Numbers 33:43 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִפּוּנֹ֑ן וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּאֹבֹֽת׃
BSAThey set outnâçaʻ▸ [journeyed, departed] from PunonPûwnôn [a place in the desert] and campedchânâh▸ [encamped, pitched their tents] at Obothʼôbôth [near Moab, meaning waterskins]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּסְע֖וּ | and they set out | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| מִפּוּנֹ֑ן | from Punan | Preposition, noun proper |
| וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ | and they encamped | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| בְּאֹבֹֽת׃ | at Oboth | Preposition, noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth. |
| KJV | And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth. |
| ASV | And they journeyed from Punon, and encamped in Oboth. |
| YLT | And they journey from Punon, and encamp in Oboth; |
| WEB | They traveled from Punon, and encamped in Oboth. |
| BBE | And they went on from Punon, and put up their tents in Oboth. |
Where they part company is וַיִּסְע֖וּ and וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has two main clauses connected by 'and,' with each clause providing specific details about the Israelites' journey.
4 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott, AdamClarke, Whedon & 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 33:43
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 33:43 describes a segment of the Israelites' travels as they move through the wilderness. They leave Punon and camp at Oboth, continuing their journey toward the Promised Land. This movement is part of a larger narrative that details their wanderings and the various locations they encountered along the way, emphasizing the challenges and experiences of the Israelite community during this time of transition.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 21:10 | Then the Israelites set out and camped at Oboth. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נָסַע, vai.yis.'Ugenerated
The verb נָסַע (naṣaʿ) is a Qal imperfect form, meaning 'to set out' or 'to journey.' It conveys the action of departing or starting a journey, often in the context of the Israelites' travels in the desert. The parsing indicates that it is a third-person masculine plural verb, referring to the group of Israelites as they collectively set out.
This word captures the essence of movement and transition, as the Israelites progress from one location to another. It is not merely about physical departure; it also implies the beginning of a new phase in their journey, marked by the act of setting out.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses, each with its own verb: וַיִּסְע֖וּ (and they set out) and וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ (and they encamped). The structure emphasizes the sequential actions of the Israelites as they journey from one location to another.
The verbs are placed at the beginning of their respective clauses, highlighting the actions taken by the Israelites. The prepositional phrases following each verb specify the locations involved, providing clarity to the movements described.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נָסַע as ἀπῆραν (they departed), which maintains the sense of setting out on a journey. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the act of leaving a place.
The translation of חָנָה as παρενέβαλον (they encamped) also aligns with the Hebrew, indicating the establishment of a temporary dwelling after the journey.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 33:43 tells us that the Israelites set out from a place called Punon and camped at another place called Oboth. This is part of their journey through the desert as they move toward the Promised Land. Each location represents a stop in their travels, emphasizing the ongoing nature of their journey.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Setting out from Punon indicates the Israelites are continuing their journey through the wilderness, moving from one camp to another as they seek the Promised Land.
Oboth is a camp location mentioned in the wilderness wanderings, and its name means 'waterskins,' possibly indicating a place where water was available.
The journey is important as it reflects the Israelites' transition and reliance on God as they move toward their promised destination, highlighting their experiences and challenges along the way.
The names of the places, like Punon and Oboth, provide context for the Israelites' travels and help to illustrate the physical and spiritual journey they are undertaking.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can I learn from the Israelites' journey about perseverance in my own life?
- How does understanding the significance of places help me appreciate the biblical narrative more deeply?
- In what ways can I reflect on my own 'journeys' and the places I have been in my life?
- How can I apply the lessons from the Israelites' travels to my own faith journey?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Origen of Alexandria comments on this verse in his homilies, noting the significance of the name Oboth in the context of the Israelites' journey.
Next they come to Oboth. Although we have not found an interpretation of this name, nonetheless we do not doubt that in this name as in all the others the logic of the progresses is preserved.Early Church Fathers on Numbers 33 →
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 33:43 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 33 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(43, 44) And pitched in Oboth . . . —See Numbers 21:10-11.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Numbers 33 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleSTAT. XXXVI. Verse 43. OBOTH.] Mentioned before, Numbers 21:10.
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 Punon and camped at Oboth.
They traveled from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.
They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.
They traveled from Punon and camped in Oboth.
Tyndale line
And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.
And they journeyed from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.
And they journeyed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.
And they departed from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.
And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.
Strictly literal
And they removed from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.
And they journey from Punon, and encamp in Oboth;
And they journey from Punon and encamp in Oboth.
And they removed from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.
They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.
From the Latin
And departing from Phunon, they camped in Oboth.
Simplified
They moved on from Punon and set up camp at Oboth.
And they went on from Punon, and put up their tents in Oboth.
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 reads: וַיִּסְע֖וּ מִפּוּנֹ֑ן וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּאֹבֹֽת׃. The Septuagint corresponds closely with this text, showing no significant variations in the words used. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs in the names for the locations, using פינן (Punon) and אבות (Oboth), indicating a possible variation in tradition or textual transmission.
וַיִּסְע֖וּ מִפּוּנֹ֑ן וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּאֹבֹֽת׃
4 of the 4 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 מפינן ויחנו באבות
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: פינן (Punon), אבות (Oboth)
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 33:43
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
פּוּנֹן (Puwnon) refers to a location mentioned in the context of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. It is identified as the second station after Hor, situated between Petra and Zoar, and is associated with darkness and perplexity. The entries indicate that it is notable for its mines.
פּוּנֹן n.pr.loc. 2nd station of Isr. fr. Hor; betw. Petra and Zoar, famous for mines
base
H6325 פּוּנֹן
6325 Puwnon poo-none'
from 6323; perplexity; Punon, a place in the Desert:--Punon.
see HEBREW for 06323
פּוּנֹן (pu.non) — Punon.
§ Punon = "darkness"
a station of Israel in their wilderness wanderings
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
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
אֹבֹת (oboth) refers to a plural form meaning 'water-skins' and also denotes a location, Oboth, which is identified as an Israelite camp in the wilderness. The exact site is uncertain, but it is suggested to be near the eastern boundary of Moab.
אֹבֹת n.pr.loc. (water-skins) station of Isr. in wildern.
base
H88 אֹבֹת
88 'oboth o-both'
plural of 178; water-skins; Oboth, a place in the
Desert:--Oboth.
see HEBREW for 0178
אֹבֹת (o.vot) — Oboth.
§ Oboth = "waterskins"
undetermined site of an Israelite camp in the wilderness (perhaps at east boundary of Moab)
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
o'-both, o'-both ('obhoth, "waterbags"): A desert camp of the Israelites, the 3rd after leaving Mt. Hor and close to the borders of Moab (Nu 21:10,11; 33:43,14).
See WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.
Oboth
Bottles, an encampment of the Israelites during the wanderings in the wilderness (Num. 33:43), the first after the setting up of the brazen serpent.
(bottles), one of the encampments of the Israelites, east of Moab. (Numbers 21:10; 33:43) Its exact site is unknown but it was probably south of the Dead Sea, on the boundary between Moab and Edom. --ED).
dragons; fathers; desires