Numbers 1:15 — Word Study
WLCלְנַ֨פְתָּלִ֔י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן־ עֵינָֽן׃
BSA[and] from NaphtaliNaphtâlîy [the tribe of, a son of Jacob] AhiraʼĂchîyraʻ [a leader, my brother is evil] sonbên [a descendant, offspring] of EnanʻÊynân [having eyes, a prince of Naphtali]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְנַ֨פְתָּלִ֔י | for Naphtali | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| אֲחִירַ֖ע | Ahira | Noun proper masculine |
| בֶּן־ | [the] son of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| עֵינָֽן׃ | Enan | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | and from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.” |
| KJV | Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan. |
| ASV | Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan. |
| YLT | 'For Naphtali — Ahira son of Enan.' |
| WEB | Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan.” |
| BBE | From Naphtali, Ahira, the son of Enan. |
All translations agree on the identity of Ahira as the leader from Naphtali.
The verse consists of a single main clause that identifies the leader and his lineage.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge, Whedon & 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 1:15
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 Israelgenerated
Numbers 1:15 records the names of leaders from each tribe of Israel during the census at Sinai. This verse specifically mentions Ahira, who leads the tribe of Naphtali, highlighting the organization of the Israelite community as they prepare for their journey through the wilderness. The importance of lineage and tribal identity is emphasized, as each leader is named along with their ancestral connections.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 2:29 | Next will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan, |
| 2 | Numbers 7:78 | On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the Naphtalites, drew near. |
| 3 | Numbers 10:27 | and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נַפְתָּלִי, le.Naf.ta.Ligenerated
The word נַפְתָּלִי (Naphtali) refers to both a son of Jacob and the tribe that descended from him. It is derived from a root meaning 'my wrestling,' reflecting the circumstances of his birth. Naphtali's descendants settled in the region of Galilee, and he is first mentioned in Genesis 30:8.
In this context, Naphtali represents one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the mention of his name underscores the tribal divisions that were significant for the Israelites' identity and heritage.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations on this page agree on the identity of Ahira as the leader from Naphtali.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse can be analyzed as follows: the main clause identifies the leader, אֲחִירַע, Ahira, followed by a prepositional phrase indicating his tribe, לְנַפְתָּלִי, for Naphtali, and a noun phrase indicating his lineage, בֶּן־עֵינָן, son of Enan. This hierarchical structure emphasizes the importance of tribal leadership.
The noun phrases are tightly connected, showing the relationship between Ahira and his tribe, as well as his father, Enan. This reflects the Hebrew style of linking identity through lineage.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נַפְתָּלִי as νεφθαλι, maintaining the name's identity while providing a Greek form. This shows the continuity of the tribes' significance across cultures.
The Greek translation does not alter the meaning but presents it in a way that would be understandable to a Greek-speaking audience, preserving the lineage and tribal connections.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 1:15 identifies Ahira as the leader from the tribe of Naphtali, the son of Enan. This verse is part of a larger census of the Israelite tribes, emphasizing the importance of tribal leaders and their ancestry during the Israelites' journey in the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Ahira was a leader of the tribe of Naphtali, mentioned in Numbers 1:15, and his name means 'my brother is evil'.
Naphtali represents one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's son Naphtali, who was born to Bilhah, Rachel's servant.
Lineage is crucial as it establishes the tribal identity and leadership roles within the Israelite community, reflecting their organizational structure.
Enan means 'having eyes' and is noted as a prince of Naphtali, indicating his status within the tribe.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding the lineage of the tribes enhance our understanding of the Israelite community?
- In what ways can we see the significance of leadership within our own communities today?
- What can we learn from the names and identities mentioned in this verse about family and heritage?
- How do the roles of tribal leaders in ancient Israel compare to leadership structures we have today?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 1:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleOf Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan. [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 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1–16. Moses is directed to number the fighting men of Israel with the help of twelve princes.
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
and from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”
Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan.”
and from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”
from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”
Tyndale line
Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.
Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan.
Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.
Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.
Of Naphtali, Ahira the sonne of Enan.
Strictly literal
for Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.
'For Naphtali — Ahira son of Enan.'
for Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”
Of Naphtali: Achira the son of 'Enan.
and from the tribe of Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”
From the Latin
Of Nephtali, Ahira the son of Enan.
Simplified
and from the tribe of Naphtali, Ahira, son of Enan.”
From Naphtali, Ahira, the son of Enan.
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 it. The Septuagint also matches the Hebrew text closely, indicating a consistent transmission of this verse across different traditions.
לְנַ֨פְתָּלִ֔י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן־ עֵינָֽן׃
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.
לנפתלי אחירע בן עינן
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 1:15
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.
נַפְתָּלִי (Naphtali) refers to a son of Jacob and the tribe that descended from him, as well as the territory assigned to that tribe. The name is derived from a root meaning 'my wrestling.' He is first mentioned in Genesis 30:8, and is noted to be the second son of Jacob by Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid.
נַפְתָּלִי 61 n.pr.m. et trib. Naphtali
base
H5321 נַפְתָּלִי Naphtali
5321 Naphtaliy naf-taw-lee'
from 6617; my wrestling; Naphtali, a son of Jacob, with the
tribe descended from him, and its territory:--Naphtali.
see HEBREW for 06617
נַפְתָּלִי (naph.ta.li) — Naphtali.
A man of the tribe of Naphtali living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.8;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Bilhah (H1090A);
brother of: Dan (H1835H);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Jahzeel (H3183), Guni (H1476), Jezer (H3337) and Shillem (H8006)
Also named: Nephthaleim (Νεφθαλείμ "Naphtali" G3508)
§ Naphtali = "wrestling"
1) the 5th son of Jacob and the 2nd by Bilhah the handmaid of Rachel
2) the tribe descended from Naphtali the son of Jacob
3) the territory assigned to the tribe of Naphtali
נַפְתָּלִי (naph.ta.li) — (Kedesh)-naphtali.
Combined with qe.desh (קֶ֫דֶשׁ "Kedesh" H6943)
§ Naphtali = "wrestling"
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
naf'-ta-li (naphtali; Nephthaleim):
I. THE PATRIARCH
1. Name
2. Circumstances of His Birth
3. Historical and Traditional Details
II. TRIBE OF NAPHTALI
1. Its Relative Position
2. Its Location in Palestine
3. Physical Features
4. Distinction of the Tribe
5. Sites and Inhabitants
6. Labors of Jesus in This District
I. The Patriarch.
1. Name:
The 5th son of Jacob, and the 2nd born to him by Rachel's handmaid, Bilhah. He was full brother of Da (Ge 30:7).
At his birth Rachel is said to have exclaimed, naphtule 'Elohim niphtalti, "wrestlings of God"--i.e. "mighty wrestlings"--"have I wrestled."
2. Circumstances of His Birth:
Her sister's fruitfulness was a sore trial to the barren Rachel. By her artifice she had obtained children, the offspring of her maid ranking as her own; and thus her reproach of childlessness was removed. The name Naphtali given to…
Naphtali
My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid (Gen. 30:8). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons (Gen. 46:24). Little is known of him as an individual.
(wrestling), the fifth son of Jacob; the second child name to him by Bilhah, Rachel’s slave. His birth and the bestowal of his name are recorded in (Genesis 30:8) When the census was taken at Mount Sinai the tribe of Naphtali numbered no less than 53,400 fighting men, (Numbers 1:43; 2:50) but when the borders of the promised land were reached, its numbers were reduced to, 45,400. (Numbers 26:48-50) During the march through the wilderness Naphtali occupied a position on the north of the sacred tent with Dan and Asher. (Numbers 2:25-31) In the apportionment of the land, the lot of Naphtali was enclosed on three sides by those of other tribes. On the west lay Asher, on the…
The sixth son of Jacob, by Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid, Ge 30:8. We know but few particulars of the lie of Naphtali. His sons were four, Ge 46:24. The patriarch Jacob, when he gave his blessing, said, as it is in the English Bible, "Naphtali is a hind let loose; he giveth goodly words," Ge 49:21. For an illustration of this passage, see HIND.
The tribe of Naphtali, called Nephtalim in Mt 4:15, were located in a rich and fertile portion of northern Palestine; having Asher on the west, the upper Jordan and part of the sea of Tiberias on the east; and running north into the Lebanon range, some lower offshoots of which prolonged to the south formed the "mountains of Naphtali,"…
אֲחִירַע (Achiyra) refers to a man named Ahira, a chief of the tribe of Naphtali, mentioned in Numbers 1:15. The name means 'my brother is evil' and is derived from the roots for 'brother' and 'wrong.' Ahira is noted as the son of Enan.
אֲחִירַע n.pr.m. (my brother is evil) a chief of Naphtali
base
H299 אֲחִירַע
299 'Achiyra` akh-ee-rah'
from 251 and 7451; brother of wrong; Achira, an
Israelite:--Ahira.
see HEBREW for 0251
see HEBREW for 07451
אֲחִירַע (a.chi.ra) — Ahira.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.1.15;
son of: Enan (H5881)
§ Ahira = "my brother is evil"
a chief of Naphtali
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
a-hi'-ra ('achira`, "brother of evil," or, "my brother is evil"): A man of Naphtali, contemporary with Moses. He is five times mentioned as the son of Enan. He was the representative of his tribe who assisted Moses in the census (Nu 1:15). He was the hereditary "prince" of the tribe; he made the tribal offering (Nu 2:29; 7:78; compare Nu 7:83), and was commander of the tribal host when on the march (Nu 10:27).
Ahira
Brother of evil = unlucky, or my brother is friend, chief of the tribe of Naphtali at the Exodus (Num. 1:15; 2:29).
(brother of evil , i.e. unlucky), Chief of the tribe of Naphtali. (Numbers 1:15; 2:29; 7:78,83; 10:27)
brother of iniquity; brother of the shepherd
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…
עֵינָן (‘Eynan) refers to a male name meaning 'having eyes.' It is associated with an Israelite mentioned in the context of the tribe of Naphtali, specifically noted in Numbers 1:15 as a prince during the census at Mount Sinai. The word is derived from the root related to sight, linking it to the concept of vision.
עֵינָן n.pr.m. name in Naphtali
base
H5881 עֵינָן
5881 `Eynan ay-nawn'
from 5869; having eyes; Enan, an Israelite:--Enan. Compare
2704.
see HEBREW for 05869
see HEBREW for 02704
עֵינָן (e.nan) — Enan.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.1.15;
father of: Ahira (H0299)
§ Enan = "having eyes"
a prince of the tribe of Naphtali at the census at Mount Sinai
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
e'-nan (`enan, "having fountains," or "eyes," i.e. "keen-eyed"; in Septuagint Ainan):
The father of Ahira, and prince of Naphtali at the first census of Israel (Nu 1:15; 2:29; 7:78,83; 10:27).
(having eyes.). Ahira ben-Enan was "prince" of the tribe of Naphtali at the time of the numbering of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. (Numbers 1:15) (B.C. 1491.)
cloud
→ A man of the tribe of Naphtali Nu 1:15; 2:29; 7:78,83; 10:27