Numbers 26:36 — Word Study
WLCוְאֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י שׁוּתָ֑לַח לְעֵרָ֕ן מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הָעֵרָנִֽי׃
BSAAndʼêl-leh the descendantsbên [sons, offspring] of Shuthelah [were]Shûwthelach [a man of Ephraim] the EraniteʻÊrânîy△ [from Eran, watcher] clanmishpâchâh [family, tribe] from EranʻÊrân△ [watcher, a son of Shuthelah]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאֵ֖לֶּה | and these | Conjunction, particle |
| בְּנֵ֣י | [were] [the] descendants of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| שׁוּתָ֑לַח | Shuthelah | Noun proper masculine |
| לְעֵרָ֕ן | of Eran | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת | [the] clan of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| הָעֵרָנִֽי׃ | the Eranite[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 | And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran. |
| KJV | And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites. |
| ASV | And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites. |
| YLT | And these [are] sons of Shuthelah: of Eran the family of the Eranite. |
| WEB | These are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites. |
| BBE | And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites: |
Where they part company is in the rendering of שׁוּתָ֑לַח — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two phrases that provide additional information about the descendants and their clan.
3 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Poole, 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 26:36
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 Descendants of Ephraimgenerated
Numbers 26:36 identifies the Eranite clan as descendants of Shuthelah, a man from the tribe of Ephraim. This verse is part of a larger genealogical section that lists the clans and families of the Israelites, emphasizing their lineage and heritage. The context highlights the importance of family ties in the Israelite community and their connection to the land and heritage of Ephraim.
Cross References
The Key Word — שׁוּתָ֑לַח, shu.Ta.lachgenerated
The name שׁוּתָ֑לַח (Shuthelah) is a proper noun referring to an individual from the tribe of Ephraim. The name likely means 'noise of breaking' and is associated with two figures in the biblical narrative, one being an ancestor of Joshua.
In this verse, Shuthelah is presented as the patriarch of the Eranite clan, establishing his significance in the genealogical record of the Israelites.
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 is implied in the structure of the sentence, with אֵ֖לֶּה (and these) introducing the subject. The sentence consists of a noun phrase followed by a prepositional phrase, indicating the clan's origin.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on Shuthelah's descendants first, establishing their identity before detailing their clan affiliation.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שׁוּתָ֑לַח as σουταλα, which retains the proper noun form but may not carry the same meaning as in Hebrew. This choice reflects a direct transliteration rather than an interpretation of the name's significance.
The Greek word οὗτοι for אֵ֖לֶּה indicates a similar pointing to specific individuals, aligning with the Hebrew intent to specify the descendants.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 26:36 tells us that the descendants of Shuthelah were part of the Eranite clan from Eran. This verse is part of a list that emphasizes the family connections among the Israelites, particularly those from the tribe of Ephraim.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Shuthelah was a man from the tribe of Ephraim, mentioned in the genealogies of the Israelites, and was an ancestor of Joshua.
Eran means 'watcher' and refers to a descendant of Shuthelah, indicating a role or characteristic associated with vigilance.
Clans represent family ties and heritage among the Israelites, emphasizing their identity and connection to the land.
This verse contributes to the census and organization of the Israelite tribes, highlighting their lineage and structure as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can I learn about the importance of family and heritage from this verse?
- How does understanding my own lineage help me connect with my community?
- In what ways can I honor my ancestors and their contributions to my life?
- How can I apply the concept of clan and family ties in my relationships today?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 26:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites. Eran , [Septuagint, Eden] - probably Ezer (1 Chronicles 7:21).
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 26 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleEran, called Edan or Laadan, ; the letters daleth and resh being alike in the Hebrew tongue, and therefore oft changed, as is evident from Scripture instances.
Read Matthew Poole 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
And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran.
These are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran.
Now these were the Shuthelahites: from Eran, the family of the Eranites.
Tyndale line
And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
And these are the sonnes of Shuthelah: of Eran the familie of the Eranites.
Strictly literal
And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
And these [are] sons of Shuthelah: of Eran the family of the Eranite.
And these [are] sons of Shuthelah: of Eran the family of the Eranite.
And these are the sons of Shuthelach: of 'Eran, the family of the Eranites.
The descendants of Shuthelah were, by Eran, the clan of the Eranites.
From the Latin
Now the son of Suthala was Heran, of whom is the family of the Heranites.
Simplified
The descendant of Shuthelah was Eran, ancestor of the Eranite family.
And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites:
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 Septuagint, which matches all six words in this verse. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, using עדן for Eran and עדני for Eranite, indicating a variation in the name and its gentilic form.
וְאֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י שׁוּתָ֑לַח לְעֵרָ֕ן מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הָעֵרָנִֽי׃
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.
אלה בני שׁותלח לעדן משׁפחת העדני
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: עדן (Eran), עדני (Eranite)
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 26:36
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.
אֵ֫לֶּה (el-leh) means 'these' and is used in various grammatical contexts, often in apposition to a noun with a pronoun suffix. It can appear with or without the definite article and is sometimes paired with other terms like וְאֵלֶּה (and these). The word conveys a sense of proximity or specification, referring to particular items or people.
אֵ֫לֶּה pr.pl.m. & f. these
in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
with preps.
base
H428 אֵ֫לֶּה these . in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
. repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
. with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
. with preps.
428 'el-leh ale'-leh
prolonged from 411; these or those:--an- (the) other; one
sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those,
thus, which, who(-m).
see HEBREW for 0411
אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) — these.
1) these
1a) used before antecedent
1b) used following antecedent
Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · particleHC/Tm
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-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
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…
שׁוּתֶ֫לַח (Shuwthelach) likely means 'noise of breaking' and refers to two individuals from the tribe of Ephraim. The first is mentioned in Numbers 26:35 as a son of Ephraim and ancestor of Joshua, while the second appears in 1 Chronicles 7:21 as a descendant during the Divided Monarchy. The name is built from roots related to breaking or crashing.
שׁוּתֶ֫לַח n.pr.m. in Ephraim
base
H7803 שׁוּתֶ֫לַח
7803 Shuwthelach shoo-theh'-lakh
probably from 7582 and the same as 8520; crash of breakage;
Shuthelach, the name of two Israelites:--Shuthelah.
see HEBREW for 07582
see HEBREW for 08520
שׁוּתֶ֫לַח (shu.te.lach) — Shuthelah.
A man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.26.35;
son of: Ephraim (H0669);
brother of: Becher (H1071H), Tahan (H8465), Ezer (H5827), Elead (H0496) and Beriah (H1283H);
father of: Eran (H6197) and Bered (H1260H)
Also named: shu.tal.chi (שֻׁתַלְחִי "Shuthelahite" H8364)
§ Shuthelah = "noise of breaking"
son of Ephraim, ancestor of Joshua, and progenitor of family of Ephraim
שׁוּתֶ֫לַח (shu.te.lach) — Shuthelah.
A man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.21;
son of: Zabad (H2066H)
§ Shuthelah = "noise of breaking"
son of Ephraim, ancestor of Joshua, and progenitor of family of Ephraim
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
(noise of breaking), head of an Ephraimite family, called after him Shuthalhites, (Numbers 26:35) and lineal ancestor of Joshua the son of Numb (1 Chronicles 7:20-27)
plant; verdure; moist; pot
עֵרָן (Eran) is a proper name likely derived from a root meaning 'watchful.' It refers to an individual from the tribe of Ephraim mentioned in Numbers 26:36, who is the son of Shuthelah and brother of Bered. The name is also associated with the term for 'watcher.'
עֵרָן n.pr.m. an Ephraimite Nu 26:36
ref
H6197 עֵרָן
6197 `Eran ay-rawn'
probably from 5782; watchful; Eran, an Israelite:--Eran.
see HEBREW for 05782
עֵרָן (e.ran) — Eran.
A man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.26.36;
son of: Shuthelah (H7803);
brother of: Bered (H1260H)
Also named: e.ra.ni (עֵרָנִי "Eranite" H6198)
§ Eran = "watcher"
the eldest son of Ephraim
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
e'-ran (`eran, "watcher," "watchful"; Eden):
The son of Ephraim's oldest son Shuthelah (Nu 26:36).
Eranites, the descendants of Eran (same place) .
(watchful), the eldest son of Ephraim. (Numbers 26:36)
follower
→ A grandson of Ephraim Nu 26:36
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…
עֵרָנִי (Eraniy) refers to an Eranite, a descendant of Eran, who is associated with the tribe of Ephraim during the time of Egypt and the Wilderness. The term is used collectively in Numbers 26:36, indicating the group of Eranites. It is derived from the root word עֵרָן (Eran), which means 'watcher'.
עֵרָנִי adj.gent. c. art. as subst. coll. Nu 26:36
ref
H6198 עֵרָנִי
6198 `Eraniy ay-raw-nee'
patronymically from 6197; an Eranite or descendant
(collectively) of Eran:--Eranites.
see HEBREW for 06197
עֵרָנִי (e.ra.ni) — Eranite.
Someone descended from Eran who was a man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.26.36;
son of: Shuthelah (H7803);
brother of: Bered (H1260H)
Group of e.ran (עֵרָן "Eran" H6197)
§ Eranites, of Eran "watcher"
the descendants of Eran, the son of Ephraim
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa