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Numbers 26:50 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאֵ֛לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת נַפְתָּלִ֖י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם וּפְקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔ם חֲמִשָּׁ֧ה וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת׃

BSAThese [were]ʼêl-leh [specific, particular] the clansmishpâchâh [families, tribes] of NaphtaliNaphtâlîy [a son of Jacob, the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel] and their registration numberedpâqad [to reckon, count, or number, counted, totaled, five and forty thousand and four hundred, a large company] . . . 45,400châmêsh

Word
Listen & take awayNumbers 26
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 50 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (me.'ot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Numbers 26:50quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse lists the clans of Naphtali and their total number.
Who is speakingThe narrator, detailing the tribes of Israel.
Where we areIn the context of the census of the Israelites.
The hard wordמִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת
Take awayThe clans of Naphtali total 45,400.
3 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them › clause subjectאֵלֶּה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 26:50

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 Naphtaligenerated

49the Jezerite clan from Jezer, and the Shillemite clan from Shillem.
50These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.
51These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.
52Then the LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 26:50 provides a record of the clans of Naphtali as part of the larger census of the Israelites. This census was conducted to organize the tribes for their journey and settlement in the Promised Land. The mention of specific clans highlights the structure of Israelite society and their familial ties, which were significant for their identity and inheritance.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Numbers 1:42–43From the sons of Naphtali, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,
2Numbers 2:29–30Next will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.Numbers 1:42–43 Numbers 2:29–30

The Key Word אֵ֛לֶּה, 'E.lehgenerated

The word אֵ֛לֶּה ('E.leh) is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'these,' used to specify particular items or people. It indicates a close reference to the clans being discussed, emphasizing their importance in the context of the census.

This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, often to introduce lists or specific details, showing its role in pointing out significant groups or individuals.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree on the meaning of אֵ֛לֶּה as 'these.' The BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all render it consistently.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse's main clause is introduced by the finite verb הָיוּ (were), which governs the subject אֵ֛לֶּה (these) and the predicate מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת נַפְתָּלִ֖י (the clans of Naphtali).

The structure is straightforward, presenting the clans and their total number in a clear and organized manner, typical of census records.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אֵ֛לֶּה as οὗτοι (houtoi), meaning 'these.' This choice maintains the demonstrative function of the Hebrew, indicating specific clans.

The use of δῆμοι for מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת reflects a broader interpretation, suggesting communities or groups rather than strictly clans.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Numbers 26:50 tells us that the clans of Naphtali were registered, totaling 45,400 individuals. This shows the organization of the Israelite tribes and their population count during the census.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does this verse tell us about Naphtali?

It identifies the clans of Naphtali and provides their total number, highlighting their role within the Israelite community.

Why is the census important?

The census helps organize the tribes for their journey and settlement in the Promised Land, emphasizing their structure and identity.

What does the number 45,400 signify?

This number represents the total count of the men from the clans of Naphtali, indicating their size and presence among the Israelites.

How do the clans relate to the broader context of Israel?

The clans represent the family ties and tribal structure that were crucial for inheritance and identity among the Israelites.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What can we learn about the importance of family and community from the clans of Naphtali?
  2. How does the structure of the Israelite tribes inform our understanding of their society?
  3. In what ways does this verse reflect the significance of numbers in the Bible?
  4. How can we apply the concept of community from the clans to our lives today?

Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Numbers 26:50 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred. No JFB commentary on this verse.

Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 26 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5–51. 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 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

48-50. The sons of Naphtali — This record corresponds with Genesis and 1 Chronicles.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were counted of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.

NETBNew English Translation2006

These were the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those numbered of them were 45,400.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.

RVARevised Version, American1894

These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and four hundred.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

These are the families of Naphtali according to their housholdes, and their nomber, fiue and fourtie thousande and foure hundreth.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

These are the families of Naphtali, according to their families; and they that were numbered of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

These [are] families of Naphtali by their families, and their numbered ones [are] five and forty thousand and four hundred.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

These [are] families of Naphtali by their families, and their numbered ones [are] forty-five thousand and four hundred.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

These were the clans of Naphtali's descendants, who numbered 45,400 men.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

These are the kindreds of the sons of Nephtali by their families: whose number was forty-five thousand four hundred.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

These were the families descended from Naphtali, and they numbered 45,400.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

These are the families of Naphtali by their families: and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand, four 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.

clausesubjectאֵ֛לֶּהthesenoun phrase · predicateמִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת[were].the.clansנַפְתָּלִ֖יof.Naphtaliprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑clansםtheirוּandclausenoun phrase · subjectפְקֻ֣דֵיtheir.enrolledהֶ֔ם[men]noun phrase · predicatenumeral phrasenumeral phrasenumeral phraseחֲמִשָּׁ֧ה[were].fiveוְandאַרְבָּעִ֛יםfortyאֶ֖לֶףthousandוְandnumeral phraseאַרְבַּ֥עfourמֵאֽוֹתhundred(s)

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text aligns with the Septuagint in most respects, with only minor differences in word choice. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs in two words, using משׁפחות (clan) instead of מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת, indicating a variation in the terminology used for clans.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

אֵ֛לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת נַפְתָּלִ֖י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם וּפְקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔ם חֲמִשָּׁ֧ה וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אֵ֛לֶּהοὗτοιמִשְׁפְּחֹ֥תδῆμοιנַפְתָּלִ֖יνεφθαλιוּפְקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔םαὐτῶνחֲמִשָּׁ֧הπέντεוְאַרְבָּעִ֛יםτεσσαράκονταאֶ֖לֶףξιλιάδεςוְאַרְבַּ֥עκαὶמֵאֽוֹת׃τετρακόσιοι

9 of the 10 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

אלה משׁפחות נפתלי למשׁפחותם ופקדיהם חמשׁה וארבעים אלף וארבע מאות

2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: משׁפחות (clan), משׁפחותם (clan)

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.

Numbers 26:50אֵ֫לֶּהthesetheseאֵ֫לֶּהמִשְׁפָּחָה[were] [the[were] [the] clמִשְׁפָּחָהנַפְתָּלִיNaphtaliNaphtaliנַפְתָּלִימִשְׁפָּחָהto clans thto clans theirמִשְׁפָּחָהפָּקַדand enrolleand enrolled [mפָּקַדחָמֵשׁ[were] five[were] fiveחָמֵשׁאַרְבָּעִיםand fortyand fortyאַרְבָּעִיםאֶ֫לֶףthousandthousandאֶ֫לֶףאַרְבַּעand fourand fourאַרְבַּעמֵאָהhundredhundredמֵאָהשָׁפָהbe barebe bareשָׁפָהאֵלthesetheseאֵלפָּתַלto twistto twistפָּתַלרָבַעto squareto squareרָבַעאַרְבַּעfourfourאַרְבַּעאֶ֫לֶףcattlecattleאֶ֫לֶףתּוֹלֵדוֹתgenerationgenerationתּוֹלֵדוֹתאַלּוּףtametameאַלּוּףקֶ֫דֶשׁKedeshKedeshקֶ֫דֶשׁאָשֵׁרAsherAsherאָשֵׁרמִשְׁפָּחָהfamilyfamilyמִשְׁפָּחָהכֶּ֫בֶשׂlamblambכֶּ֫בֶשׂאַמָּהcubitcubitאַמָּהלַ֫יְלָהnightnightלַ֫יְלָהמֵאָהhundredhundredמֵאָהחָמֵשׁfivefiveחָמֵשׁעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂראֶ֫לֶףthousandthousandאֶ֫לֶף
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Numbers 26:50

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.

these [were] [the] clans of Naphtali to clans their and enrolled [men] their [were] five and forty thousand and four hundred
אֵ֛לֶּה'E.leh these H428 Particle
746× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to point out specific people or things, like saying 'these' or 'those'. It appears in the book of Genesis, where God says 'let there be light' and separates the light from the darkness.
Amplified meaning
specific, particular
Tyndale gloss
these
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) — these.

1) these

1a) used before antecedent

1b) used following antecedent

Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Particle
HTm
these [were] [the] clans of Naphtali to clans their and enrolled [men] their [were] five and forty thousand and four hundred
מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥תmish.pe.Chot [were] [the] clans of H4940 Noun common · feminine plural construct
303× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a family or clan, and can also mean a tribe or nation, such as the people of Israel, emphasizing the importance of family ties.
Amplified meaning
families, tribes
Tyndale gloss
family
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִשְׁפָּחָה 303 n.f. clan

clan

= guild

= species, kind

pl. = aristocrats

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4940 מִשְׁפָּחָה clan . clan

. = guild

. = species, kind

. pl. = aristocrats

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׁפָּחָה (mish.pa.chah) — family.

1) clan, family

1a) clan

1a1) family

1a2) tribe

1a3) people, nation

1b) guild

1c) species, kind

1d) aristocrats

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Noun common · feminine plural construct
HNcfpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

these [were] [the] clans of Naphtali to clans their and enrolled [men] their [were] five and forty thousand and four hundred
נַפְתָּלִ֖יnaf.ta.Li Naphtali H5321 Noun proper masculine
51× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Naphtali was a son of Jacob and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. He was born to Bilhah, Rachel's servant, and is first mentioned in Genesis 30:8. Naphtali's descendants lived in the region of Galilee.
Amplified meaning
a son of Jacob, the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel
Tyndale gloss
Naphtali
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נַפְתָּלִי 61 n.pr.m. et trib. Naphtali

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5321 נַפְתָּלִי Naphtali

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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"

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(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…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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,"…

these [were] [the] clans of Naphtali to clans their and enrolled [men] their [were] five and forty thousand and four hundred
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑םle.mish.pe.cho.Tam to clans their H4940 Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
303× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a family or clan, and can also mean a tribe or nation, such as the people of Israel, emphasizing the importance of family ties.
Tyndale gloss
family
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִשְׁפָּחָה 303 n.f. clan

clan

= guild

= species, kind

pl. = aristocrats

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4940 מִשְׁפָּחָה clan . clan

. = guild

. = species, kind

. pl. = aristocrats

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׁפָּחָה (mish.pa.chah) — family.

1) clan, family

1a) clan

1a1) family

1a2) tribe

1a3) people, nation

1b) guild

1c) species, kind

1d) aristocrats

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp
these [were] [the] clans of Naphtali to clans their and enrolled [men] their [were] five and forty thousand and four hundred
וּפְקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔םu.fe.Ku.dei.Hem and enrolled [men] their H6485 Conjunction · verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural common · suffix
303× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to visit or oversee, and can imply a range of actions, from friendly to hostile. It is used in various contexts, including appointing, avenging, or delivering something into someone's care. The KJV translates it in many ways, including appoint, avenge, or commit.
Amplified meaning
to reckon, count, or number, counted, totaled, five and forty thousand and four hundred, a large company
Tyndale gloss
to reckon: list
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Inf-c | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural common · suffix
HC/Vqsmpc/Sp3mp
these [were] [the] clans of Naphtali to clans their and enrolled [men] their [were] five and forty thousand and four hundred
חֲמִשָּׁ֧הcha.mi.Shah [were] five H2568 Adj
343× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word simply means the number five. It is used throughout the Bible to describe quantities of five, such as five loaves of bread in Matthew 14:17. It can also mean a multiple of five.
Tyndale gloss
five
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָמֵשׁ (chamesh) means 'five' in Hebrew. It serves as both a cardinal number and can indicate a multiple of five when combined with another number. The word also has an ordinal form, 'fifth.' The entries consistently define this numeral without any noted disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָמֵשׁ, חֲמִשָּׁה 342 n.m. and f. five

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2568 חָמֵשׁ, חֲמִשָּׁה five

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2568 chamesh khaw-maysh'

masculine chamishshah {kham-ish-shaw}; a primitive numeral;

five:--fif(-teen), fifth, five (X apiece).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָמֵשׁ (cha.mesh) — five.

1) five

1a) five (cardinal number)

1b) a multiple of five (with another number)

1c) fifth (ordinal number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fiv (chamesh; pente).

See NUMBER.

these [were] [the] clans of Naphtali to clans their and enrolled [men] their [were] five and forty thousand and four hundred
וְאַרְבָּעִ֛יםve.'ar.ba.'Im and forty H705 Conjunction
136× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The number forty is what this Hebrew word represents, often used in the Bible to mark significant periods of time, like the 40 days of rain in Genesis or the 40 years of Israel's wilderness journey.
Tyndale gloss
forty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַרְבָּעִים (arba`iym) simply means 'forty' in Hebrew. It is a multiple of the number 702 and is consistently defined across various lexicons. There are no significant disagreements among the entries regarding its meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַרְבָּעִים a forty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H705 אַרְבָּעִים a forty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

705 'arba`iym ar-baw-eem'

multiple of 702; forty:---forty.

see HEBREW for 0702

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַרְבָּעִים (ar.ba.im) — forty.

forty

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Acmpa — Conjunction
HC/Acmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for'-ti ('arba`im; tessarakonta).

See FOUR (5); NUMBER.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Remarkable coincidences in the number

→ DAYS

Of rain, at the time of the flood Ge 7:17

Of flood, before sending forth the raven Ge 8:6

For embalming Ge 50:3

Of fasting

By Moses Ex 24:18; 34:28; De 9:9,25

By Elijah 1Ki 19:8

By spies in the land of promise Nu 13:25

Of probation, given to the Ninevites Jon 3:4

By Jesus Mt 4:2

Christ's stay after the resurrection Ac 1:3

these [were] [the] clans of Naphtali to clans their and enrolled [men] their [were] five and forty thousand and four hundred
אֶ֖לֶף'E.lef thousand H505
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Tyndale gloss
thousand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫לֶף n.m. thousand

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H505 אֶ֫לֶף thousand

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAcbsa
HAcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

thou'-zand ('eleph; chilioi).

See NUMBER.

these [were] [the] clans of Naphtali to clans their and enrolled [men] their [were] five and forty thousand and four hundred
וְאַרְבַּ֥עve.'ar.Ba' and four H702 Conjunction
318× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The number four is a simple counting number in Hebrew, used to describe quantities of things, such as people, objects, or groups.
Tyndale gloss
four
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

702 'arba` ar-bah'

masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.

see HEBREW for 07251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.

four

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Acbsc — Conjunction
HC/Acbsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;

these [were] [the] clans of Naphtali to clans their and enrolled [men] their [were] five and forty thousand and four hundred
מֵאֽוֹת׃me.'ot hundred H3967
581× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means a hundred, used as a simple number or part of a larger number in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including fractions like one one-hundredth. Found in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Tyndale gloss
hundred
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֵאָה 583 n.f. hundred

as simple number

as part of larger number

a hundredth part

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3967 מֵאָה hundred . as simple number

. as part of larger number

. a hundredth part

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAcfpa
HAcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hun'-dred (me'-ah; hekaton).

See NUMBER.

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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