Numbers 2:21 — Word Study
WLCוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶ֑ם שְׁנַ֧יִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּמָאתָֽיִם׃
BSAand his divisiontsâbâʼ [army, large group] numberspâqad [to reckon, counted, thirty and two thousand, a multitude of two hundred] 32,200shᵉnayim
| 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 |
| שְׁנַ֧יִם | [were] two | Adj |
| וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים | and thirty | Conjunction |
| אֶ֖לֶף | thousand | |
| וּמָאתָֽיִם׃ | and two hundred | Conjunction |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | and his division numbers 32,200. |
| KJV | And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. |
| ASV | And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. |
| YLT | and his host, and their numbered ones, [are] two and thirty thousand, and two hundred. |
| WEB | His division, and those who were counted of them, were thirty-two thousand two hundred. |
| BBE | The number of his army was thirty-two thousand, two hundred. |
Where they part company is וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause with a subject and a 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 2:21
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 2:21 details the number of men in the division of the tribe of Manasseh, emphasizing the organization and military readiness of the Israelite tribes as they prepare for their journey through the wilderness. This census is part of a larger account that includes the counts of other tribes, showing the structure and strength of the Israelite community as they follow God's command.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 1:35 | those registered to the tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200. |
| 2 | Numbers 26:34 | These were the clans of Manasseh, and their registration numbered 52,700. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — צָבָא, tsaba'generated
The Hebrew word צָבָא (*tsaba'*) means 'army' or 'military group.' It is often used to describe organized groups of people, especially in a military context. This word emphasizes the collective strength and authority of a group, particularly in relation to warfare or divine service.
In this verse, it indicates the military division of the tribe of Manasseh, highlighting their role in the larger assembly of Israel. The use of this term underscores the importance of organization and readiness for battle as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the verb וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם, and their enrolled, which leads to the description of the division's size. The structure is straightforward, with the subject being the division and the predicate providing the count.
The Hebrew sentence follows a typical order, presenting the subject first, followed by the verb and then the numerical detail, emphasizing the count as the focal point of the statement.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew צָבָא is rendered as αὐτοῦ, which translates to 'his.' This choice reflects a direct connection to the possessive nature of the division being counted.
The translation maintains the focus on the military aspect, aligning with the Hebrew's emphasis on organization and readiness.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 2:21 tells us that the division of the tribe of Manasseh consists of 32,200 men. This count is part of a larger census of the Israelite tribes, showing their organization and readiness for the journey ahead.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The division of Manasseh represents the military strength and organization of the tribe, highlighting their role in the Israelite community as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
The census is important as it demonstrates the size and readiness of the Israelite tribes for battle and their organization under God's command.
The term 'enrolled' implies that the men of the division have been officially counted and listed, emphasizing their readiness and commitment to serve.
This verse fits into the larger narrative by providing a detailed account of the organization of the Israelite tribes, which is crucial for understanding their journey and military preparedness.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does the organization of the tribes reflect God's order in our lives today?
- What does it mean to be part of a larger community, like the tribe of Manasseh?
- In what ways can we prepare ourselves for the tasks God has set before us?
- How can we support and encourage others in our community as they fulfill their roles?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 2:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd his host,.... That is, the host of Manasseh; and those that were numbered of them, [were] thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 32,200 men; see Numbers 1:35.
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 32,200.
His division, and those who were counted of them, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.
and his division numbers 32,200.
Those numbered in his division are 32,200.
Tyndale line
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
and his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred:
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
And his hoste and the nomber of them were two and thirtie thousand and two hundreth.
Strictly literal
and his host, even those that were numbered of them, thirty-two thousand two hundred.
and his host, and their numbered ones, [are] two and thirty thousand, and two hundred.
and his host, and their numbered ones, [are] thirty-two thousand and two hundred.
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
The number in his division is 32,200.
From the Latin
And the whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.
Simplified
and he has 32,200 men.
The number of his army was thirty-two thousand, two 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 in their wording for this verse, with all six words matching. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, replacing וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם with פקדיו, indicating a variant in the possessive form.
וּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶ֑ם שְׁנַ֧יִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּמָאתָֽיִם׃
6 of the 6 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 שׁנים ושׁלשׁים אלף ומאתים
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 2:21
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
שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.
שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two
base
H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two
8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim
dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also
(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +
twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
see HEBREW for 08145
שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.
1) two
1a) two (the cardinal number)
1a1) two, both, double, twice
1b) second (the ordinal number)
1c) in combination with other numbers
1d) both (a dual number)
Adj — AdjHAcbda
too.
See NUMBER.
שְׁלֹשִׁים (*shlowshiym*) means 'thirty' and can also refer to 'thirtieth' as an ordinal number. It is an indeclinable noun and is derived from the root word for 'three.' The entries indicate that it is used in various contexts, but there are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) 174 n.indecl. thirty
bef. n. sg.
as ordin.
base
H7970 שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) n. indecl. thirty . bef. n. sg.
. as ordin.
7970 shlowshiym shel-o-sheem'
or shloshiym {shel-o-sheem'}; multiple of 7969; thirty; or
(ordinal) thirtieth:--thirty, thirtieth. Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07969
see HEBREW for 07991
שְׁלֹשִׁים (she.lo.shim) — thirty.
thirty, thirtieth
Aramaic equivalent: te.la.tin (תְּלָתִין "thirty" H8533)
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.
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)
HC/Acfda — ConjunctionHC/Acfda
hun'-dred (me'-ah; hekaton).
See NUMBER.