Numbers 2:13 — Word Study
WLCוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶ֑ם תִּשְׁעָ֧ה וַחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃
BSAand his divisiontsâbâʼ [army, large group of people] numberspâqad [to reckon, count with precision] 59,300têshaʻ
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּצְבָא֖וֹ | and military group his | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וּפְקֻדֵיהֶ֑ם | and enrolled [men] their | Conjunction, verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural common, suffix |
| תִּשְׁעָ֧ה | [were] nine | Adj |
| וַחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים | and fifty | Conjunction |
| אֶ֖לֶף | thousand | |
| וּשְׁלֹ֥שׁ | and three | Conjunction |
| מֵאֽוֹת׃ | hundred |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | and his division numbers 59,300. |
| KJV | And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. |
| ASV | And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. |
| YLT | and his host, and their numbered ones, [are] nine and fifty thousand and three hundred. |
| WEB | His division, and those who were counted of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred. |
| BBE | The number of his army was fifty-nine thousand, three hundred. |
Where they part company is in the phrasing of the verb for counting — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause with a subject and predicate, clearly stating the count of the division.
2 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson & 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 2:13
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 2:13 records the number of men in the division of the tribe of Simeon, highlighting the importance of organization within the Israelite camp. The census serves to prepare the tribes for their journey through the wilderness, ensuring that they are ready for any challenges they may face. This systematic counting reflects God's order and care for His people as they travel to the Promised Land.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 1:23 | those registered to the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300. |
| 2 | Numbers 26:14 | These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וּצְבָא֖וֹ, u.tze.va.'Ogenerated
The word צָבָא (*tsaba'*) refers to a military group or army, emphasizing a large organization of people often in the context of warfare. It is used in the Bible to describe not only human armies but also the divine hosts of God, showcasing His authority and power over all creation.
In this verse, it indicates the division of the tribe of Simeon, which is part of the larger structure of Israel's military organization. The construct form with the suffix indicates possession, meaning 'his military group.' This shows the tribal leadership and their respective responsibilities within the camp.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb וּפְקֻדֵיהֶ֑ם, and their enrolled, governs the entire clause, indicating the action of counting. The structure includes a noun phrase for the subject, followed by a series of numeral phrases that detail the count of the division.
The word order emphasizes the subject's identity, followed by the action of counting and the specific number. This hierarchical structure reflects the organized nature of the census and the importance of each tribe's contribution to the whole.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the term used is ἐπεσκεμμένοι, which translates to 'enrolled' or 'visited.' This choice highlights the act of counting as a form of oversight, suggesting a careful and deliberate process in the census.
The Greek word carries a sense of attention and care, indicating that the counting was not merely a numerical task but also a significant act of governance and organization among the people.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 2:13 tells us that the division of the tribe of Simeon consists of 59,300 men. This number reflects the organization of the Israelite camp as they prepare for their journey through the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This number represents the total count of men in the division of the tribe of Simeon, as part of the larger census of the Israelite tribes.
The organization is crucial for maintaining order and readiness as the Israelites travel through the wilderness, ensuring they can respond effectively to challenges.
By providing a detailed census, God demonstrates His attention to the needs and structure of His people, ensuring they are prepared for their journey.
The term highlights the readiness of the tribe of Simeon to engage in battle if necessary, emphasizing their role within the larger community of Israel.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding the organization of the tribes help us appreciate God's order in our lives?
- What parallels can we draw between the census of the Israelites and our own communities today?
- In what ways can we ensure that we are prepared for challenges in our own lives, similar to the Israelites?
- How can we apply the principles of organization and readiness seen in this verse to our personal or church communities?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 2:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd his host,.... That is, the host of Simeon: and those that were numbered of them, [were] fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 59,300 men; the same as in Numbers 1:23.
Read John Gill on Numbers 2 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryOn the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. On the south side ... the standard of the camp of Reuben.
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 2 →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 his division numbers 59,300.
His division, and those who were counted of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
and his division numbers 59,300.
Those numbered in his division are 59,300.
Tyndale line
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
and his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred:
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
And his hoste, and the nomber of them, nine and fiftie thousand and three hundreth.
Strictly literal
and his host, even those that were numbered of them, fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
and his host, and their numbered ones, [are] nine and fifty thousand and three hundred.
and his host, and their numbered ones, [are] fifty-nine thousand and three hundred.
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
The number in his division is 59,300.
From the Latin
And the whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
Simplified
and he has 59,300 men.
The number of his army was fifty-nine thousand, three hundred.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in their wording for this verse, with all seven words matched. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly by using the word פקדיו instead of פקודיהם, indicating a variation in the possessive form used.
וּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶ֑ם תִּשְׁעָ֧ה וַחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃
7 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.
וצבאו ופקדיו תשׁעה וחמשׁים אלף ושׁלשׁ מאות
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: פקדיו (miss)
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 2:13
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.
The Hebrew word צָבָא (*tsaba'*) primarily means 'army' or 'warfare,' encompassing organized groups for battle, divine hosts, and even celestial bodies. It can also refer to service or duty in a military context. The term appears in various forms, including צְבָאוֹת (*tsaba'ot*), which denotes the 'hosts' of the Lord, particularly in relation to God's role in warfare.
צָבָא 485 n.m. army, war, warfare
army, host
war, warfare, service
service
צְבָאוֹת, in name of י׳ as God of war, prob. first in time of warlike David (some connect with sacred ark, but ark older)
base
H6635a צָבָא army, war, warfare . army, host
. war, warfare, service
. service
H6635b צְבָאוֹת army, war, warfare . army, host
. war, warfare, service
. service
. צְבָאוֹת, in name of י׳ as God of war, prob. first in time of warlike David (some connect with sacred ark, but ark older)
6635 tsaba' tsaw-baw'
or (feminine) tsbadah {tseb-aw-aw'}; from 6633; a mass of
persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized
for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or
figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship):--appointed
time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers,
waiting upon, war(-fare).
see HEBREW for 06633
צָבָא (tsa.va) — army.
: army
1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host
1a) army, host
1a1) host (of organised army)
1a2) host (of angels)
1a3) of sun, moon, and stars
1a4) of whole creation
1b) war, warfare, service, go out to war
1c) service
צָבָא (tsa.va) — Hosts.
The Hosts (of the Lord)
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
צָבָא (tsa.va) — army: war.
: war
1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host
1a) army, host
1a1) host (of organised army)
1a2) host (of angels)
1a3) of sun, moon, and stars
1a4) of whole creation
1b) war, warfare, service, go out to war
1c) service
צָבָא (tsa.va) — army: duty.
: duty
1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host
1a) army, host
1a1) host (of organised army)
1a2) host (of angels)
1a3) of sun, moon, and stars
1a4) of whole creation
1b) war, warfare, service, go out to war
1c) service
Conj | N-cs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
פָּקַד (paqad) is a Hebrew verb that encompasses a range of meanings including to attend to, visit, muster, appoint, and punish. It can imply oversight or care, as well as the act of seeking or lacking something. The word can also be used in various grammatical forms, indicating actions such as being appointed or being visited upon. The plural form פְּקוּדִים refers to musterings or expenses.
פָּקַד 303 vb. attend to, visit, muster, appoint
Qal
pay attention to, observe (with care, practical interest)
attend to, in act, see to
seek (with interest, desire)
seek in vain, need, miss, lack
specif. visit, c. acc., for different purposes
c. עַל pers., visit upon
pass in review, muster (nearly = number), c. acc.
appoint
Niph.
be (sought, i.e. needed) missed, lacking
be visited (graciously)
be visited upon, עַל pers.
be appointed
Pi. (intens.) muster a host
Pu. be passed in review; be caused to miss, deprived
Hithp. be mustered
Hothp. id.
Hiph.
c. acc. pers. set (over), make overseer
c. acc. rei (implic.)
commit, entrust
deposit
Hoph.
be visited in punishment
be deposited
be made overseer
base
[פְּקוּדִים] n.pl.[m.] abstr. musterings, i.e. expenses;—cstr. Ex 38:21
ref
H6485a פָּקַד attend to, visit, muster, appoint .. . . pay attention to, observe (with care, practical interest)
. attend to, in act, see to
. seek (with interest, desire)
. seek in vain, need, miss, lack
. specif. visit, c. acc., for different purposes
. c. עַל pers., visit upon
. pass in review, muster (nearly = number), c. acc.
. appoint
. . be (sought, i.e. needed) missed, lacking
. be visited (graciously)
. be visited upon, עַל pers.
. be appointed
. (intens.) muster a host
. be passed in review; be caused to miss, deprived
. be mustered
. id.
. . c. acc. pers. set (over), make overseer
. c. acc. rei (implic.) . commit, entrust
. deposit
. . be visited in punishment
. be deposited
. be made overseer
H6485b פְּקוּדִים n. pl. [m.] abstr. musterings, i.e. expenses
6485 paqad paw-kad'
a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent);
by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss,
deposit, etc.:--appoint, X at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint
to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep,
be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up,
look, make, X by any means, miss, number, officer, (make)
overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to)
remember(-brance), set (over), sum, X surely, visit, want.
פָּקַד (pa.qad) — to reckon: list.
: list/count
1) to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pay attention to, observe
1a2) to attend to
1a3) to seek, look about for
1a4) to seek in vain, need, miss, lack
1a5) to visit
1a6) to visit upon, punish
1a7) to pass in review, muster, number
1a8) to appoint, assign, lay upon as a charge, deposit
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be sought, be needed, be missed, be lacking
1b2) to be visited
1b3) to be visited upon
1b4) to be appointed
1b5) to be watched over
1c) (Piel) to muster, call up
1d) (Pual) to be passed in review, be caused to miss, be called, be called to account
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to set over, make overseer, appoint an overseer
1e2) to commit, entrust, commit for care, deposit
1f) (Hophal)
1f1) to be visited
1f2) to be deposited
1f3) to be made overseer, be entrusted
1g) (Hithpael) numbered
Conj | V-Qal-Inf-c | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural common · suffixHC/Vqsmpc/Sp3mp
תֵּ֫שַׁע (tesha`) means 'nine' and can refer to both the cardinal and ordinal forms of the number. It may also appear in combination with other numbers. The word is possibly derived from the idea of turning towards the next full number, ten.
תֵּ֫שַׁע, תִּשְׁעָה 58 n.m. et f. a nine, nonad
base
H8672 תֵּ֫שַׁע, תִּשְׁעָה nine, nonad
8672 tesha` tay'-shah
or (masculine) tishtah {tish-aw'}; perhaps from 8159 through
the idea of a turn to the next or full number ten; nine or
(ord.) ninth:--nine (+ -teen, + -teenth, -th).
see HEBREW for 08159
תֵּ֫שַׁע (te.sah) — nine.
1) nine, nonad
1a) nine (as cardinal number)
1b) ninth (as ordinal number)
1c) in combination with other numbers
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
חֲמִשִּׁים (chamishshiym) means 'fifty' and is a cardinal number. It can also refer to a multiple of fifty or the ordinal number 'fiftieth.' The entries consistently define it as a numerical term without significant variation.
חֲמִשִּׁים 164 n.pl. (a) fifty
base
H2572 חֲמִשִּׁים (a) fifty
2572 chamishshiym kham-ish-sheem'
multiple of 2568; fifty:--fifty.
see HEBREW for 02568
חֲמִשִּׁים (cha.mish.shim) — fifty.
1) fifty
1a) fifty (cardinal number)
1b) a multiple of fifty (with other numbers)
1c) fiftieth (ordinal number)
HC/Acmpa — ConjunctionHC/Acmpa
אֶ֫לֶף (eleph) means 'thousand' in Hebrew. It can refer to the numeral itself or denote a company or clan, particularly a group of men under one leader. The word is built from the concept of a thousand, and it is associated with the ox's head, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
אֶ֫לֶף n.m. thousand
base
H505 אֶ֫לֶף thousand
505 'eleph eh'-lef
prop, the same as 504; hence (the ox's head being the first
letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral)
a thousand:--thousand.
see HEBREW for 0504
אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand.
: thousand
1) a thousand
1a) as numeral
2) a thousand, company
2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand: clan.
: clan
1) a thousand
1a) as numeral
2) a thousand, company
2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
HAcbsa — HAcbsa
thou'-zand ('eleph; chilioi).
See NUMBER.
The Hebrew word שָׁלֹשׁ (*shalosh*) means 'three' or 'triad.' It can also refer to the ordinal 'third' and is used in various contexts, including multiplication as 'thrice.' The entries consistently define it as a primitive number without significant disagreement.
שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה 430 n.m. et f. a three, triad
base
H7969 שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה a three, triad
7969 shalowsh shaw-loshe'
or shalosh {shaw-loshe'}; masculine shlowshah {shel-o-shaw'};
or shloshah {shel-o-shaw'}; a primitive number; three;
occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multipl.) thrice:--+ fork,
+ often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, + thrice.
Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07991
שָׁלֹשׁ (sha.losh) — three.
1) three, triad
1a) 3, 300, third
Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532)
HC/Acbsc — ConjunctionHC/Acbsc
(shalosh; treis).
See NUMBER.
The phrase "three days and three nights," Mt 12:40, was equivalent in Hebrew to the English "three days;" the Jews employing the expression "a day and a night" to denote our "day" of twentyfour hours. Nor did "three days," 1Sa 30:13, literally "this third day," according to their usage, necessarily include the whole of three days, but a part of three days, a continuous period including one whole day of twenty-four hours, and a portion of the day preceding it and the day following it. Compare Ge 7:12,17 1Sa 30:12-13.
מֵאָה (me'ah) means 'hundred' in Hebrew. It can refer to a simple number, a component of a larger number, or a fraction representing one one-hundredth. The entries consistently describe its use as a numeral without significant disagreement.
מֵאָה 583 n.f. hundred
as simple number
as part of larger number
a hundredth part
base
H3967 מֵאָה hundred . as simple number
. as part of larger number
. a hundredth part
3967 me'ah may-aw'
or metyah {may-yaw'}; properly, a primitive numeral; a
hundred; also as a multiplicative and a
fraction:--hundred((-fold), -th), + sixscore.
מֵאָה (me.ah) — hundred.
1) hundred
1a) as simple number
1b) as part of larger number
1c) as a fraction-one one-hundredth (1/100)
Aramaic equivalent: me.ah (מְאָה "hundred" H3969)
HAcfpa — HAcfpa
hun'-dred (me'-ah; hekaton).
See NUMBER.