Numbers 1:14 — Word Study
WLCלְגָ֕ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־ דְּעוּאֵֽל׃
BSAfrom GadGâd [the seventh son of Jacob, a tribe of Israel] EliasaphʼElyâçâph [a Gadite chief, leader] sonbên [descendant, offspring] of DeuelDᵉʻûwʼêl [also called Reuel, one who knows God]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְגָ֕ד | for Gad | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| אֶלְיָסָ֖ף | Eliasaph | Noun proper masculine |
| בֶּן־ | [the] son of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| דְּעוּאֵֽל׃ | Deuel | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel; |
| KJV | Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel. |
| ASV | Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel. |
| YLT | 'For Gad — Eliasaph son of Deuel. |
| WEB | Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel. |
| BBE | From Gad, Eliasaph, the son of Reuel; |
Where they part company is in the names used, but they all agree on the roles described.
The structure is straightforward, listing the tribe first, followed by the leader and his lineage.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
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 — Numbers 1:14
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 Census of Israel's Tribesgenerated
Numbers 1:14 identifies Eliasaph as the leader from the tribe of Gad during the wilderness census. This census was a crucial organization of the Israelite community as they prepared for their journey. Each tribe contributed leaders to ensure proper representation and order, as seen in the verses surrounding this one, including Numbers 1:13 and Numbers 1:15.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 7:42 | On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites, drew near. |
| 2 | Numbers 10:20 | and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. |
| 3 | Numbers 2:14 | Next will be the tribe of Gad. The leader of the Gadites is Eliasaph son of Deuel, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — גָּד, le.Gadgenerated
The name גָּד (Gad) is a proper noun referring to one of Jacob's sons and the tribe that descended from him. It is derived from a root meaning 'troop' and signifies both the individual and the collective group of people that followed him.
Gad's significance is highlighted in the context of Israel's tribal structure, where each tribe had its own leader during the wilderness period. This emphasizes the importance of lineage and tribal identity in Israelite society.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses Eliasaph and Deuel consistently with other versions like the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb is implicit in the structure, as the sentence lists the leader without a direct action. The prepositional phrase 'from Gad' sets the context, while the noun phrases 'Eliasaph' and 'Deuel' serve as the subject and descriptor.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the tribal affiliation first, followed by the leader's name, which is typical in genealogical listings.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates גָּד as γαδ, maintaining the proper noun form, which shows continuity in the identity of the tribe across translations.
The translation reflects the same structure as the Hebrew, indicating a direct correspondence in the naming of the tribal leader.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 1:14 tells us that Eliasaph, son of Deuel, is the leader from the tribe of Gad. This verse is part of a census that organizes the tribes of Israel and their leaders during their time in the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Eliasaph was the chief of the Gadites and played a significant role in the organization of the Israelite tribes during the wilderness period.
The name Deuel means 'known of God,' indicating a divine connection.
Gad is one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and its members played important roles in the history and governance of the nation.
The census was conducted to organize the Israelite community for their journey through the wilderness, ensuring each tribe was represented.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from the leadership structure of the tribes of Israel?
- How do the names in this verse reflect the identity and heritage of the Israelites?
- In what ways does understanding tribal lineage enhance our comprehension of biblical narratives?
- What significance does the role of leaders play in the organization of a community?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 1:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleOf Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel. [See comments on Numbers 1:5].
Read John Gill on Numbers 1 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryOf Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 1 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleCalled Reuel, , the Hebrew letters daleth and resh being very like, and oft changed.
Read Matthew Poole on Numbers 1 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 14. Eliasaph, the son of Deuel.] This person is called Reuel, Numbers 2:14. As the ד daleth is very like the ר resh, it was easy to mistake the one for the other. The Septuagint and the Syriac have Reuel in this chapter; and in Numbers 2:14, the Vulgate, the Samaritan, and the Arabic have Deuel instead of Reuel, with which reading a vast number of MSS. concur; and this reading is supported by Numbers 10:20; we may safely conclude therefore that דעואל Deuel, not רעואל Reuel, was the original reading. See Kennicott. An ancient Jewish rabbin pretends to solve every difficulty by saying that "Eliasaph was a proselyte; that before he embraced the true faith he was called the son of Reuel…
Read AdamClarke on Numbers 1 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges14. Deuel] The more probable form Reuel is given in Numbers 2:14. Cf. Numbers 10:29. The letters R [Note: Redactor.] and D are easily confused in Hebrew.
Read Cambridge on Numbers 1 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleAND MUSTER OF THE ADULT MALES, Numbers 1:1-46.At the close of the third book of Moses the temple in the wilderness — the tabernacle — had been erected, the law of sacrifices instituted, the Aaronic
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 1 →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
from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
Tyndale line
Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Of Gad, Eliasaph, the sonne of Deuel:
Strictly literal
for Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;
'For Gad — Eliasaph son of Deuel.
for Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
Of Gad: Elyassaph the son of Deuel.
from the tribe of Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
From the Latin
Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Duel.
Simplified
from the tribe of Gad, Eliasaph, son of Deuel;
From Gad, Eliasaph, the son of Reuel;
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 is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word with the Hebrew. The Septuagint matches the Hebrew structure, confirming the consistency of the text across these traditions.
לְגָ֕ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־ דְּעוּאֵֽל׃
4 of the 4 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.
לגד אליסף בן דעואל
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 Numbers 1:14
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.
גָּד (Gad) refers to a son of Jacob and Zilpah, as well as the tribe descended from him. The name means 'troop' and is associated with a prophet during David's time. Gad is first mentioned in Genesis 30:11 and is noted for his role in David's reign, including contributions to musical arrangements and involvement in census events.
גָּד 71 n.pr.m. (fortunatus?)
son of Jacob and Zilpah
a prophet in David's time
base
H1410 גָּד . son of Jacob and Zilpah
. a prophet in David's time
1410 Gad gawd
from 1464; Gad, a son of Jacob, including his tribe and its
territory; also a prophet:--Gad.
see HEBREW for 01464
גָּד (gad) — Gad.
A man of 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)
§ Gad = "troop"
1) seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, and full brother of Asher.
2) the tribe descended from Gad
3) a prophet during the time of David; appears to have joined David when in the hold; reappears in connection with the punishment for taking a census; also assisted in the arrangements for the musical service of the "house of God"
גָּד (gad) — Gad.
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
Gad
Fortune; luck. (1.) Jacob’s seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and the brother of Asher (Gen. 30:11-13; 46:16, 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, “A troop cometh: and she called,” etc., should rather be rendered, “In fortune [R.V., ‘Fortunate’]: and she called,” etc., or “Fortune cometh,” etc.
The tribe of Gad during the march through the wilderness had their place with Simeon and Reuben on the south side of the tabernacle (Num. 2:14). The tribes of Reuben and Gad continued all through their history to follow the pastoral pursuits of the patriarchs (Num. 32:1-5).
(a troop). Jacob’s seventh son, the first-born of Zilpah, Leah’s maid, and whole-brother to Asher. (Genesis 30;11-13; 46:16,18) (B.C. 1753-1740.) "The seer," or "the king’s seer," i.e. David’s (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 29:25) was a "prophet" who appears to have joined David when in the old. (1 Samuel 22:5) (B.C. 1061.) He reappears in connection with the punishment inflicted for the numbering of the people. (2 Samuel 24:11-19; 1 Chronicles 21:9-19) He wrote a book of the Acts of David, (1 Chronicles 29:29) and also assisted in the arrangements for the…
Prosperity, fortune,
1. Son of Jacob and Zilpah, Leah’s servant, Ge 30:11. Leah called him Gad, and said, "A troop cometh." Compare Ge 49:19; but many Hebrew scholars prefer the rendering, good fortune or prosperity cometh. The tribe of Gad came out of Egypt in number forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty, Ge 46:16 Nu 1:24. After the defeat of the kings Og and Sihon, Gad and Reuben desired to have their allotment east of Jordan, alleging their great number of cattle. Moses granted their request, on condition that they should accompany their brethren, and assist in conquering the land west of Jordan, Nu 32:1-42. The…
a band; a troop
The Hebrew word אֶלְיָסָף (*Elyacaph*) means 'God has added.' It refers to two individuals in the Old Testament: a chief of the Gadites and a head of the Gershonites, both mentioned during the time of the Exodus. The name is derived from the roots for 'God' and 'gatherer,' indicating a connection to divine addition or gathering.
אֶלְיָסָף n.pr.m. (God has added)
chief of Gad
chief of Gershon
base
H460 אֶלְיָסָף
460 'Elyacaph el-yaw-sawf'
from 410 and 3254; God (is) gatherer; Eljasaph, the name of
two Israelites:--Eliasaph.
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 03254
אֶלְיָסָף (el.ya.saph) — Eliasaph.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.1.14;
son of: Jethro (H3503);
brother of: Zipporah (H6855) and Hobab (H2246)
§ Eliasaph = "God has added"
1) a Gadite chief in the wilderness census
2) a head of the Gershonites
אֶלְיָסָף (el.ya.saph) — Eliasaph.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.3.24;
son of: Lael (H3815)
§ Eliasaph = "God has added"
1) a Gadite chief in the wilderness census
2) a head of the Gershonites
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Head of the tribe of Dan at the time of the census in the wilderness of Sinai. (Numbers 1:14; 2:14; 7:42,47; 10:20) (B.C. 1490.) A levite, and "chief of the Gershonites" at the same time. (Numbers 3:24)
the Lord increaseth
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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…
דְּעוּאֵל (Deuel) is a Hebrew name meaning 'known of God.' It is associated with a Gadite mentioned in Numbers 1:14 as the father of Eliasaph. The name is derived from elements meaning 'to know' and 'God.' There is a note that Deuel is also referred to as Reuel in some contexts.
דְּעוּאֵל n.pr.m. a Gadite
base
H1845 דְּעוּאֵל
1845 D`uw'el deh-oo-ale'
from 3045 and 410; known of God; Deuel, an Israelite:--Deuel.
see HEBREW for 03045
see HEBREW for 0410
דְּעוּאֵל (de.u.el) — Deuel.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.1.14;
father of: Eliasaph (H0460); also called Reuel at Num.2.14;
Also named: re.u.el (רְעוּאֵל "Reuel" H7467I)
§ Deuel = "they know God"
father of Eliasaph, the captain of the tribe of Gad at the time of the numbering of the people at Sinai, also called 'Reuel'
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
du'-el, de-u'-el de`u'el, ("knowledge of God"): A Gadite, the father of Eliasaph, the representative of the tribe of Gad in the census-taking (Nu 1:14), in making the offering of the tribe at the dedication of the altar (Nu 7:42,47), and as leader of the host of the tribe of the children of Gad in the wilderness (Nu 10:20). Called Reuel in Nu 2:14, daleth (d) being confused with resh (r).
the knowledge of God
→ Also called REUEL
→ Captain of the tribe of Dan Nu 1:14; 2:14; 7:42; 10:20