Numbers 33:32 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִבְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקָ֑ן וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּחֹ֥ר הַגִּדְגָּֽד׃
BSAThey set outnâçaʻ▸ [journeyed, departed] fromBᵉnêy Yaʻăqân Bene-jaakanBᵉnêy Yaʻăqân [sons of Jaakan, a place in the desert] and campedchânâh▸ [encamped, pitched their tents] at Hor-haggidgadChôr hag-Gidgâd [Hor-hagidgad, a stopping point in the wilderness]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּסְע֖וּ | and they set out | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| מִבְּנֵ֣י | from Bene- | Preposition, noun proper |
| יַעֲקָ֑ן | jaakan | Noun proper |
| וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ | and they encamped | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| בְּחֹ֥ר | at Hor- | Preposition, noun proper |
| הַגִּדְגָּֽד׃ | haggidgad | Noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad. |
| KJV | And they removed from Bene-jaakan, and encamped at Hor-hagidgad. |
| ASV | And they journeyed from Bene-jaakan, and encamped in Hor-haggidgad. |
| YLT | and they journey from Bene-Jaakan, and encamp at Hor-Hagidgad. |
| WEB | They traveled from Bene Jaakan, and encamped in Hor Haggidgad. |
| BBE | And they went on from Bene-jaakan, and put up their tents in Hor-haggidgad. |
Where they part company is נָסַע — see How Translations Differ.
Two main verbs, each with a prepositional phrase indicating the locations involved in their journey.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָסַע
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 33:32
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Journey of the Israelitesgenerated
Numbers 33:32 describes a specific segment of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, detailing their departure from Bene-jaakan and their encampment at Hor-haggidgad. This verse is part of a larger narrative that outlines the various stops made by the Israelites as they traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land, illustrating their experiences and the challenges they faced during this time of transition.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 10:7 | From there they traveled to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land with streams of water. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נָסַע, vai.yis.'Ugenerated
The verb נָסַע (nasa') means to set out or depart, particularly in the context of a journey. It is a Qal verb in the sequential imperfect tense, indicating an action that is ongoing or in progress, specifically used here to describe the Israelites leaving a location.
This word conveys both the physical act of moving and the broader concept of beginning a journey. The parsing as third person masculine plural indicates that it refers to a group — in this case, the Israelites — who are collectively setting out on their travels.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
Two finite verbs govern the verse: נָסַע (they set out) and חָנָה (they encamped). The first verb introduces the action of leaving Bene-jaakan, while the second verb indicates their subsequent action at Hor-haggidgad.
The structure follows a clear sequence: the Israelites first depart from one location and then establish camp at another. This sequential order reflects the ongoing nature of their journey.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נָסַע as ἀπῆραν (aperan), which means 'they departed.' This choice emphasizes the act of leaving, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning while also suggesting a formal transition.
The choice of παρενέβαλον for חָנָה indicates a focus on the act of encamping, reinforcing the idea of establishing a temporary dwelling at their new location.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 33:32 tells us that the Israelites left one campsite, Bene-jaakan, and then set up camp at another location, Hor-haggidgad. This verse is part of a broader account of their travels through the wilderness, showing how they moved from place to place.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Bene-jaakan means 'sons of twisting,' likely referring to the difficult terrain in that area.
Hor-haggidgad is noted as a stopping point for the Israelites during their journey, marking their progress through the wilderness.
To encamp means to set up a temporary dwelling or pitch tents, as the Israelites did during their travels.
This verse is part of a list of locations where the Israelites camped during their wilderness journey, highlighting their movements and experiences as they traveled towards the Promised Land.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What challenges do you think the Israelites faced while traveling through the wilderness?
- How can understanding the journey of the Israelites help us in our own life journeys?
- What does it mean to you to 'set out' on a new journey or phase in your life?
- In what ways can we prepare ourselves for the journeys we undertake, just as the Israelites did?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 33:32 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleVer. 32-37. And they removed from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad.
Read John Gill on Numbers 33 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibroth-hatta'avah. Kibroth-hattaavah - the graves of lust .
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 33 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleCalled Gudgodah, as Jotbathah is called Jotbath, .
Read Matthew Poole on Numbers 33 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleSTAT. XXVIII. Verse 32. HOR-HAGIDGAD.] The hole or pit of Gidgad. Unknown. It was a place perhaps remarkable for some vast pit or cavern, from which it took its name.
Read AdamClarke on Numbers 33 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleTHE OF THE , Numbers 33:1-49.Having reached the Land of Promise, and taken possession of its eastern portion, it is proper that the history of the desert wandering should close with a list of
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 33 →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
They set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.
They traveled from Bene Jaakan, and encamped in Hor Haggidgad.
They set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.
They traveled from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.
Tyndale line
And they removed from Bene-jaakan, and encamped at Hor-hagidgad.
And they journeyed from Bene-jaakan, and encamped in Hor-haggidgad.
And they journeyed from Bene-jaakan, and pitched in Hor-haggidgad.
And they removed from Bene-jaakan, and encamped at Hor-hagidgad.
And they remoued from Bene-iaakan, and lay in Hor-hagidgad.
Strictly literal
And they removed from Bene-Jaakan, and encamped at Hor-hagidgad.
and they journey from Bene-Jaakan, and encamp at Hor-Hagidgad.
And they journey from Bene-Jaakan and encamp at Hor-Hagidgad.
And they removed from Bene-ya'akan, and encamped in Chor-hagidgad.
They set out from Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad.
From the Latin
And departing from Benejaacan, they came to mount Gadgad.
Simplified
They moved on from Bene-jaakan and set up camp at Hor-haggidgad.
And they went on from Bene-jaakan, and put up their tents in Hor-haggidgad.
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 in the overall structure and meaning of the verse, though the Samaritan Pentateuch presents a slight variation in the name of the location, rendering it as 'Hor Haggidgad.' The Dead Sea Scrolls show no variation in the words but indicate some editorial restoration.
וַיִּסְע֖וּ מִבְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקָ֑ן וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּחֹ֥ר הַגִּדְגָּֽד׃
3 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויסעו מבני יעקן ויחנו בהר הגדגדה
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: הר הגדגדה (Hor Haggidgad)
[ויסעו] [מבני] [יעקן] [ויחנו] [בחר] [הגדגד]
nothing on the leather here — 6 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 33:32
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נָסַע (naca`) means to pull out or up, particularly in the context of setting out on a journey. It encompasses actions like departing, marching, and removing, with nuances related to both physical movement and the wind. The word can also imply causing someone or something to set out or be led away.
נָסַע 147 vb. pull out or up, set out, journey
Qal 137
pull out or up
hence (from pulling up tent-pegs),
set out
depart
journey, march (by stages)
of wind
Niph. be pulled up, removed
Hiph.
cause to set out, lead out
remove
base
H5265 נָסַע pull out or up, set out, journey .. pull out or up
. hence (from pulling up tent-pegs), . set out
. depart
. journey, march (by stages)
. of wind
. be pulled up, removed
. . cause to set out, lead out
. remove
5265 naca` naw-sah'
a primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the
tent-pins, i.e. start on a journey:--cause to blow, bring,
get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward, out), (take)
journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), X still, be on
his (go their) way.
נָסַע (na.sa) — to set out.
1) to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pull out or up
1a2) to set out, depart
1a3) to journey, march
1a4) to set forth (of wind)
1b) (Niphal) to be pulled up, be removed, be plucked up
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to set out, lead out, cause to spring up
1c2) to remove, quarry
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן (Bney Ya`aqan) refers to a location called Bene-jaakan, which is described as a station of Israel during their wilderness journey. The name translates to "sons of twisting" and is linked to another site, Beeroth-bene-jaakan. The term is derived from the plural forms of two Hebrew words, indicating its geographical significance.
בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן n.pr.loc. a station of Israel in wilderness
base
H1142 בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן
1142 Bney Ya`aqan ben-ay' yah-ak-awn'
from the plural of 1121 and 3292; sons of Yaakan;
Bene-Jaakan, a place in the Desert:--Bene-jaakan.
see HEBREW for 01121
see HEBREW for 03292
בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן (be.ne ya.a.qan) — Bene-jaakan.
§ Bene-jaakan = "sons of twisting"
an Israelite place of encampment in the wilderness (same as be.e.rot be.ne-ya.a.qan (בְּאֵרֹת בְּנֵי־יַעֲקָן "Beeroth-bene-jaakan" H0885))
בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן (be.ne ya.a.qan) — (Beeroth) Bene-jaakan.
Bene-jaakan = "sons of twisting"
an Israelite place of encampment in the wilderness (same as be.e.rot be.ne-ya.a.qan (בְּאֵרֹת בְּנֵי־יַעֲקָן "Beeroth-bene-jaakan" H0885)
Combined with be.e.rot (בְּאֵרֹת "Beeroth" H1307)
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן (Bney Ya`aqan) refers to a location called Bene-jaakan, which is described as a station of Israel during their wilderness journey. The name translates to "sons of twisting" and is linked to another site, Beeroth-bene-jaakan. The term is derived from the plural forms of two Hebrew words, indicating its geographical significance.
בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן n.pr.loc. a station of Israel in wilderness
base
H1142 בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן
1142 Bney Ya`aqan ben-ay' yah-ak-awn'
from the plural of 1121 and 3292; sons of Yaakan;
Bene-Jaakan, a place in the Desert:--Bene-jaakan.
see HEBREW for 01121
see HEBREW for 03292
בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן (be.ne ya.a.qan) — Bene-jaakan.
§ Bene-jaakan = "sons of twisting"
an Israelite place of encampment in the wilderness (same as be.e.rot be.ne-ya.a.qan (בְּאֵרֹת בְּנֵי־יַעֲקָן "Beeroth-bene-jaakan" H0885))
בְּנֵי יַעֲקָ֑ן (be.ne ya.a.qan) — (Beeroth) Bene-jaakan.
Bene-jaakan = "sons of twisting"
an Israelite place of encampment in the wilderness (same as be.e.rot be.ne-ya.a.qan (בְּאֵרֹת בְּנֵי־יַעֲקָן "Beeroth-bene-jaakan" H0885)
Combined with be.e.rot (בְּאֵרֹת "Beeroth" H1307)
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
ja'-a-kan.
See BEEROTH BENE-JAAKAN.
Jaakan
He twists, one of the sons of Ezer, the son of Seir the Horite (1 Chr. 1:42).
(he shall surround), the same as Jakan, the forefather of Bene-Jaakan. (10:6)
tribulation; labor
חָנָה (chanah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to decline, bend down, or encamp. It conveys the idea of inclining or settling, particularly in the context of pitching a tent or establishing a temporary dwelling. The word appears in various forms, including the act of encamping or laying siege. It is associated with the imagery of the evening's slanting rays and the conclusion of a day's journey.
חָנָה 143 vb. decline, bend down, encamp
Qal
decline, of day drawing to its close
encamp (prop. verge toward, incline to, settle at, of goal of day’s march)
base
H2583 חָנָה decline, bend down, encamp
2583 chanah khaw-naw'
a primitive root (compare 2603); properly, to incline; by
implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);
specifically, to pitch a tent; gen. to encamp (for abode or
siege):--abide (in tents), camp, dwell, encamp, grow to an
end, lie, pitch (tent), rest in tent.
see HEBREW for 02603
חָנָה (cha.nah) — to camp.
1) to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to decline
1a2) to encamp
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
חֹר (Chor) refers to a hollow or cleft, specifically noted in the context of חֹר הַגִּדְגָּד (Hor-hag-Gidgad), which translates to 'cavern of Gidgad.' This term appears as a desert station for the Israelites in the wilderness, specifically mentioned in Numbers 33:32. The word is derived from roots that imply a hollow space.
חֹר n.[m.] hollow, only in חֹר הַגִּדְגָּד Nu 33:32 hollow of Gidgad (v. Di).
done
H2735 חֹר, חֹר הַגִּדְגָּד
2735 Chor hag-Gidgad khore hag-ghid-gawd'
from 2356 and a collateral (masculine) form of 1412, with the
article interposed; hole of the cleft: Chor-hag-Gidgad, a
place in the Desert:--Hor-hagidgad.
see HEBREW for 02356
see HEBREW for 01412
חֹר הַגִּדְגָּד (chor hag.gid.gad) — Hor-haggidgad.
Hor-hagidgad = "cavern of Gidgad"
a desert station of Israel in the wilderness
Also named: gud.go.dah (גֻּדְגֹּ֫דָה "Gudgodah" H1412)
N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
Hor
Mountain. (1.) One of the mountains of the chain of Seir or Edom, on the confines of Idumea (Num. 20:22-29; 33:37). It was one of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (33:37), which they reached in the circuitous route they were obliged to take because the Edomites refused them a passage through their territory. It was during the encampment here that Aaron died (Num. 33:37-41). (See AARON.) The Israelites passed this mountain several times in their wanderings. It bears the modern name of Jebel Harun, and is the highest and most conspicious of the whole range. It stands about midway between the Dead Sea and the Elanitic gulf. It has two summits, in the hallow between which it is supposed that Aaron died. Others, however, suppose that this mountain is the modern…
(mountain), Mount. The mountain on which Aaron died. (Numbers 20:25,27) It was "on the boundary line," (Numbers 20:23) or "at the edge," ch. (Numbers 33:37) of the land of Edom. It was the halting-place of the people next after Kadesh, ch. (Numbers 20:22; 33:37) and they quitted it for Zalmonah, ch. (Numbers 33:41) in the road to the Red Sea. ch. (Numbers 21:4) It was during the encampment at Kadesh that Aaron was gathered to his fathers. Mount Hor is situated on the eastern side of the great valley of the Arabah , the highest and most conspicuous of the whole…
A mountain of a conical form in the range of mount Seir, on the east side of the Arabah, or great valley running from the Dead sea to the Elanitic gulf. It is an irregularly truncated cone, with three rugged peaks, overlooking a wilderness of heights, cliffs, ravines, and alone with his brother and son, Nu 20:22-29; 33:38. It is still called Jebel Neby Haroon, mount of the prophet Aaron; and on its summit stands a Mohammedan tomb of Aaron, on the site of a still more ancient structure, and marking perhaps the place of his burial.
who conceives, or shows; a hill
חֹר (Chor) refers to a hollow or cleft, specifically noted in the context of חֹר הַגִּדְגָּד (Hor-hag-Gidgad), which translates to 'cavern of Gidgad.' This term appears as a desert station for the Israelites in the wilderness, specifically mentioned in Numbers 33:32. The word is derived from roots that imply a hollow space.
חֹר n.[m.] hollow, only in חֹר הַגִּדְגָּד Nu 33:32 hollow of Gidgad (v. Di).
done
H2735 חֹר, חֹר הַגִּדְגָּד
2735 Chor hag-Gidgad khore hag-ghid-gawd'
from 2356 and a collateral (masculine) form of 1412, with the
article interposed; hole of the cleft: Chor-hag-Gidgad, a
place in the Desert:--Hor-hagidgad.
see HEBREW for 02356
see HEBREW for 01412
חֹר הַגִּדְגָּד (chor hag.gid.gad) — Hor-haggidgad.
Hor-hagidgad = "cavern of Gidgad"
a desert station of Israel in the wilderness
Also named: gud.go.dah (גֻּדְגֹּ֫דָה "Gudgodah" H1412)
HNpl — Noun properHNpl