Numbers 26:32 — Word Study
WLCוּשְׁמִידָ֕ע מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַשְּׁמִידָעִ֑י וְחֵ֕פֶר מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַֽחֶפְרִֽי׃
BSAthe ShemidaiteShᵉmîydâʻîy△ [family of the Shemidaites, descendants of Shemida] clanmishpâchâh from ShemidaShᵉmîydâʻ [ancestor of the Shemidaite family] [and] the HepheriteChephrîy△ [family of the Hepherites, from Hepher] clanmishpâchâh from HepherChêpher [a well, or a place in Palestine]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּשְׁמִידָ֕ע | and Shemida | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת | [the] clan of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| הַשְּׁמִידָעִ֑י | the Shemidaite[s] | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
| וְחֵ֕פֶר | and Hepher | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת | [the] clan of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| הַֽחֶפְרִֽי׃ | the Hepherite[s] | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | the Shemidaite clan from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan from Hepher. |
| KJV | And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. |
| ASV | and of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. |
| YLT | and [of] Shemida the family of the Shemidaite; and [of] Hepher the family of the Hepherite. |
| WEB | and Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. |
| BBE | And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. |
Where they part company is in the specific terms used for the clans, but the overall meaning remains consistent.
Each main clause identifies a clan and its ancestor, with subordinate phrases providing additional context.
2 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
2 of 6 occur nowhere else in the Old Testament — words chosen on purpose.
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 26:32
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 Clans of Manassehgenerated
Numbers 26:32 details the genealogies of the tribes of Israel, specifically focusing on the tribe of Manasseh. This verse highlights the Shemidaite clan, descended from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan, descended from Hepher. These genealogies serve to establish the lineage and heritage of the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
Cross References
The Key Word — שְׁמִידָ֕ע, u.she.mi.Da'generated
The name שְׁמִידָ֑ע (Shemida) refers to a man of the tribe of Manasseh, specifically a son of Gilead. It is derived from roots meaning 'name' and 'to know,' suggesting a connection to wisdom. The parsing indicates that it is a proper masculine noun, emphasizing its role as a personal name.
Shemida is mentioned in the context of the genealogies, establishing him as an important figure within the tribe. His descendants, the Shemidaites, are noted for their connection to the larger family of Manasseh, highlighting the significance of lineage in Israelite culture.
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 verbs שְׁמִידָ֕ע and חֵ֕פֶר serve as the predicates of the two noun phrases that follow, identifying the clans. The structure is straightforward, with the Hebrew word order placing the clans' names immediately after their respective ancestors.
Each noun phrase consists of a proper noun followed by a construct noun, indicating the relationship between the ancestor and the clan.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses the Greek word συμαερ for Shemida, which does not carry the same meaning as the Hebrew. This choice reflects a translational approach that may not preserve the full nuance of the original name.
For Hepher, the Septuagint uses καὶ, indicating a simple conjunction without additional interpretive weight.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 26:32 lists the Shemidaite clan from Shemida and the Hepherite clan from Hepher. These clans are part of the tribe of Manasseh, showing the importance of family and lineage in Israelite society.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Shemida was an Israelite from the tribe of Manasseh, mentioned in Numbers 26:32 as a son of Gilead.
A Shemidaite refers to a descendant of Shemida, indicating their connection to the tribe of Manasseh.
Clans represent family ties and lineage, which were crucial for identity and inheritance among the Israelites.
Hepher refers to a place in Palestine or a person's name, meaning a well, symbolizing a source of life.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding the genealogies of the tribes enhance our comprehension of Israelite identity?
- What can we learn from the emphasis on family and lineage in this verse?
- In what ways do names and their meanings reflect the character of biblical figures?
- How can we apply the importance of community and family ties in our own lives?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 26:32 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. Shemida - [Septuagint, Sumaer] (Joshua 17:2). Hepher - [Septuagint, Ofer.]
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 26 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges5–51. The twelve secular tribes are numbered, the sacred tribe of Levi being omitted. The names are based upon Genesis 46:8-27, but with the addition of Ephraim and Manasseh, who, having been born in Egypt, could not be reckoned in Gen. among those who went down into Egypt. The total number at the first census, thirty-eight years before (ch. 1) was 603,550; now it Isaiah 601,730. The order of the tribes is the same, except that Manasseh (Numbers 26:29-34) precedes Ephraim (Numbers 26:35-37). Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Ephraim and Naphtali have decreased in numbers, while the other seven have increased. The impossibility of the figures is shewn in note on Numbers 1:46.
Read Cambridge on Numbers 26 →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
the Shemidaite clan from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan from Hepher.
and Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
the Shemidaite clan from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan from Hepher.
from Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; from Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
Tyndale line
And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
and of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
and of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
Of Shemida, the familie of the Shemidaites: of Hepher, the familie of the Hepherites.
Strictly literal
and of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
and [of] Shemida the family of the Shemidaite; and [of] Hepher the family of the Hepherite.
and of Shemida the family of the Shemidaite; and of Hepher the family of the Hepherite.
And of Shemida', the family of the Shemida'ites; and of Chepher, the family of the Chephrites.
through Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites, through Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites.
From the Latin
And Semida, of whom is the family of the Semidaites: and Hepher, of whom is the family of the Hepherites.
Simplified
Shemida, ancestor of the Shemidaite family; and Hepher, ancestor of the Hepherite family.
And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
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
All ancient witnesses for Numbers 26:32 agree with the Masoretic Text. The Septuagint matches the Hebrew text word-for-word, although its structure is different. The Samaritan Pentateuch also aligns exactly with the Masoretic Text. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a fragment that includes three words, but the rest of the text is restored by an editor, indicating that the original wording is not fully preserved in that manuscript. Overall, there is a strong consensus among these witnesses regarding the text of this verse.
וּשְׁמִידָ֕ע מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַשְּׁמִידָעִ֑י וְחֵ֕פֶר מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַֽחֶפְרִֽי׃
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.
ושׁמידע משׁפחת השׁמידעי וחפר משׁפחת החפרי
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[ושמידע] [משפחת] [השמידעי] וחופר משפחת החופרי
3 words on the leather — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
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 26:32
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.
שְׁמִידָ֑ע (Shmiyda`) refers to a man of the tribe of Manasseh, specifically a son of Gilead and a progenitor of a family within that tribe. The name is derived from roots meaning 'name' and 'to know.' It is mentioned in Numbers 26:32, and the name is also associated with the term 'wise.'
שְׁמִידָ֑ע n.pr.m. in Manasseh (the name knoweth?)
base
H8061 שְׁמִידָ֑ע
8061 Shmiyda` shem-ee-daw'
apparently from 8034 and 3045; name of knowing; Shemida, an
Israelite:--Shemida, Shemidah.
see HEBREW for 08034
see HEBREW for 03045
שְׁמִידָ֑ע (she.mi.da) — Shemida.
A man of the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.26.32;
son of: Gilead (H1568H);
brother of: Abiezer (H0044I), Helek (H2507), Asriel (H0844), Shechem (H7928) and Hepher (H2660A);
father of: Ahian (H0291), Shechem (H7928H), Likhi (H3949) and Aniam (H0593)
Also named: she.mi.da.i (שְׁמִידָעִי "Shemidaite" H8062)
§ Shemida = "wise"
a son of Gilead, grandson of Manasseh, and progenitor of a family in Manasseh
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
(wise), a son of Gilead. (Numbers 26:32; Joshua 17:2) (B.C. after 1690.)
name of knowledge; that puts knowledge
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah) refers to a clan or family, encompassing a circle of relatives and extending to tribes or peoples. It can also denote a class of persons, species of animals, or kinds of things. The entries highlight its various uses, including guilds and aristocrats, but do not present any significant disagreement.
מִשְׁפָּחָה 303 n.f. clan
clan
= guild
= species, kind
pl. = aristocrats
base
H4940 מִשְׁפָּחָה clan . clan
. = guild
. = species, kind
. pl. = aristocrats
4940 mishpachah mish-paw-khaw'
from 8192 (compare 8198); a family, i.e. circle of relatives;
figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or
sort (of things); by extens. a tribe or people:--family,
kind(-red).
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 08198
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mish.pa.chah) — family.
1) clan, family
1a) clan
1a1) family
1a2) tribe
1a3) people, nation
1b) guild
1c) species, kind
1d) aristocrats
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
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…
The Hebrew word שְׁמִידָעִי (*Shmiyda`iy*) refers to a Shemidaite, meaning a descendant of Shemida, who was a member of the tribe of Manasseh. This term is used collectively to describe the Shemidaites, with references to individuals such as Gilead and his sons in Numbers 26:32. It is derived from the root שְׁמִידָ֑ע (*Shemida*), which means 'wise'.
שְׁמִידָעִי adj.gent. as n.coll. הַשּׁ׳ Nu 26:32.
done
H8062 שְׁמִידָעִי
8062 Shmiyda`iy shem-ee-daw-ee'
patronymically from 8061; a Shemidaite (collectively) or
descendants of Shemida:--Shemidaites.
see HEBREW for 08061
שְׁמִידָעִי (she.mi.da.i) — Shemidaite.
Someone descended from Shemida who was a man of the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.26.32;
son of: Gilead (H1568H);
brother of: Abiezer (H0044I), Helek (H2507), Asriel (H0844), Shechem (H7928) and Hepher (H2660A);
father of: Ahian (H0291), Shechem (H7928H), Likhi (H3949) and Aniam (H0593)
Group of she.mi.da (שְׁמִידָ֑ע "Shemida" H8061)
§ Shemidaites, of Shemida "wise"
descendants of Shemida, the son of Gilead and grandson of Manasseh
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
The Hebrew word חֵ֫פֶר (*chepher*) refers to both a personal name and a geographical location. It denotes a Manassite and a man from Judah, as well as a Canaanite town mentioned in the context of battles. The word is associated with several individuals, including a warrior of David and a descendant of Gilead. The name is interpreted to mean 'a well.'
חֵ֫פֶר n.pr.m.
a Manassite
a man of Judah
one of David's heroes
base
חֵ֫פֶר n.pr.loc.
Canaanitish town, with a king, named just before Aphek
in Judah
base
H2660a חֵ֫פֶר . a Manassite
. a man of Judah
. one of David's heroes
H2660b חֵ֫פֶר . Canaanitish town, with a king, named just before Aphek
. in Judah
2660 Chepher khay'-fer
from 2658 or 2659; a pit of shame; Chepher, a place in
Palestine; also the name of three Israelites:--Hepher.
see HEBREW for 02658
see HEBREW for 02659
חֵ֫פֶר (che.pher) — Hepher.
A man of the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.26.32;
son of: Gilead (H1568H);
brother of: Abiezer (H0044I), Helek (H2507), Asriel (H0844), Shechem (H7928) and Shemida (H8061);
father of: Zelophehad (H6765)
Also named: cheph.ri (חֶפְרִי "Hepherite" H2662)
§ Hepher = "a well"
1) youngest son of Gilead and head of the family of Hepherites
2) son of Asher, the father of Tekoa
3) the Mecherathite, one of David's mighty warriors
חֵ֫פֶר (che.pher) — Hepher.
§ Hepher = "a well"
a place in ancient Canaan, west of the Jordan, conquered by Joshua
חֵ֫פֶר (che.pher) — Hepher.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.6;
son of: Ashhur (H0806) and Naarah (H5292B);
brother of: Ahuzzam (H0275), Temeni (H8488) and Haahashtari (H0326);
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
Hepher
A well or stream. (1.) A royal city of the Canaanites taken by Joshua (12:17).
(2.) The youngest son of Gilead (Num. 26:32; 27:1).
(3.) The second son of Asher (1 Chr. 4:6).
(4.) One of David’s heroes (1 Chr. 11:36).
a place in ancient Canaan which occurs in the lists of conquered kings. (Joshua 12:17) It was on the west of Jordan. Comp. (Joshua 12:7) and 1Kin 4:10
a digger
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah) refers to a clan or family, encompassing a circle of relatives and extending to tribes or peoples. It can also denote a class of persons, species of animals, or kinds of things. The entries highlight its various uses, including guilds and aristocrats, but do not present any significant disagreement.
מִשְׁפָּחָה 303 n.f. clan
clan
= guild
= species, kind
pl. = aristocrats
base
H4940 מִשְׁפָּחָה clan . clan
. = guild
. = species, kind
. pl. = aristocrats
4940 mishpachah mish-paw-khaw'
from 8192 (compare 8198); a family, i.e. circle of relatives;
figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or
sort (of things); by extens. a tribe or people:--family,
kind(-red).
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 08198
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mish.pa.chah) — family.
1) clan, family
1a) clan
1a1) family
1a2) tribe
1a3) people, nation
1b) guild
1c) species, kind
1d) aristocrats
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
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…
חֶפְרִי (Chephriy) refers to a Hepherite, a descendant of Hepher, who was part of the tribe of Manasseh. The term is derived from חֵ֫פֶר (Chepher), meaning 'a pit' or 'shame.' It is mentioned in Numbers 26:32, identifying a group of individuals related to Hepher.
חֶפְרִי adj.gent. only c. art. as n.pr. coll. Nu 26:32.
ref
H2662 חֶפְרִי
2662 Chephriy khef-ree'
patronymically from 2660; a Chephrite (collectively) or
descendants of Chepher:--Hepherites.
see HEBREW for 02660
חֶפְרִי (cheph.ri) — Hepherite.
Someone descended from Hepher who was a man of the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.26.32;
son of: Gilead (H1568H);
brother of: Abiezer (H0044I), Helek (H2507), Asriel (H0844), Shechem (H7928) and Shemida (H8061);
father of: Zelophehad (H6765)
Group of che.pher (חֵ֫פֶר "Hepher" H2660A)
§ Hepherites , of Hepher "a pit" or "shame"
descendants of Hepher, son of Gilead
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa