Numbers 31:7 — Word Study
WLCוַֽיִּצְבְּאוּ֙ עַל־ מִדְיָ֔ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־ מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיַּֽהַרְג֖וּ כָּל־ זָכָֽר׃
BSAThen they waged wartsâbâʼ▸ [assembled for battle, served at war] againstʻal MidianMidyân [a son of Abraham, his country, and descendants] asʼăsher the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had commandedtsâvâh■ [given orders, appointed] MosesMôsheh and they killedhârag▸ [slew with intent, put to death] everykôl [all, everything] malezâkâr [man, male animal, emphasizing importance]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַֽיִּצְבְּאוּ֙ | and they waged war | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| עַל־ | on | Preposition |
| מִדְיָ֔ן | Midian | Noun proper |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר | just as | Preposition, particle |
| צִוָּ֥ה | he had commanded | Verb, Piel, perfect third person masculine singular |
| יְהוָ֖ה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| מֹשֶׁ֑ה | Moses | Noun proper masculine |
| וַיַּֽהַרְג֖וּ | and they killed | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| כָּל־ | every | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| זָכָֽר׃ | male | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then they waged war against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male. |
| KJV | And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. |
| ASV | And they warred against Midian, as Jehovah commanded Moses; and they slew every male. |
| YLT | And they war against Midian, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses, and slay every male; |
| WEB | They fought against Midian, as Yahweh commanded Moses. They killed every male. |
| BBE | And they made war on Midian, as the Lord gave orders to Moses; and they put to death every male. |
Where they part company is זָכָר — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause that describes the action of waging war, followed by a subordinate clause that indicates the command given by God.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectיהוה
verbצָבָא
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 31:7
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 War Against Midiangenerated
Numbers 31:7 describes the Israelites engaging in battle against Midian as commanded by the LORD. This military action is part of a larger narrative where God instructs Moses on how to deal with the Midianites, who had previously led Israel into sin. The context emphasizes obedience to divine command and the consequences of Israel's actions in fulfilling God's orders.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 20:13–14 | When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hand, you must put every male to the sword. |
| 2 | Judges 21:11 | This is what you are to do: Devote to destruction every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.” |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 27:9 | Whenever David attacked a territory, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but he took the flocks and herds, the donkeys, camels, and clothing. Then he would return to Achish, |
| 4 | 1 Kings 11:15–16 | Earlier, when David was in Edom, Joab the commander of the army had gone to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom. |
| 5 | Judges 6:1–2 | Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; so He delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — צָבָא, vai.yitz.be.'Ugenerated
The verb צָבָא (tsaba') means to wage war or serve, particularly in military contexts. It is derived from the root meaning 'to serve' and indicates the act of assembling for battle. This term captures both the physical aspect of warfare and the religious duty of serving God, showing its significance in Israel's military actions.
In this verse, the use of צָבָא highlights the Israelites' readiness to fight as they respond to God's command. The Qal form indicates a straightforward action, emphasizing their active participation in the war against Midian.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term waged war for the Hebrew צָבָא. This is consistent across several translations, including the KJV and ASV.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of זָכָר. The BSB, KJV, ASV, and others use male, while the ULB opts for man, indicating a choice in how to convey the gender specificity in this context.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is וַיִּצְבְּאוּ, and they waged war, which governs the actions described in the clause. This verb initiates the action, with subsequent phrases detailing the object of their war and the commands given.
The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating against whom they waged war, and a relative clause explaining the command from Yahweh to Moses. This organization emphasizes the obedience of the Israelites to God's directive.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates צָבָא as παρετάχαντο, which means 'they undertook' or 'they engaged.' This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the action, suggesting not only warfare but also the commitment to fulfill God's command.
This translation may imply a more comprehensive understanding of the Israelites' engagement, highlighting their readiness to act on divine orders.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 31:7 tells us that the Israelites fought against Midian as God commanded Moses. They killed every male, following God's orders to ensure obedience and judgment against the Midianites.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies the Israelites' obedience to God's command to confront and defeat the Midianites, who had led them into sin.
This action was part of God's judgment against the Midianites for their role in leading Israel astray, as commanded to Moses.
It emphasizes the importance of divine instruction in the actions of the Israelites, showing their reliance on God's guidance.
It reflects the ongoing struggle between Israel and those who oppose their covenant relationship with God, highlighting themes of obedience and judgment.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean to me to follow God's commands in my life today?
- How can I better understand the context of God's instructions in the Bible?
- In what ways do I see obedience to God impacting my community?
- How do I respond to difficult commands or teachings in Scripture?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 31:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses,.... Whether the Midianites came out against them with an army, and there was a pitched battle between them, is not certain;
Read John Gill on Numbers 31 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. They slew all the males. This was in accordance with a divine order in all such cases (Deuteronomy 20:13).
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 31 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleNamely, all whom they took in that war, or all who lived in those parts; for it is probable (and was then very usual) some colonies of them were sent forth to remoter places, which therefore had no hand either in their former sin, or ill this present ruin, of whom we read after this, Jude 6. And herein they did according to God’ s own order concerning such people, ; only their fault was, that they did not consider the special reason and great obligation which they had to involve the women in the destruction, for which reason Moses blames them afterward, ,16.
Read Matthew Poole on Numbers 31 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) They slew all the males.—The reference appears to be to those who were engaged in the war. The words do not refer to the whole of the male population, as appears from Numbers 31:17; and it is probable that many of the Midianites who were not engaged in the war withdrew from the scene of conflict. The reference in this verse, unless the words are inserted proleptically, seems to be to the whole of the adult males who fell into the hands of the Israelites during the war.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Numbers 31 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1–18. The utter destruction of every Midianite, with the exception of the virgins who are to be kept as spoil.
Read Cambridge on Numbers 31 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible5-7. Twelve thousand — The conscription of so small a number against the hosts of Midian; the appointment, as commander, of Phinehas, who had recently so greatly signalized himself by his zeal
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 31 →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
Then they waged war against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.
They fought against Midian, as Yahweh commanded Moses. They killed every male.
Then they waged war against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.
They fought against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed every male.
Tyndale line
And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.
And they warred against Midian, as Jehovah commanded Moses; and they slew every male.
And they warred against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew every male.
And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.
And they warred against Midian, as the Lord had commanded Moses, and slue all the males.
Strictly literal
And they warred against Midian, as Jehovah had commanded Moses, and slew all the males.
And they war against Midian, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses, and slay every male;
And they war against Midian, as YHWH has commanded Moses, and slay every male;
And they marched out against the Midianites, as the Lord had commanded Moses; and they slew every male.
They fought against Midian, as Yahweh had commanded Moses. They killed every man.
From the Latin
And when they had fought against the Madianites and had overcome them, they slew all the men.
Simplified
They attacked the Midianites, as the Lord had told Moses to do, and they killed all the men.
And they made war on Midian, as the Lord gave orders to Moses; and they put to death every male.
Word by word, the decisions they made
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 in this verse, confirming the consistency of the command and the actions taken by the Israelites. The Septuagint matches closely with the Masoretic Text, with ten out of eleven words corresponding directly.
וַֽיִּצְבְּאוּ֙ עַל־ מִדְיָ֔ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־ מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיַּֽהַרְג֖וּ כָּל־ זָכָֽר׃
10 of the 11 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.
ויצבאו על מדין כאשׁר צוה יהוה את משׁה ויהרגו כל זכר
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
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 31:7
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.
צָבָא (tsaba') is a Hebrew verb meaning to wage war or serve, particularly in the context of military action or religious duties at a sacred tent. It encompasses the ideas of assembling, fighting, and performing tasks. The entries highlight its use in both Qal and Hiphil forms, with a focus on warfare and service.
[צָבָא] vb. wage war, serve
Qal
wage war, fight
serve at sacred tent
Hiph. muster
base
H6633 [צָבָא] wage war, serve .. wage war, fight
. serve at sacred tent
. muster
6633 tsaba' tsaw-baw'
a primitive root; to mass (an army or servants):--assemble,
fight, perform, muster, wait upon, war.
צָבָא (tsa.va) — to serve.
1) to go forth, wage war, fight, serve
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to wage war, fight, go forth to war
1a2) to serve (at sacred tent)
1b) (Hiphil) to cause to go forth, muster
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
War
The Israelites had to take possession of the Promised Land by conquest. They had to engage in a long and bloody war before the Canaanitish tribes were finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho and Ai, the war did not become aggressive till after the death of Joshua. Till then the attack was always first made by the Canaanites. Now the measure of the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and Israel was employed by God to sweep them away from off the face of the earth. In entering on this new stage of the war, the tribe of Judah, according to divine direction, took the lead.
In the days of Saul and David the people of Israel engaged in many wars with the nations around, and after the division of the kingdom into two they often warred with each other. They had to defend themselves also against the inroads of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. The whole history of…
The most important topic in connection with war is the formation of the army which is destined to carry it on. [ARMY] In (1 Kings 9:22) at a period (Solomon’s reign) when the organization of the army was complete, we have apparently a list of the various gradations of rank in the service, as follows: "Men of war" = privates ; "servants," the lowest rank of officers --lieutenants ; "princes" = captains ; "captains," perhaps = staff officers ; "rulers of the chariots and his horsemen" = cavalry officers . Formal proclamations of war were not interchanged between the belligerents. Before entering the enemy’s district spies were seat to ascertain the character of the country and the preparations of its inhabitants for resistance. (Numbers 13:17;
One of the evil fruits of the fall, and an appalling manifestation of the depravity of mankind, Ge 6:11-13 Isa 9:5 Jas 4:1-2, often rendered apparently inevitable by the assaults of enemies, or commanded by God for their punishment. See AMALEKITES and CANAAN.
By this scourge, subsequently to the conquest of Canaan, God chastised both his own rebellious people and the corrupt and oppressive idolaters around them. In many cases, moreover, the issue was distinctly made between the true God and idols; as with the Philistines, 1Sa 17:43-47; the Syrians, 1Ki 20:23-30; the Assyrians,
→ Divine approval of 2Sa 22:35
→ Civil Jud 12:1-6; 20; 2Sa 2:12-31; 3:1; 20; 1Ki 14:30; 16:21; Isa 19:2
→ Forbidden 2Ch 11:4
→ Averted Jos 22:11-34
→ Enemy harangued by the general of the opposing side 2Ki 18:19-36; 2Ch 13:4-12
→ Of extermination Nu 31:7-17; De 2:33,34; 3:6; 20:13-18;
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep — PrepositionHR
On
Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…
(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…
See HELIOPOLIS.
pain; force; iniquity
מִדְיָן (Midyan) refers to the son of Abraham and Keturah, as well as the Arabian tribe and territory associated with him. This land is located north of the Arabian peninsula and is significant in the context of Moses' flight from Pharaoh. The term is linked to the concept of 'strife,' reflecting the historical and cultural connections of the Midianites.
מִדְיָן n.pr.m.
son of Abraham and Keturah
an Arabian tribe
the land of Midian; land on Ælanitic gulf
base
H4080 מִדְיָן . son of Abraham and Keturah
. an Arabian tribe
. the land of Midian; land on Ælanitic gulf
4080 Midyan mid-yawn'
the same as 4079; Midjan, a son of Abraham; also his country
and (collectively) his descendants:--Midian, Midianite.
see HEBREW for 04079
מִדְיָן (mid.yan) — Midian.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.2;
son of: Abraham (H0085) and Keturah (H6989);
half-brother of: Ishmael (H3458) and Isaac (H3327);
brother of: Zimran (H2175), Jokshan (H3370), Medan (H4091), Ishbak (H3435) and Shuah (H7744);
father of: Ephah (H5891), Epher (H6081), Hanoch (H2585I), Abida (H0028) and Eldaah (H0420)
§ Midian or Midianite = "strife"
1) son of Abraham by Keturah and progenitor of the tribe of Midianites or Arabians
2) the tribe descended from Midian
3) the territory of the tribe descended from Midian; located principally in the desert north of the Arabian peninsula; land to which Moses went when he fled from Pharaoh
מִדְיָן (mid.yan) — Midian.
§ Midian or Midianite = "strife"
the tribe descended from Midian
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
Midian
Strife, the fourth son of Abraham by Keturah, the father of the Midianites (Gen. 25:2; 1 Chr. 1:32).
(strife), a son of Abraham and Keturah, (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32) progenitor of the Midianites, or Arabians dwelling principally in the desert north of the peninsula of Arabia. Southward they extended along the eastern shore of the Gulf of Eyleh (Sinus AElaniticus); and northward they stretched along the eastern frontier of Palestine. The "land of Midian," the place to which Moses fled after having killed the Egyptian, (Exodus 2:15,21) or the portion of it specially referred to, was probably the peninsula of Sinai. The influence of the Midianties on the Israelites was clearly most evil, and directly tended to lead them from the injunctions of Moses. The events at Shittim occasioned the injunction to vex Midian and smite…
The fourth son of Abraham and Keturah, Ge 25:2.
judgment; covering; habit
The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
base
בַאֲשֶׁר
in (that) which
adv. in (the place) where
conj. in that, inasmuch as
on account of whom?
base
מֵאֲשֶׁר
from (or than) that which
adv. from (the place) where
conj. from (the fact) that …, since
base
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
according to that which, according as, as
with a causal force, in so far as, since
with a temporal force, when
base
H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which
. adv. in (the place) where
. conj. in that, inasmuch as
. on account of whom?
H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which
. adv. from (the place) where
. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as
. with a causal force, in so far as, since
. with a temporal force, when
834 'aher ash-er'
a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)
when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X
alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +
from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,
wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where
(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +
whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is
indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun
expletively, used to show the connection.
אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.
A: 1) (relative part.)
1a) which, who
1b) that which
2) (conj)
2a) that (in obj clause)
2b) when
2c) since
2d) as
2e) conditional if
B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
D: Kaph+
1) (conj.), according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since
1c) with a temporal force: when
בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.
1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.
1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.
conj
1) according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
Prep | Rel — Preposition · particleHR/Tr
az: Conj. and adverb (usually Greek hos hosper, kathos), designating:
(1) Likeness: (a) between nouns (Ge 3:5; Jud 6:5; Php 2:8; Heb 11:27,29); (b) between verbs (Lu 6:36; Joh 5:30; 1Co 10:7); (c) between adjectives (1Co 15:48).
(2) Limitation (with respect to a particular aspect or relation) (1Pe 4:15,16).
צָוָה (tsavah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to command or give orders. It is built from a primitive root and primarily used in the Piel form, indicating actions like appointing or charging someone with a task. The entries highlight its various applications, including laying charges and sending messengers. There are no noted disagreements among the lexicons.
[צָוָה] 485 vb. Pi. lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
base
H6680 צָוָה Pi. lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
6680 tsavah tsaw-vaw'
a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute,
enjoin:--appoint, (for-)bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give
in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put,
(set) in order.
צָוָה (tsa.vah) — to command.
1) to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order
1a)(Piel)
1a1) to lay charge upon
1a2) to give charge to, give command to
1a3) to give charge unto
1a4) to give charge over, appoint
1a5) to give charge, command
1a6) to charge, command
1a7) to charge, commission
1a8) to command, appoint, ordain (of divine act)
1b) (Pual) to be commanded
V-Piel-Perf-3ms — Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singularHVpp3ms
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh) refers to Moses, the prominent Hebrew leader, prophet, and lawgiver. The name is derived from the root meaning 'drawing out,' indicating his rescue from water. He is a key figure in the Old Testament, first mentioned in Exodus 2:10, and is known for leading the Israelites during the Exodus.
מֹשֶׁה 767 n.pr.m. Moses, the great Hebrew leader, prophet and lawgiver
base
H4872 מֹשֶׁה Moses, the great Hebrew leader, prophet and lawgiver
4872 Mosheh mo-sheh'
from 4871; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh,
the Israelite lawgiver:--Moses.
see HEBREW for 04871
מֹשֶׁה (mo.sheh) — Moses.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.2.10;
son of: Amram (H6019) and Jochebed (H3115);
brother of: Aaron (H0175) and Miriam (H4813); married to Zipporah (H6855);
father of: Gershom (H1647) and Eliezer (H0461H); also called Manasseh at Jdg.18.30(?)
§ Moses = "drawn"
the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
mo'-zez, mo'-ziz (mosheh; Egyptian mes, "drawn out," "born"; Septuagint Mouse(s)). The great Hebrew national hero, leader, author, law-giver and prophet.
I. LIFE
1. Son of Levi
2. Foundling Prince
3. Friend of the People
4. Refuge in Midian
5. Leader of Israel
II. WORK AND CHARACTER
1. The Author
2. The Lawgiver
3. The Prophet
LITERATURE
The traditional view of the Jewish church and of the Christian church, that Moses was a person and that the narrative with which his life-story is interwoven is real history, is in the main sustained by commentators and critics of all classes.
It is needless to mention the old writers among whom these questions were hardly under discussion. Among the advocates of the current radical criticism may be mentioned Stade and Renan, who minimize the historicity of the Bible narrative at this point. Renan thinks the narrative "may be very probable." Ewald, Wellhausen…
Moses
Drawn (or Egypt. mesu, “son;” hence Rameses, royal son). On the invitation of Pharaoh (Gen. 45:17-25), Jacob and his sons went down into Egypt. This immigration took place probably about 350 years before the birth of Moses. Some centuries before Joseph, Egypt had been conquered by a pastoral Semitic race from Asia, the Hyksos, who brought into cruel subjection the native Egyptians, who were an African race. Jacob and his retinue were accustomed to a shepherd’s life, and on their arrival in Egypt were received with favour by the king, who assigned them the “best of the land”, the land of Goshen, to dwell in. The Hyksos or “shepherd” king who thus showed favour to Joseph and his family was in all probability the Pharaoh Apopi (or Apopis).
(Heb. Mosheh , "drawn," i.e. from the water; in the Coptic it means "saved from the water"), the legislator of the Jewish people, and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion. The immediate pedigree of Moses is as follows: Levi was the father of: Gershon -- Kohath -- Merari Kohath was the father of: Amram = Jochebed Amram = Jochebed was the father of: Hur = Miriam -- Aaron = Elisheba -- Moses = Zipporah Aaron = Elisheba was the father of: Nadab -- Abihu -- Eleazar -- Ithamar Eleazar was the father of: Phineas Moses = Zipporah was the father of: Gershom -- Eliezer Gershom was the father of: Jonathan The history of Moses naturally divides itself into three periods of 40 years each. Moses was born at Goshen, In Egypt, B.C. 1571. The story of his birth is thoroughly Egyptian in its scene. His mother made extraordinary efforts for his preservation from the general destruction of…
The name of the illustrious prophet and legislator of the Hebrews, who led them from Egypt to the Promised Land. Having been originally imposed by a native Egyptian princess, the word is no doubt Egyptian in its origin, and Josephus gives its true derivation—from the two Egyptian words, MO, water, and USE, saved. With this accords the Septuagint form, MOUSES. The Hebrews by a slight change accommodated it to their own language, as they did also in the case of some other foreign words; calling it MOSHIE, from the verb MASHA, to draw. See Ex 2:10. Moses was born about 15.71 B. C., the son of Amram and Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi, and the younger brother of Miriam and Aaron. His history is too extensive to permit insertion here, and in general too well known to need it. It is enough simply to remark, that it is divided into three…
הָרַג (harag) is a Hebrew verb meaning to kill or slay, often implying ruthless violence. It encompasses a range of meanings including murder, destruction, and being killed. The entries indicate its use in various contexts, such as wholesale slaughter in battle or divine judgment. The verb appears in different forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Pual, indicating various nuances of killing.
הָרַג vb. kill, slay
Qal
kill, slay, implying ruthless violence
hence of wholesale slaughter after battle
of God’s slaying in judgment
rarely of judicial killing by men (at God’s command)
of killing beasts
of killing by beasts
quite general
destroy, ruin
Niph.
shall priest and prophet be slain in the sanctuary?
pass. of Qal 1 b
Pu. be slain
base
H2026 הָרַג kill, slay
2026 harag haw-rag'
a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent:--destroy, out
of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter),
slay(-er), X surely.
הָרַג (ha.rag) — to kill.
1) to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kill, slay
1a2) to destroy, ruin
1b) (Niphal) to be killed
1c) (Pual) to be killed, be slain
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
זָכָר (zakar) refers to a male, specifically the male of humans and animals. It is used both as a noun to denote male offspring and as an adjective to describe humans as male. The term is derived from a root meaning 'remembered,' emphasizing the male as a noteworthy sex.
זָכָר n.m. & adj. male
subst. male, offspring of men and animals
adj. sg. male (only human beings)
base
H2145 זָכָר male . subst. male, offspring of men and animals
. adj. sg. male (only human beings)
2145 zakar zaw-kawr'
from 2142; properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or
animals, as being the most noteworthy sex):--X him, male,
man(child, -kind).
see HEBREW for 02142
זָכָר (za.khar) — male.
1) male (of humans and animals)
adj
2) male (of humans)
Adj — AdjHAamsa
mal
(1) zakhar, zakhar, zakhur (the root means "to stand out," "to be prominent," here a physiological differentiation of the sex, as neqebhah, "female," which see);
(2) 'ish literally, "man";
(3) by circumlocution, only in the books of Samuel and Kings, mashtin beqir; ouron pros toichon, which the Revised Version (British and American) euphemistically renders "man-child" (1Sa 25:22,34; 1Ki 14:10)):
Gesenius has rightly pointed out that this phrase designates young boys, who do not as yet wear clothes, of whom the above description is accurate, while it does not apply in the case of adults, even in the modern Orient. We know this from the statement of Herodotus ii.35, relating to Egypt, and from Jud 3:24;