Menu

Joshua 22:1 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאָ֚ז יִקְרָ֣א יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ לָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖י וְלַגָּדִ֑י וְלַחֲצִ֖י מַטֵּ֥ה מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃

BSAThenʼâz [at that time, afterwards] JoshuaYᵉhôwshûwaʻ [leader of the Israelites, successor of Moses] summonedqârâʼ [called, gathered] the ReubenitesRᵉʼûwbênîy [descendants of Reuben, son of Israel] the GaditesGâdîy [tribe of Gad, one of the twelve sons of Israel] and the half-tribechêtsîy [a part of, a division] of ManassehMᵉnashsheh [a tribe of Israel, named after Joseph's son]

Word
Listen & take awayJoshua 22
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (me.na.Sheh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Joshua 22:1quick helps
In a sentenceJoshua calls together the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh.
Who is speakingJoshua, the leader of the Israelites.
Where we areAfter the conquest of Canaan, Joshua addresses the tribes.
The hard wordיִקְרָ֣א
Take awayJoshua is summoning the tribes for an important message.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectיְהֹושֻׁעַ verbקָרָא The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 — Joshua 22:1

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 — Joshua Addresses the Tribesgenerated

1Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh
2and told them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.
3All this time you have not deserted your brothers, up to this very day, but have kept the charge given you by the LORD your God.
4And now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as He promised them, you may return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you across the Jordan.

Joshua 22:1 describes a moment when Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, gathers the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh after their successful campaigns in Canaan. This gathering is significant as it sets the stage for Joshua to address their commitment and the fulfillment of God's promises. The following verses reveal Joshua's commendation of their loyalty and the instructions for their return home, highlighting their role in the Israelite community.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Numbers 32:18–33We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has taken possession of his inheritance.
2Deuteronomy 29:7–8When you reached this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us in battle, but we defeated them.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יִקְרָ֣א, yik.Ra'generated

The verb יִקְרָא (yik.Ra') is a Qal imperfect form of the root קָרָא (qara'), meaning 'to call' or 'to summon.' This form indicates an action that is ongoing or future, suggesting Joshua's authoritative role in calling the tribes together.

This word encompasses various actions, such as calling out, proclaiming, or reading aloud. In this context, it emphasizes Joshua's leadership and the importance of the gathering, as he calls the tribes to attention for a significant discussion.


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. The BSB uses summoned, which aligns with the KJV and ASV, both of which also use the term called.

Where others part company with the BSB is in the rendering of אָ֚זthen (BSB, KJV, ASV) versus at that time (ULB). This shows a slight variation in emphasis but does not change the fundamental meaning.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יִקְרָ֣א (he summoned) governs the entire clause, with several noun phrases detailing who was summoned. The structure is straightforward, with Joshua as the subject performing the action of summoning.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the action of summoning, highlighting Joshua's authority and the importance of the gathering of the tribes.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יִקְרָ֣א as συνεκάλεσεν (sune-kalēsen), meaning 'he called together.' This choice reflects a similar emphasis on unity and gathering, aligning with the Hebrew intent.

The Greek word also carries a sense of assembly, indicating that Joshua's action was not just a call but a formal gathering of the tribes for an important purpose.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Joshua 22:1 tells us that Joshua called together the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh. This gathering was significant as it marked an important moment in the Israelite community after their conquests. Joshua's address would commend their loyalty and discuss their return home.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Why did Joshua summon the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh?

Joshua summoned them to commend their loyalty and discuss their return home after the conquest of Canaan.

What does the term 'Reubenites' refer to?

Reubenites are descendants of Reuben, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and represent the tribe of Reuben.

What significance does Joshua's leadership have in this context?

Joshua's leadership is crucial as he is the one who unites the tribes and ensures their commitment to God's commands.

What can we learn from Joshua's gathering of the tribes?

We can learn the importance of community and accountability in fulfilling promises and commitments.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does it mean to be called together as a community in our own lives?
  2. How can we show loyalty and commitment to our responsibilities?
  3. In what ways can we support our leaders as they guide us?
  4. What lessons can we learn from Joshua's leadership style?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early commentaries, such as those from Origen of Alexandria, reference this verse to discuss Joshua's leadership and the gathering of the tribes.

Origen of AlexandriaHOMILIES ON Joshua 26.2 c. 185–253
After these things Jesus [Joshua] assembles the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who had served as soldiers with him to overcome the foes of the Israelites,
Early Church Fathers on Joshua 22 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Joshua 22:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

Read John Gill on Joshua 22 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 22 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Joshua 22:1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,Ver. 1. Then Joshua called the Reubenites.] That he might disband and dismiss them, with due commendation and remuneration, as became a noble general.

Read John Trapp on Joshua 22 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

XXII. OF THE TWO AND A HALF TRIBES TO THEIR ON THE EAST OF JORDAN.(1-6) Charge to the two and a half tribes by Joshua. The words of Jos 22:2-3 recall the promise of Jos 1:16, and Joshua’s charge in Joshua 22:5 recalls that which he himself had received at first (Joshua 1:7), and finds a further parallel in what he said to Israel before his death (Joshua 23, 24).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Joshua 22 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

CHAPTER XXII Joshua assembles, commends, blesses, and then dismisses the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 1-8. They return and build an altar by the side of Jordan, 9, 10. The rest of the Israelites hearing of this, and suspecting that they had built the altar for idolatrous purposes, or to make a schism in the national worship, prepare to go to war with them, 11, 12; but first send a deputation to know the truth, 13, 14. They arrive and expostulate with their brethren, 15-20. The Reubenites, Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, make a noble defence, and show that their altar was built as a monument only to prevent idolatry, 21-29. The deputation are satisfied…

Read AdamClarke on Joshua 22 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Ch. Joshua 22:1-8. Joshua’s Farewell Address to the two Tribes and a Half 1. Then Joshua] The author of the section from chapters 13–21. having given his account, marked with truth and accuracy, of the division of the land, the appointment of the Cities of Refuge and the Levitical cities, describes in the three following chapters, which close the book, (a) the release of the two tribes and a half to their homes beyond the Jordan; (b) their return, and erection of an altar on the Jordan; (c) the embassy from Israel on account of this altar; (d) the apology of the eastern tribes and return of the embassy; (e) Joshua’s last discourses to the people; (f) his death; and (g) the death of Eleazar.…

Read Cambridge on Joshua 22 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The events of this chap. are no doubt recorded in their proper historical order. The auxiliary forces of the trans-Jordanic tribes were not sent away immediately after the campaigns against the Canaanites were over.

Read Albert Barnes on Joshua 22 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

THE TRANS- TRIBES , Joshua 22:1-9.We have seen (Joshua 1:12-15) that Joshua required these tribes to fulfil the condition on which they were permitted to receive their portions before the conquest of

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 22 →

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Then Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh

NETBNew English Translation2006

Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

RVARevised Version, American1894

Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then Ioshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the halfe tribe of Manasseh,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Then Joshua calleth for the Reubenite, and for the Gadite, and for the half of the tribe of Manasseh,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Then Joshua calls for the Reubenite, and for the Gadite, and for the half-tribe of Manasseh,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Then did Joshua call the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Menasseh,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

At that time Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

At the same time Josue called the Rubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasses,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Then Joshua summoned the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Then Joshua sent for the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

Word by word, the decisions they made

אָ֚ז'az then H227 2 different renderings
thenASV BBE BSB DBY FBV GNV ILT KJV LSV MSB NETB NWB RVA WEB YLT
at that timeULB

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.

clauseadverbialאָ֚זthenverbיִקְרָ֣אhe.summonedsubjectיְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַJoshuaprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseלָ(to)noun phrasetheרֽאוּבֵנִ֖יReubenite[s]וְandprepositional phraseלַ(to)noun phrasetheגָּדִ֑יGadite[s]וְand.(to)prepositional phraseלַthenoun phraseחֲצִ֖יhalfnoun phraseמַטֵּ֥הof.the.tribeמְנַשֶּֽׁהof.Manasseh

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 Septuagint agree in their wording for this verse, with all eight words matched. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the text's meaning across these ancient witnesses.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

אָ֚ז יִקְרָ֣א יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ לָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖י וְלַגָּדִ֑י וְלַחֲצִ֖י מַטֵּ֥ה מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אָ֚זτότεיִקְרָ֣אσυνεκάλεσενיְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַἰησοῦςלָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖יρουβηνוְלַגָּדִ֑יκαὶוְלַחֲצִ֖יἥμισυמַטֵּ֥הφυλῆςמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃μανασση

8 of the 8 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.

Joshua 22:1אָזthenthenאָזקָרָאhe summonedhe summonedקָרָאיְהוֹשׁוּעַJoshuaJoshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַרְאוּבֵנִיthe Reubenithe Reubenite[sרְאוּבֵנִיגָּדִיand the Gadand the Gadite[גָּדִיחֲצִיand [the] hand [the] half חֲצִימַטֶּה[the] tribe[the] tribe ofמַטֶּהמְנַשֶּׁהManassehManassehמְנַשֶּׁהיהוהThe LordThe LordיהוהרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןגָּדGadGadגָּדחָצָהto divideto divideחָצָהנָטָהto stretchto stretchנָטָהנָשָׁהto forgetto forgetנָשָׁהקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָאחֲצִיhalfhalfחֲצִימְצוּדָהnetnetמְצוּדָהפָּשַׁעto transgrto transgressפָּשַׁעצוֹםfastfastצוֹםשֵׁםnamenameשֵׁםנוּןNunNunנוּןיְהוֹצָדָקJehozadakJehozadakיְהוֹצָדָקגָּדִיGadGadגָּדִימְנַשִּׁיManassiteManassiteמְנַשִּׁירְאוּבֵנִיReubeniteReubeniteרְאוּבֵנִימְנַשֶּׁהMosesMosesמְנַשֶּׁה
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Joshua 22:1

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.

then he summoned Joshua the Reubenite[s] and the Gadite[s] and [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh
אָ֚ז'az then H227 Adverb
141× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a past time or place, often used to describe something that happened earlier. It can also be used as a conjunction to show a cause-and-effect relationship. In the Bible, it appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah.
Amplified meaning
at that time, afterwards
Tyndale gloss
then
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָז (az) is a demonstrative adverb meaning 'at that time' or 'then,' used for both temporal and logical expressions. It can refer to past events or indicate a condition for future actions. The related form מֵאָז (me.az) means 'from that time' or 'since.' The entries highlight its use in various contexts without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָז adv. at that time, then whether expressing duration, or inception (= thereupon).

strictly temporal

expressing logical sequence strictly

base

מֵאָז lit. from that time

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H227a אָז at that time, then H227b מֵאָז, once

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

227 'az awz

a demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a

conjunction, therefore:--beginning, for, from, hitherto, now,

of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָז (az) — then.

1) then, at that time

1a) temporal expressions

1a1) then (past)

1a2) then, if...then (future)

1a3) earlier

1b) logical expressions

1b1) in that case

1b2) that (being so)

מֵאָז (me.az) — the past.

1) in time past, of old

2)from time of, since

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
HD
then he summoned Joshua the Reubenite[s] and the Gadite[s] and [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh
יִקְרָ֣אyik.Ra' he summoned H7121 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
733× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to call out to someone or something, often by name. It's used in many situations, like calling for help or reading aloud. In Genesis, God calls out to Adam in the Garden.
Amplified meaning
called, gathered
Tyndale gloss
to call: call to
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara') is a primitive root meaning to call, proclaim, or read. It encompasses a range of actions including calling out, crying for help, reading aloud, and summoning. The word can also imply being called or named in various contexts. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרָא 724 vb. call, proclaim, read

Qal

call, cry, utter a loud sound

call, cry

call unto some one

cry for help

proclaim

read aloud

read to oneself

summon

call = name

Niph.

reflex.

pass. be called

Pu. be called

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7121 קָרָא call, proclaim, read .. . call, cry, utter a loud sound

. call, cry

. . call unto some one

. cry for help

. proclaim

. . read aloud

. read to oneself

. summon

. call = name

. . reflex.

. pass. be called

. be called

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7121 qara' kaw-raw'

a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea

of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly,

address by name, but used in a wide variety of

applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for,

forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite,

mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation),

pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.

see HEBREW for 07122

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call to.

: call_to/invite/entreat

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound

1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)

1a3) to proclaim

1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read

1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow

1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to call oneself

1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named

1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call by.

: call_by/name

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound

1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)

1a3) to proclaim

1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
then he summoned Joshua the Reubenite[s] and the Gadite[s] and [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh
יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַye.ho.Shu.a' Joshua H3091 Noun proper masculine
218× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Joshua was a leader in the Bible, first mentioned in Ezra 2:2, who helped the Israelites return from exile. His name means Jehovah is salvation, and he is also known as Jeshua in some parts of the Bible. He was a key figure in the conquest of Canaan.
Amplified meaning
leader of the Israelites, successor of Moses
Tyndale gloss
Joshua
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (*Yhowshuwa`*) refers to Joshua, the successor of Moses and leader of the Israelites. It encompasses various figures, including a resident of Beth-shemesh, a high priest after the restoration, and a governor of Jerusalem under Josiah. The name means 'Jehovah is salvation' and appears in different contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, and (later) יֵשׁוּעַ, n.pr.m. (& loc., v. 9 infr.) (י׳ is salvation or י׳ is opulence)

Moses’ successor, son of Nun

a Bethshemite

h.p. after the restoration, son of Jehozadak

governor of Jerusalem under Josiah

head of one of the classes of priests

a Levitical family-name of frequent occurrence

father of a builder at the wall

a Judaite family-name

n.pr.loc. in south of Judah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3091 יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, and (later) יֵשׁוּעַ . Moses’ successor, son of Nun

. a Bethshemite

. h. p. after the restoration, son of Jehozadak

. governor of Jerusalem under Josiah

. head of one of the classes of priests

. a Levitical family-name of frequent occurrence

. father of a builder at the wall

. a Judaite family-name

. n. pr. loc. in south of Judah

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3091 Yhowshuwa` yeh-ho-shoo'-ah

or Yhowshua {yeh-ho-shoo'-ah}; from 3068 and 3467;

Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish

leader:--Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare 1954, 3442.

see HEBREW for 03068

see HEBREW for 03467

see HEBREW for 01954

see HEBREW for 03442

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (ye.ho.shu.a) — Joshua.

A man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness and Israel before the Monarchy, first mentioned at Exo.17.9;

son of: Nun (H5126); also called Hoshea (KJV: Oshea) at Num.13.8; Jeshua at Neh.8.17;

§ Joshua or Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation"

1) son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan

2) a resident of Beth-shemesh on whose land the Ark of the Covenant came to a stop after the Philistines returned it

3) son of Jehozadak and high priest after the restoration

4) governor of Jerusalem under king Josiah who gave his name to a gate of the city of Jerusalem

יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (ye.ho.shu.a) — Joshua.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.6.14

§ Joshua or Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation"

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Joshua

Jehovah is his help, or Jehovah the Saviour. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, the successor of Moses as the leader of Israel. He is called Jehoshua in Num. 13:16 (A.V.), and Jesus in Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8 (R.V., Joshua).

He was born in Egypt, and was probably of the age of Caleb, with whom he is generally associated. He shared in all the events of the Exodus, and held the place of commander of the host of the Israelites at their great battle against the Amalekites in Rephidim (Ex. 17:8-16). He became Moses’ minister or servant, and accompanied him part of the way when he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the two tables (

(saviour, or whose help is Jehovah). His name appears in the various forms of HOSHEAHOSHEA, OSHEA, JEHOSHUA, JESHUA and JESUS. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Chronicles 7:27) (B.C. 1530-1420.) He was nearly forty years old when he shared in the hurried triumph of the exodus. He is mentioned first in connection with the fight against Amalek at Rephidim, when he was chosen by Moses to lead the Israelites. (Exodus 17:9) Soon afterward he was one of the twelve chiefs who were sent, (Numbers 13:17) to explore the land of Canaan, and one of the two, ch. (Numbers 14:6) who gave an encouraging report of their journey. Moses, shortly before his death, was directed, (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. The son of Nun, a distinguished leader of the Hebrews, and the successor of Moses. His name at first was Oshea, Nu 13:8,16; and in the New Testament he is called Jesus, Ac 7:45 Heb 4:8. Both the names, Joshua and Jesus, signify savior, deliverer. See JESUS. Joshua led Israel over the Jordan, and took possession of the promised land; he conquered the Canaanites, and then distributed the country among the tribes. He is first mentioned as the leader of Israel against the Amalekites at Rephidim,

Ex 17:8-16. See also Nu 14:6. At the passage over Jordan he was eighty-four years of age; and after about twenty-six years employed…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

a savior; a deliverer

then he summoned Joshua the Reubenite[s] and the Gadite[s] and [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh
לָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖יlo.r.'u.ve.Ni the Reubenite[s] H7206 Preposition · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A Reubenite is a descendant of Reuben, son of Israel and Leah, first mentioned in Genesis 29:32. Reubenites are part of the tribe of Reuben, living during the time of the Patriarchs. They are named after their ancestor Reuben.
Amplified meaning
descendants of Reuben, son of Israel
Tyndale gloss
Reubenite
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רְאוּבֵנִי (R'uwbeniy) refers to a Reubenite, meaning a descendant of Reuben, the son of Jacob. The term is derived from רְאוּבֵן (Reuben) and is used to describe individuals from the tribe of Reuben, first mentioned in Genesis 29:32. It highlights familial connections, including Reuben's brothers and descendants.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רְאוּבֵנִי adj.gent. of foreg. [רְאוּבֵן]

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7206 רְאוּבֵנִי of foreg. [רְאוּבֵן]

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7206 R'uwbeniy reh-oob-ay-nee'

patronymic from 7205; a Reubenite or descendant of

Reuben:--children of Reuben, Reubenites.

see HEBREW for 07205

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רְאוּבֵנִי (re.u.ve.ni) — Reubenite.

Someone from the tribe of Reuben living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.32;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);

brother of: Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);

half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);

father of: Hanoch (H2585J), Pallu (H6396), Hezron (H2696) and Carmi (H3756)

Group of re.u.ven (רְאוּבֵן "Reuben" H7205)

§ Reubenite, of Reuben "behold a son"

a descendant of Reuben the son of Jacob

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Ngmsa — Preposition · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ngmsa
then he summoned Joshua the Reubenite[s] and the Gadite[s] and [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh
וְלַגָּדִ֑יve.la.ga.Di and the Gadite[s] H1425 Conjunction · preposition · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The term Gad refers to the descendants of Gad, one of the twelve sons of Israel. The Gadites were a tribe that lived during the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned in Genesis 30:11. They were part of the Israelite community.
Amplified meaning
tribe of Gad, one of the twelve sons of Israel
Tyndale gloss
Gad
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּדִי (Gadiy) refers to a member of the tribe of Gad, one of the tribes of Israel. The term is derived from the name Gad, who was a son of Jacob and Zilpah, and it encompasses the descendants of Gad. The word is associated with meanings like 'invader' or 'troop.' It is first mentioned in Genesis 30:11.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּדִי adj.gent. Gadite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1425 גָּדִי Gadite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1425 Gadiy gaw-dee'

patronymically from 1410; a Gadite (collectively) or

descendants of Gad:--Gadites, children of Gad.

see HEBREW for 01410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּדִי (ga.di) — Gad.

Spomeone from the tribe of Gad living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.11;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Zilpah (H2153);

brother of: Asher (H0836);

half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);

father of: Ziphion (H6837), Haggi (H2291), Shuni (H7764), Ezbon (H0675), Eri (H6179), Arod (H0720) and Areli (H0692)

Another name of gad (גָּד "Gad" H1410G)

§ Gadite = "an invader: a troop: fortune"

one of the tribe descended from Gad

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | Ngmsa — Conjunction · preposition · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
HC/Rd/Ngmsa
then he summoned Joshua the Reubenite[s] and the Gadite[s] and [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh
וְלַחֲצִ֖יve.la.cha.Tzi and [the] half of H2677 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
125× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means half or middle, describing a division or a part of something. It is used to talk about physical things or time, like half of the day. The Bible uses it in various contexts.
Amplified meaning
a part of, a division
Tyndale gloss
half
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֲצִי (chetsiy) means 'half' or 'middle,' referring to a division of something into two parts. It can denote the concept of 'midnight' as well. The word is derived from a root that also relates to 'midst' or 'part.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֲצִי 123 n.m. half

half of anything

middle … midnight

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2677 חֲצִי half . half of anything

. middle … midnight

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2677 chetsiy khay-tsee'

from 2673; the half or middle:--half, middle, mid(-night),

midst, part, two parts.

see HEBREW for 02673

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲצִי (che.tsi) — half.

1) half

1a) half

1b) middle

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-ms — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/R/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

then he summoned Joshua the Reubenite[s] and the Gadite[s] and [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh
מַטֵּ֥הma.Teh [the] tribe of H4294 Noun common · masculine singular construct
252× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word can mean a tribe, like the 12 tribes of Israel, or a staff, like the one Moses used to lead his people in Exodus 4:2.
Tyndale gloss
tribe
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַטֶּה (mat-teh) refers to a staff, rod, or branch, and can also denote a tribe. It is derived from a root meaning to extend, and its uses include both literal and figurative meanings, such as a support or a means of correction. The lexicons consistently highlight its association with leadership and community.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַטֶּה 251 n.m.

staff, rod, shaft

branch

tribe

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4294 מַטֶּה . staff, rod, shaft

. branch

. tribe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4294 matteh mat-teh'

or (feminine) mattah {mat-taw'}; from 5186; a branch (as

extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for

chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre),

throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a

support of life, e.g. bread):--rod, staff, tribe.

see HEBREW for 05186

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַטֶּה (mat.teh) — tribe: rod.

: rod/staff

1) staff, branch, tribe

1a) staff, rod, shaft

1b) branch (of vine)

1c) tribe

1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

מַטֶּה (mat.teh) — tribe.

: tribe

1) staff, branch, tribe

1a) staff, rod, shaft

1b) branch (of vine)

1c) tribe

1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

מַטֶּה (mat.teh) — tribe: arrow.

: arrow

1) staff, branch, tribe

1a) staff, rod, shaft

1b) branch (of vine)

1c) tribe

1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

מַטֶּה (mat.teh) — tribe: stick.

: stick

1) staff, branch, tribe

1a) staff, rod, shaft

1b) branch (of vine)

1c) tribe

1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

מַטֶּה (mat.teh) — tribe: supply.

: supply

1) staff, branch, tribe

1a) staff, rod, shaft

1b) branch (of vine)

1c) tribe

1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

then he summoned Joshua the Reubenite[s] and the Gadite[s] and [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh
מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃me.na.Sheh Manasseh H4519 Noun proper masculine
146× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Manasseh was a grandson of Jacob and the ancestor of a large tribe in the Bible, mentioned in Genesis 41:51 and throughout the book of Numbers.
Amplified meaning
a tribe of Israel, named after Joseph's son
Tyndale gloss
Moses
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְנַשֶּׁה (Mnashsheh) means 'causing to forget' and refers to several figures in the Old Testament. Primarily, it denotes the eldest son of Joseph and the tribe descended from him, as well as the territory they occupied. Additionally, it identifies a king of Judah, son of Hezekiah, and several individuals mentioned during the Exile and Return. The entries consistently highlight these connections without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְנַשֶּׁה 136 n.pr.m. et trib. Manasseh

Manasseh, eldest son of Joseph

of tribe

son of Hezekiah

two who had taken strange wives

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4519 מְנַשֶּׁה Manasseh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4519 Mnashsheh men-ash-sheh'

from 5382; causing to forget; Menashsheh, a grandson of

Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its

territory:--Manasseh.

see HEBREW for 05382

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְנַשֶּׁה (me.nash.sheh) — Manasseh.

A man of the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.41.51;

son of: Joseph (H3130) and Asenath (H0621);

brother of: Ephraim (H0669); married to Aramitess (H0761);

father of: Machir (H4353) and Asriel (H0844H)

§ Manasseh = "causing to forget"

1) the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh

1a) the tribe descended from Manasseh

1b) the territory occupied by the tribe of Manasseh

2) son of king Hezekiah of Judah and himself king of Judah; he was the immediate and direct cause for the exile

3) a descendant of Pahath-moab who put away a foreign wife in the time of Ezra

4) a descendant of Hashum who put away a foreign wife in the time of Ezra

מְנַשֶּׁה (me.nash.sheh) — Manasseh.

A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.20.21;

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Manasseh

Who makes to forget. “God hath made me forget” (Heb. nashshani), Gen. 41:51. (1.) The elder of the two sons of Joseph. He and his brother Ephraim were afterwards adopted by Jacob as his own sons (48:1). There is an account of his marriage to a Syrian (1 Chr. 7:14); and the only thing afterwards recorded of him is, that his grandchildren were “brought up upon Joseph’s knees” (Gen. 50:23; R.V., “born upon Joseph’s knees”) i.e., were from their birth adopted by Joseph as his own children.

The tribe of Manasseh was associated with that of Ephraim and Benjamin during the wanderings in the wilderness. They encamped on the west side of the tabernacle. According to the census taken at Sinai, this tribe then…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(forgetting). The thirteenth king of Judah, son of Hezekiah, (2 Kings 21:1) ascended the throne at the age of twelve, and reigned 55 years, from B.C. 608 to 642. His accession was the signal for an entire change in the religious administration of the kingdom. Idolatry was again established to such an extent that every faith was tolerated but the old faith of Israel. The Babylonian alliance which the king formed against Assyria resulted in his being made prisoner and carried off to Babylon in the twenty-second year of his reign, according to a Jewish tradition. There his eyes were opened and he repented, and his prayer was heard and the Lord delivered him, (2 Chronicles 33:12,13) and he returned after some uncertain interval of time to Jerusalem. The altar of the Lord was again…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. The eldest son of Joseph, born in Egypt. His descendants constituted a full tribe. This was divided in the promised land: one part having settled east of the Jordan, in the country of Bashan, from the river Jabbok northwards; and the other west of the Jordan, between Ephraim and Issachar, extending from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. It was far inferior to Ephraim in wealth and power, according to the prediction of Jacob, Ge 41:50,51 48:1-22 Jos 16:10.

2. The son and impious successor of the good Hezekiah, king of Judah. He began to reign at twelve years old, B. C. 698, and reigned fifty-five years. For his shocking idolatries, tyranny, and cruelties, God suffered him to be carried as a prisoner to Babylon in the twenty-second year of his reign, probably by Esarhaddon king…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

forgetfulness; he that is forgotten

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate