveh, Rehoboth-by-the-river, Calah and Resen, the last being "a great city." The earliest description of a city, properly so called, is that of Sodom, (Genesis 19:1-22) Even before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt, (Genesis 12:14,15; Numbers 13:22) and the Israelites, during their sojourn there, were employed in building or fortifying the "treasure cities" of Pithom and Raamses.…
עֶשְׂרִים (esriym) means 'twenty' and can also refer to the ordinal 'twentieth.' It is derived from the root word for 'ten' and has an Aramaic equivalent, עֶשְׂרִין (es.rin). The entries consistently define the term without significant disagreement.
עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty
base
H6242 עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty
6242 `esriym es-reem'
from 6235; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth:--(six-)score,
twenty(-ieth).
see HEBREW for 06235
עֶשְׂרִים (es.rim) — twenty.
twenty, twentieth
Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)
Adj — AdjHAcmpa
twen'-ti.
See NUMBER.
שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.
שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two
base
H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two
8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim
dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also
(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +
twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
see HEBREW for 08145
שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.
1) two
1a) two (the cardinal number)
1a1) two, both, double, twice
1b) second (the ordinal number)
1c) in combination with other numbers
1d) both (a dual number)
HC/Acfda — ConjunctionHC/Acfda
too.
See NUMBER.
חָצֵר (chatser) refers to an enclosure or court, and can also mean a settled abode, settlement, or village, typically appearing in the plural form חֲצֵרִים. The word is derived from a root meaning to enclose, indicating spaces that are surrounded by walls or fences.
חָצֵר 145 n.m. and (oftener) f. enclosure, court
base
[חָצֵר] 46 n.m. settled abode, settlement, village—always pl. abs. חֲצֵרִים
base
H2691a חָצֵר n. m. and (oftener) f. enclosure, court H2691b חָצֵר settled abode, settlement, village—always pl. abs. חֲצֵרִים
2691 chatser khaw-tsare'
(masculine and feminine); from 2690 in its original sense; a
yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly
surrounded with walls):--court, tower, village.
see HEBREW for 02690
חָצֵר (cha.tser) — court.
1) court, enclosure
1a) enclosures
1b) court
חָצֵר (cha.tser) — village.
settled abode, settlement, village, town
Conj | N-cp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncmpc/Sp3fp