Numbers 26:8 — Word Study
WLCוּבְנֵ֥י פַלּ֖וּא אֱלִיאָֽב׃
BSANow the sonbên [descendant, offspring] of PalluPallûwʼ [an Israelite, son of Reuben] was EliabʼĔlîyʼâb [a leader, a chief]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּבְנֵ֥י | and [the] sons of | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct |
| פַלּ֖וּא | Pallu | Noun proper masculine |
| אֱלִיאָֽב׃ | Eliab | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Now the son of Pallu was Eliab, |
| KJV | And the sons of Pallu; Eliab. |
| ASV | And the sons of Pallu: Eliab. |
| YLT | And the son of Pallu [is] Eliab; |
| WEB | The son of Pallu: Eliab. |
| BBE | And the sons of Pallu, Eliab |
Translations agree on the identification of Eliab as the son of Pallu — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a straightforward structure, with a clear identification of Eliab as the subject.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Cambridge & 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 26:8
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 the Israelitesgenerated
Numbers 26:8 is part of a larger narrative that records the descendants of the tribes of Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. This census serves to establish the lineage and leadership within each tribe, particularly focusing on the tribe of Reuben in this instance. The genealogical records are crucial for understanding the heritage and divisions among the Israelites.
Cross References
The Key Word — אֱלִיאָב, 'e.li.'Avgenerated
The name אֱלִיאָב (Eliab) means 'God is father' and signifies a connection to divine authority. Eliab is a proper noun, indicating a specific individual, and is parsed as a masculine noun.
Eliab is noted for his leadership role among the Israelites, particularly as a descendant of Pallu, who is linked to the tribe of Reuben. This connection emphasizes the importance of family lineage in the context of Israelite identity.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse reads, 'Now the son of Pallu was Eliab,' which aligns closely with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb is implied in the structure, with the subject being the noun phrase אֱלִיאָב (Eliab). The sentence is straightforward, presenting a clear identification of Eliab as the son of Pallu.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on Eliab, signaling his importance as a leader within his family and tribe.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אֱלִיאָב as ελιαβ, maintaining the name's integrity while providing a Greek rendering. This choice reflects the translators' intent to preserve the original meaning and significance of Eliab's name.
The Greek term used does not alter the understanding of Eliab's role as a leader, aligning with the Hebrew context.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 26:8 tells us that Eliab is the son of Pallu, who is from the tribe of Reuben. This verse is part of a census that lists the descendants of the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Eliab was a leader from the tribe of Reuben, the son of Pallu, and is mentioned in the context of the Israelite census.
Eliab means 'God is father,' indicating a connection to divine authority and leadership.
The genealogy establishes the lineage and leadership roles within the Israelite tribes, which is crucial for their identity and organization.
Eliab belonged to the tribe of Reuben, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding Eliab's lineage help us grasp the importance of family in the Israelite community?
- In what ways can we see the significance of names and their meanings in our own lives?
- What can we learn from Eliab's role as a leader within his family and tribe?
- How does the structure of genealogies in the Bible contribute to our understanding of God's plan for His people?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 26:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the sons of Pallu,.... Or son, the plural for the singular, Pallu having but one son, whose name was Eliab, the father of Dathan and Abiram; Numbers 26:9.
Read John Gill on Numbers 26 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the sons of Pallu; Eliab. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 26 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleSons for son, of which change of the number see
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 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible5-9. Reuben, the eldest son — By Leah. Genesis 29:32. The enumeration of the grandsons of Jacob in this chapter is important, since these are the basis of the tribal divisions, just as the tribes sprang from his sons.
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
Now the son of Pallu was Eliab,
The son of Pallu: Eliab.
Now the son of Pallu was Eliab,
Pallu’s descendant was Eliab.
Tyndale line
And the sons of Pallu; Eliab.
And the sons of Pallu: Eliab.
And the sons of Pallu; Eliab.
And the sons of Phallu; Eliab.
And the sonnes of Pallu, Eliab:
Strictly literal
And the sons of Pallu: Eliab;
And the son of Pallu [is] Eliab;
And the son of Pallu [is] Eliab;
And the sons of Pallu: Eliab.
Eliab was a son of Pallu.
From the Latin
The son of Phallu was Eliab.
Simplified
Pallu's son was Eliab,
And the sons of Pallu, Eliab
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 Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word on this verse, confirming the consistency of Eliab's identification as the son of Pallu. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, but the essential elements align with the Masoretic Text.
וּבְנֵ֥י פַלּ֖וּא אֱלִיאָֽב׃
3 of the 3 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.
בני פלוא אליאב
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[בני] פלוא אליאב
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 1 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 26:8
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.
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)
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural constructHC/Ncmpc
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…
פַּלּוּא (Palluw') refers to a distinguished individual, specifically the second son of Reuben and father of Eliab. He is mentioned in the context of the tribe of Reuben, with references to his brothers and descendants. The name appears in Genesis 46:9 and is associated with the term for his family, the Palluites.
פַּלּוּא n.pr.m. son of Reuben
base
H6396 פַּלּוּא son of Reuben
6396 Palluw' pal-loo'
from 6395; distinguished; Pallu, an Israelite:--Pallu,
Phallu.
see HEBREW for 06395
פַּלּוּא (pal.lu) — Pallu.
A man of the tribe of Reuben living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.9;
son of: Reuben (H7205);
brother of: Hanoch (H2585J), Hezron (H2696) and Carmi (H3756);
father of: Eliab (H0446H)
Also named: pal.lu.i (פַּלֻּאִי "Palluite" H6384)
§ Pallu or Phallu = "distinguished"
the 2nd son of Reuben, father of Eliab, and progenitor of a family of Israel
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Pallu
Separated, the second son of Reuben (1 Chr. 5:3); called Phallu, Gen. 46:9. He was the father of the Phalluites (Ex. 6:14; Num. 26:5, 8).
(distinguished), the second son of Reuben, father of Eliab, (Isaiah 6:14; Numbers 26:5,8; 1 Chronicles 5:3) and founder of the family of Palluites.
marvelous; hidden
אֱלִיאָב (Eliy'ab) means 'God is father' and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, including a prince of Zebulun, a prince of Reuben, and David's oldest brother. The name is derived from the Hebrew words for 'God' and 'father.' The entries collectively highlight Eliab's roles, such as a Levite musician and a Gadite warrior, but do not present any significant disagreement among the lexicons.
אֱלִיאָב n.pr.m. (God is father)
prince of Zebulon
prince of Reuben
brother of David
a Kohathite
a Gadite
Levite singer
base
H446 אֱלִיאָב (God is father) . prince of Zebulon
. prince of Reuben
. brother of David
. a Kohathite
. a Gadite
. Levite singer
446 'Eliy'ab el-ee-awb'
from 410 and 1; God of (his) father; Eliab, the name of six
Israelites:--Eliab.
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 01
אֱלִיאָב (e.li.av) — Eliab.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.1.9;
son of: Helon (H2497)
§ Eliab = "my God is father" or "God is father"
1) son of Helon, leader of Zebulun in the wilderness
2) a Reubenite chief, father of Dathan and Abiram
3) David's oldest brother
4) a Levite musician
5) a Gadite warrior for David
6) a Kohathite
אֱלִיאָב (e.li.av) — Eliab.
A man of the tribe of Reuben living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.16.1;
son of: Pallu (H6396);
father of: Dathan (H1885), Abiram (H0048) and Nemuel (H5241)
§ Eliab = "my God is father" or "God is father"
1) son of Helon, leader of Zebulun in the wilderness
2) a Reubenite chief, father of Dathan and Abiram
3) David's oldest brother
4) a Levite musician
5) a Gadite warrior for David
6) a Kohathite
אֱלִיאָב (e.li.av) — Eliab.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
e-li'-ab ('eli'abh, "God is father"):
(1) Prince of the tribe of Zebulun in the Exodus (Nu 1:9; 2:7; 7:24,29; 10:16).
(2) A Reubenite, father of Dathan and Abiram (Nu 16:11,12; 26:8 f; De 11:6).
(3) Eldest son of Jesse and brother of David (1Sa 16:6), once called Elihu (1Ch 27:18). He was of commanding appearance (1Sa 16:6) and when serving with Saul's army at the time when it was confronting the Philistines and Goliath, was inclined to lord it over his brother David (1Sa 17:28 f). His daughter Abihail became a Wife…
Eliab
To whom God is father. (1.) A Reubenite, son of Pallu (Num. 16:1, 12; 26:8, 9; Deut. 11:6).
(2.) A son of Helon, and chief of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness (Num. 1:9; 2:7).
(3.) The son of Jesse, and brother of David (1 Sam. 16:6). It was he who spoke contemptuously to David when he proposed to fight Goliath (1 Sam. 17:28).
(4.) One of the Gadite heroes who joined David in his stronghold in the wilderness (1 Chr. 12:9).
(God is my father). Son of Helon and leader of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness of Sinai. (Numbers 1:9; 2:7; 7:24,29; 10:16) (B.C. 1490.) A Reubenite, father of Dathan and Abiram. (Numbers 16:1,12; 26:8,9; 11:6) One of David’s brothers, the eldest of the family. (1 Samuel 16:6; 17:13,28; 1 Chronicles 2:13) (B.C. 1063.) A Levite in the time of David, who was both a "porter" and a musician on the "psaltery." (1 Chronicles 15:18,20; 16:5) One of the warlike Gadite leaders who came over to David when he was in the wilderness taking refuge from Saul. (
The oldest brother of David, towards whom his conduct was passionate and jealous, thus confirming the judgment of Him who looks not on the appearance, but the heart, 1Sa 16:6,7; 17:28.