1 Chronicles 12:35 — Word Study
WLCוּמִן־ הַדָּנִי֙ עֹרְכֵ֣י מִלְחָמָ֔ה עֶשְׂרִֽים־ וּשְׁמוֹנָ֥ה אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ ס
BSANaphtaliNaphtâlîy rulersar withʻim hooktsinnâh spearchănîyth thirtyshᵉlôwshîym sevenshebaʻ thousandʼeleph
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּמִן־ | and of | Conjunction, preposition |
| הַדָּנִי֙ | the Danite[s] | Particle, noun gentilic masculine singular absolute |
| עֹרְכֵ֣י | [those who] prepare of | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine plural common |
| מִלְחָמָ֔ה | battle | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| עֶשְׂרִֽים־ | twenty | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| וּשְׁמוֹנָ֥ה | and eight | Conjunction, noun common both singular absolute |
| אֶ֖לֶף | thousand | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| וְשֵׁ֥שׁ | and six | Conjunction, noun common both singular absolute |
| מֵאֽוֹת׃ ס | hundred | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | From Dan: 28,600 prepared for battle. |
| KJV | And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred. |
| ASV | And of the Danites that could set the battle in array, twenty and eight thousand and six hundred. |
| YLT | And of the Danite, arranging battle, [are] twenty and eight thousand and six hundred. |
| WEB | Of the Danites who could set the battle in array: twenty-eight thousand six hundred. |
| BBE | And of the Danites, twenty-eight thousand, six hundred, expert in ordering the fight. |
Where they part company is in the details of the phrase structure — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is straightforward, presenting a clear statement about the number of warriors from Dan.
3 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbאֶלֶף
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 — 1 Chronicles 12:35
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 Military Census of Israelgenerated
1 Chronicles 12:35 is part of a larger account detailing the military strength of Israel's tribes as they prepare for battle. This specific verse highlights the readiness of the Danites, showcasing their numbers and preparedness, which is crucial for the context of Israel's military organization.
Cross References
The Key Word — עֹרְכֵ֣י, 'o.re.Kheigenerated
The word עֹרְכֵ֣י (*'o.re.Khei*) is a participle form of the verb עָרַךְ (*arak*), which means to arrange or set in order. In this context, it describes those who are actively preparing for battle, indicating a state of readiness and organization.
This participial form emphasizes the ongoing action of preparing, suggesting that the Danites are not just counted but are actively engaged in arranging themselves for combat.
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 main clause is governed by the prepositional phrase וּמִן־ (*u.min-*), indicating the source of the warriors: הַדָּנִי֙ (*ha.da.Ni*), referring to the Danites. This is followed by a noun phrase that specifies the number of warriors, עֹרְכֵ֣י מִלְחָמָ֔ה (*'o.re.Khei mil.cha.Mah*), which indicates their purpose.
The structure emphasizes the tribe's contribution to the military force, with the number of soldiers clearly articulated through numeral phrases: עֶשְׂרִֽים־ (*'es.rim-*), וּשְׁמוֹנָ֥ה (*u.she.mo.Nah*), אֶ֖לֶף (*'E.lef*), וְשֵׁ֥שׁ (*ve.Shesh*), and מֵאֽוֹת (*me.'ot*), culminating in the total count of 28,600.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עֹרְכֵ֣י as ἄρξοντες (*arxontes*), meaning 'those who lead' or 'command.' This choice suggests a focus on leadership and organization within the military context, highlighting the authority of the Danite leaders in preparing for battle.
This interpretation may imply a broader understanding of their role, not just as soldiers but as those who direct and organize the forces.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Chronicles 12:35 tells us that from the tribe of Dan, there were 28,600 men ready for battle. This verse is part of a larger account that lists the military strengths of the tribes of Israel, showing their preparedness for combat.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates that the warriors from Dan were organized and ready to engage in combat, highlighting their military readiness.
The number signifies the strength and military capability of the tribe of Dan, contributing to the overall defense and warfare efforts of Israel.
As one of the tribes of Israel, the Danites were responsible for providing soldiers for battles and defending their territory.
This verse is part of a larger census that emphasizes the organization and strength of Israel's tribes, showcasing their readiness for the challenges they faced.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I prepare myself for challenges in my life, similar to how the Danites prepared for battle?
- What does it mean to be part of a community that supports one another in times of conflict?
- In what ways can I contribute to the readiness and strength of my community?
- How can I apply the concept of preparation in my daily life?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 12:35 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 12 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(35) The Danites.—Literally, the Danite, as in 1 Chronicles 12:26, the Levite. Comp. Note on 1 Chronicles 7:12. Dan is not omitted in the present list.
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 12 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges35. expert in war] R.V. that could set the battle in array; cp. 1 Chronicles 12:33.
Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 12 →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
From Dan: 28,600 prepared for battle.
Of the Danites who could set the battle in array: twenty-eight thousand six hundred.
From Dan: 28,600 prepared for battle.
From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.
Tyndale line
And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
And of the Danites that could set the battle in array, twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
And of the Danites that could set the battle in array, twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
And of Dan expert in battell, eyght and twentie thousande, and sixe hundreth.
Strictly literal
And of the Danites armed for war twenty-eight thousand six hundred.
And of the Danite, arranging battle, [are] twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
And of the Danite, arranging battle, [are] twenty-eight thousand and six hundred.
And of the Danites arrayed for battle twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
From the Danites there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.
From the Latin
Of Dan also twenty-eight thousand six hundred prepared for battle.
Simplified
From the tribe of Dan, 28,600 warriors, all battle-ready.
And of the Danites, twenty-eight thousand, six hundred, expert in ordering the fight.
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 states that from Dan there were 28,600 prepared for battle. The Septuagint agrees with this figure, as all nine words match in a word-by-word correspondence, confirming the same number without introducing any differences. Thus, both texts present a consistent account of the number of warriors from Dan.
וּמִן־ הַדָּנִי֙ עֹרְכֵ֣י מִלְחָמָ֔ה עֶשְׂרִֽים־ וּשְׁמוֹנָ֥ה אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ ס
9 of the 9 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.
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 1 Chronicles 12:35
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.
The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.
מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal
from, against
מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from
of position, off, on the side of, on
Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex
Partitively
Of time—
as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since
as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after
towards, to
(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to
In comparisons, beyond, above
מן is prefixed to an infin.:
with causal force, from, on account of, through
after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.
with a temporal force, since, after
Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that
In compounds:
base
H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against
. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from
. of position, off, on the side of, on
. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex
. Partitively
. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since
. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after
. towards, to
. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to
. In comparisons, beyond, above
. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through
. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.
. with a temporal force, since, after
. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that
4480 min min
or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)
{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;
hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as
follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason
of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,
since, X then, through, X whether, with.
see HEBREW for 04482
מִן־ (min) — from.
prep
1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than
1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of
1b) out of
1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)
1b2) (of material from which something is made)
1b3) (of source or origin)
1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)
1d) from, since, after (of time)
1e) than, more than (in comparison)
1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or
1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)
1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)
conj
2) that
Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)
מֵן (men) — portion.
n.m.
portion
HC/R — Conjunction · prepositionHC/R
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…
דָּנִי (Daniy) refers to a Danite, which can mean either a descendant of Dan, the son of Jacob, or an inhabitant of the territory of Dan. It is derived patronymically from the root word for Dan, דָּן (Dan). The term is used collectively to denote the Danites.
דָּנִי adj.gent. alw. c. art. as n.pr. coll.
base
H1839 דָּנִי
1839 Daniy daw-nee'
patronymically from 1835; a Danite (often collectively) or
descendants (or inhabitants) of Dan:--Danites, of Dan.
see HEBREW for 01835
דָּנִי (da.ni) — Danite.
Danites = "judge"
1) descendants of Dan, son of Jacob
2) inhabitants of the territory of Dan
Another name of dan (דָּן "Dan" H1835G)
HTd/Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ngmsa
עָרַךְ (arak) means to arrange or set in order, applicable in various contexts such as preparing a table, organizing a battle, or stating a legal case. It can also denote valuing or taxing in the Hiphil form. The word encompasses a wide range of meanings related to order and comparison.
עָרַךְ vb. arrange or set in order
Qal
arrange in order, seven altars
set or lay in order, as wood
in common life, arrange a table
arrange a battle, i.e. draw up in battle order
arrange weapons of army in order for battle
arrange words
state in order, set forth a legal case
compare (as result of arranging in order)
intrans. be comparable
base
עָרַךְ vb. denom. Hiph. value (for taxation), tax
base
H6186a עָרַךְ arrange or set in order .. . arrange in order, seven altars
. set or lay in order, as wood
. in common life, arrange a table
. arrange a battle, i.e. draw up in battle order
. arrange weapons of army in order for battle
. arrange words
. state in order, set forth a legal case
. . compare (as result of arranging in order)
. intrans. be comparable
H6186b עָרַךְ vb. denom. Hiph. value (for taxation), tax
6186 `arak aw-rak'
a primitive root; to set in a row, i.e. arrange, put in order
(in a very wide variety of applications):--put (set) (the
battle, self) in array, compare, direct, equal, esteem,
estimate, expert (in war), furnish, handle, join (battle),
ordain, (lay, put, reckon up, set) (in) order, prepare, tax,
value.
עָרַךְ (a.rakh) — to arrange.
1) to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct, compare
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to arrange or set or lay in order, arrange, state in order, set forth (a legal case), set in place
1a2) to compare, be comparable
עָרַךְ (a.rakh) — to value.
(Hiphil) to value, tax
HVqrmpc — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural commonHVqrmpc
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…
מִלְחָמָה (milchamah) means 'battle' or 'war.' It is derived from the root word for fighting and encompasses both specific engagements and the broader concept of warfare. The entries consistently define it in this way, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
מִלְחָמָה 319 n.f. battle, war
base
H4421 מִלְחָמָה battle, war
4421 milchamah mil-khaw-maw'
from 3898 (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the
engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare):--battle,
fight(-ing), war((-rior)).
see HEBREW for 03898
מִלְחָמָה (mil.cha.mah) — battle.
battle, war
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
See WAR.
עֶשְׂרִים (esriym) means 'twenty' and can also refer to the ordinal 'twentieth.' It is derived from the root word for 'ten' and has an Aramaic equivalent, עֶשְׂרִין (es.rin). The entries consistently define the term without significant disagreement.
עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty
base
H6242 עֶשְׂרִים (a) twenty
6242 `esriym es-reem'
from 6235; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth:--(six-)score,
twenty(-ieth).
see HEBREW for 06235
עֶשְׂרִים (es.rim) — twenty.
twenty, twentieth
Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
twen'-ti.
See NUMBER.
שְׁמֹנֶה (shmoneh) means 'eight' and can also denote 'eighth' as an ordinal number. It is derived from the idea of plumpness, suggesting a surplus beyond seven, which is considered a perfect number. The term appears in various contexts, including combinations with other numbers.
שְׁמֹנֶה, (less oft. שְׁמוֹנֶה), שְׁמֹנָה 109 n.m. et f. eight
base
H8083 שְׁמֹנֶה, (less oft. שְׁמוֹנֶה), שְׁמֹנָה eight
8083 shmoneh shem-o-neh'
or shmowneh {shem-o-neh'}; feminine shmonah {shem-o-naw'}; or
shmownah {shem-o-naw'}; apparently from 8082 through the idea
of plumpness; a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above
the "perfect" seven); also (as ordinal)
eighth:--eight((-een, -eenth)), eighth.
see HEBREW for 08082
שְׁמֹנֶה (she.mo.neh) — eight.
1) eight, eighth
1a) eight (as cardinal number)
1b) eighth (as ordinal number)
1c) in combination with other numbers
HC/Ncbsa — Conjunction · noun common both singular absoluteHC/Ncbsa
אֶ֫לֶף (eleph) means 'thousand' in Hebrew. It can refer to the numeral itself or denote a company or clan, particularly a group of men under one leader. The word is built from the concept of a thousand, and it is associated with the ox's head, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
אֶ֫לֶף n.m. thousand
base
H505 אֶ֫לֶף thousand
505 'eleph eh'-lef
prop, the same as 504; hence (the ox's head being the first
letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral)
a thousand:--thousand.
see HEBREW for 0504
אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand.
: thousand
1) a thousand
1a) as numeral
2) a thousand, company
2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand: clan.
: clan
1) a thousand
1a) as numeral
2) a thousand, company
2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops
Adj — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
thou'-zand ('eleph; chilioi).
See NUMBER.
The Hebrew word שֵׁשׁ, transliterated as shesh, means 'six' and can function as both a cardinal and ordinal number, indicating the sixth position. It is a primitive number that signifies an excess beyond five, as noted in the entries. The Aramaic equivalent is שֵׁת (shet).
שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה 216 n.m. et f. six
base
H8337 שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה six
8337 shesh shaysh
masculine shishshah {shish-shaw'}; a primitive number; six
(as an overplus (see 7797) beyond five or the fingers of the
hand); as ord. sixth:--six((-teen, -teenth)), sixth.
see HEBREW for 07797
שֵׁשׁ (shesh) — six.
1) six
1a) six (cardinal number)
1b) sixth (ordinal number)
1c) in combination with other numbers
Aramaic equivalent: shet (שֵׁת "six" H8353)
HC/Ncbsa — Conjunction · noun common both singular absoluteHC/Ncbsa
מֵאָה (me'ah) means 'hundred' in Hebrew. It can refer to a simple number, a component of a larger number, or a fraction representing one one-hundredth. The entries consistently describe its use as a numeral without significant disagreement.
מֵאָה 583 n.f. hundred
as simple number
as part of larger number
a hundredth part
base
H3967 מֵאָה hundred . as simple number
. as part of larger number
. a hundredth part
3967 me'ah may-aw'
or metyah {may-yaw'}; properly, a primitive numeral; a
hundred; also as a multiplicative and a
fraction:--hundred((-fold), -th), + sixscore.
מֵאָה (me.ah) — hundred.
1) hundred
1a) as simple number
1b) as part of larger number
1c) as a fraction-one one-hundredth (1/100)
Aramaic equivalent: me.ah (מְאָה "hundred" H3969)
HNcfpa — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
hun'-dred (me'-ah; hekaton).
See NUMBER.