Numbers 1:20

Authorized King James Version

And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּֽהְי֤וּ
H1961
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
מִבֶּ֨ן
H1121
And the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#3
רְאוּבֵן֙
H7205
of Reuben
reuben, a son of jacob
#4
בְּכֹ֣ר
H1060
eldest son
first-born; hence, chief
#5
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
H3478
Israel's
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#6
תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם
H8435
by their generations
(plural only) descent, i.e., family; (figuratively) history
#7
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם
H4940
after their families
a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
#8
לְבֵ֣ית
H1004
by the house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#9
אֲבֹתָ֑ם
H1
of their fathers
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#10
בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר
H4557
according to the number
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
#11
שֵׁמוֹת֙
H8034
of the names
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
#12
לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם
H1538
by their polls
a skull (as round); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons)
#13
כָּל
H3605
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#14
זָכָ֗ר
H2145
every male
properly, remembered, i.e., a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex)
#15
מִבֶּ֨ן
H1121
And the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#16
עֶשְׂרִ֤ים
H6242
from twenty
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
#17
שָׁנָה֙
H8141
years
a year (as a revolution of time)
#18
וָמַ֔עְלָה
H4605
and upward
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
#19
כֹּ֖ל
H3605
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#20
יֹצֵ֥א
H3318
all that were able to go forth
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#21
צָבָֽא׃
H6635
to war
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Numbers. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Numbers Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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