Ezra 2:41 — Word Study
WLCהַֽמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֔ף מֵאָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָֽה׃ פ
BSAThe singersshîyr [music-makers, sons of Asaph] the descendantsbên [children, sons] of AsaphʼÂçâph [gatherer, Levite] 128mêʼâh
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הַֽמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים | the singers | Particle, verb piel participle (active) masculine plural |
| בְּנֵ֣י | [the] descendants of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| אָסָ֔ף | Asaph | Noun proper masculine |
| מֵאָ֖ה | one hundred | Adj |
| עֶשְׂרִ֥ים | twenty | |
| וּשְׁמֹנָֽה׃ פ | and eight | Conjunction |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 128. |
| KJV | ¶ The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight. |
| ASV | The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight. |
| YLT | The singers: sons of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight. |
| WEB | The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight. |
| BBE | The music-makers: the children of Asaph, a hundred and twenty-eight |
Where they part company is in the details of the singers' lineage — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause identifying the singers, followed by their lineage and number, presenting the information clearly and concisely.
3 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
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 — Ezra 2:41
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 Return of the Exilesgenerated
Ezra 2:41 provides a census of the returning exiles, detailing their roles and lineage. This verse specifically highlights the singers, who were vital for worship and community life in the restored temple. The mention of Asaph connects these singers to a historical lineage of Levitical musicians, emphasizing their importance in Israel's worship practices.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 6:39 | Heman’s kinsman was Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea, |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 15:17 | So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 25:1–2 | Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service: |
| 4 | Nehemiah 7:44 | The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 148. |
| 5 | Nehemiah 11:17 | Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הַֽמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים, ham.sho.re.Rimgenerated
The word שִׁיר (shiyr) means 'to sing' and is a participle in the piel stem, indicating active involvement in singing. It emphasizes the role of these singers as music-makers, particularly in the context of worship and praise.
This term appears frequently in the Bible, often associated with worship and the expression of joy. The use of this word here signifies the continuation of a musical tradition that was integral to the community's identity and religious practice.
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 structure of the verse is straightforward, with a main clause identifying the singers followed by a phrase detailing their lineage. The finite verb is implicit in the noun phrase, establishing the subject and predicate clearly.
The order emphasizes the singers first, highlighting their role before mentioning their lineage, which is a common practice in Hebrew narrative to establish importance.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the translators used ᾄδοντες (aidontes), which means 'singers.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning but also reflects the Greek understanding of the role of singers in worship.
The use of this Greek term indicates a continuity of the tradition of singing in worship, connecting the Hebrew context with the Hellenistic audience.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ezra 2:41 lists the singers as the descendants of Asaph, numbering 128. This indicates their important role in the worship of the restored community after the exile, linking them to a historical lineage of Levitical musicians.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The singers were the descendants of Asaph, a significant lineage of Levitical musicians responsible for leading worship in the temple.
Asaph was a prominent figure in Israel's musical tradition, and his descendants continued this legacy of worship through song.
The number emphasizes the importance of the singers in the community and their role in worship, reflecting the restored order of the temple services.
This verse highlights the continuity of worship practices, showing that singing was an essential aspect of Israel's religious life, particularly in the context of the temple.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What role do music and singing play in your own worship experience?
- How can understanding the lineage of worship leaders like Asaph deepen your appreciation for church music today?
- In what ways can you contribute to the worship life of your community?
- How does this historical context of the singers influence your understanding of worship in the Old Testament?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ezra 2:41 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight. The singers: the children of Asaph.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ezra 2 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges41. The singers] The Levitical order of singers was instituted in David’s time (1 Chronicles 15:17-24). There seem to have been 24 classes of singers (1 Chronicles 25:9-31). But the three great guilds of singers were called after the names of Heman the Kohathite, Asaph the Gershomite, and Jeduthun the Merarite (1 Chronicles 6:33-47; 1 Chronicles 25:1-7). Asaph] No members of the Heman and Jeduthun guilds seem to have returned. Four of the 24 classes of singers were called after the sons of Asaph, i.e. the first, Joseph: the third, Zaccur: the fifth, Nethaniah: the seventh, Jesharelah (1 Chronicles 25:2; 1 Chronicles 25:9-10; 1 Chronicles 25:12; 1 Chronicles 25:14). Asaph himself enjoyed a…
Read Cambridge on Ezra 2 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible41. Singers — See notes on 1 Chronicles 15:16-22.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezra 2 →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
The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 128.
The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.
The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 128.
The singers: the descendants of Asaph: 128.
Tyndale line
¶ The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.
The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight.
The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.
The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight.
The Singers: the sonnes of Asaph, an hundreth and eight and twentie.
Strictly literal
The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred and twenty-eight.
The singers: sons of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight.
The singers: sons of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.
The singers were: The children of Assaph, one hundred twenty and eight.
The temple singers, descendants of Asaph: 128.
From the Latin
The singing men: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty-eight.
Simplified
the singers of the sons of Asaph, 128;
The music-makers: the children of Asaph, a hundred and twenty-eight
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 Septuagint largely agree in this verse, with five out of six words matched. This consistency underscores the reliability of the text across different traditions, though the Septuagint's word order differs.
הַֽמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֔ף מֵאָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנָֽה׃ פ
5 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.
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 Ezra 2:41
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.
שִׁיר (shiyr) means 'to sing' and is a denominative verb derived from a primitive root. It covers various forms of singing, including participles for singers and songstresses. The entries indicate its use in different verbal stems, such as Qal and Polel, and note its appearance in contexts like 1 Samuel 18:6.
[שִׁיר] 86 vb. sing (denom.)
Qal 49 sing
Pō‛l. 36 sing
Hoph. be sung
base
H7891 שִׁיר sing (denom.)
7891 shiyr sheer
or (the original form) shuwr (1 Sam. 18:6) {shoor}; a
primitive root (identical with 7788 through the idea of
strolling minstrelsy); to sing:--behold (by mistake for
7789), sing(-er, -ing man, - ing woman).
see HEBREW for 07788
see HEBREW for 07789
שִׁיר (shir) — to sing.
1) to sing
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to sing
1a2) singer, songstresses (participle)
1b) (Polel)
1b1) to sing
1b2) singer, songstress (participle)
1c) (Hophal) to be sung
Art | V-o — Particle · verb piel participle (active) masculine pluralHTd/Vprmpa
→ See MUSIC
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
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…
אָסָף (Asaph) means 'gatherer' and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, particularly a Levite musician under King David and the father of Joah, a royal recorder. The name appears in various contexts, including genealogies and roles related to music and royal duties. There are multiple mentions of Asaph across different books, including 2 Kings and Chronicles.
אָסָף n.pr.m. (gatherer)
father of יוֹאָח the recorder
one of David’s chief musicians, a Levite, son of Berechiah
keeper of king’s park
base
H623 אָסָף (gatherer)
623 'Acaph aw-sawf'
from 622; collector; Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and
of the family of the first:--Asaph.
see HEBREW for 0622
אָסָף (a.saph) — Asaph.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.18;
father of: Joah (H3098)
§ Asaph = "gatherer"
1) the father of Hezekiah's secretary
2) a son of Berechiah, chief Levite musician under David
3) a Persian officer over the royal forest
אָסָף (a.saph) — Asaph.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.39;
son of: Berechiah (H1296H);
father of: Zaccur (H2139J), Joseph (H3130I), Nethaniah (H5418H) and Asharelah (H0841)
§ Asaph = "gatherer"
1) the father of Hezekiah's secretary
2) a son of Berechiah, chief Levite musician under David
3) a Persian officer over the royal forest
אָסָף (a.saph) — Asaph.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.15;
father of: Zichri (H2147K)
§ Asaph = "gatherer"
1) the father of Hezekiah's secretary
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
a'-saf ('acaph): Is the name of three men in the Old Testament, of whom one is the reputed author of Psalms 50 and 73-83. He was one of David's three chief musicians, the other two being Heman, and Ethan or Jeduthun, and we first hear of him when the ark was taken to Jerusalem (1Ch 15:16-19). He conducted with cymbals the music performed in the tent where the ark was housed (1Ch 16:4,5,7,37), while his two coadjutors discharged the same office at Gibeon (1Ch 16:41,42). In 1Ch 25:1 ff we are told that four of his sons were appointed to conduct under him detachments of the great chorus, the families of Heman and Jeduthun also furnishing leaders, and all took part at the…
Asaph
Convener, or collector. (1.) A Levite; one of the leaders of David’s choir (1 Chr. 6:39). Psalms 50 and 73-83 inclusive are attributed to him. He is mentioned along with David as skilled in music, and a “seer” (2 Chr. 29:30). The “sons of Asaph,” mentioned in 1 Chr. 25:1, 2 Chr. 20:14, and Ezra 2:41, were his descendants, or more probably a class of poets or singers who recognized him as their master.
(2.) The “recorder” in the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:18, 37).
(collector of the people). A Levite, son of Berechiah, one of the leaders of David’s choir. (1 Chronicles 6:39) Psalms 50 and 73-83 are attributed to him; and he was in after times celebrated as a seer as well as a musical composer. (2 Chronicles 29:30; Nehemiah 12:46) (B.C. 1050.) The father or ancestor of Joah, the chronicler to the kingdom of Judah in the reign of Hezekiah, (2 Kings 18:18,37; Isaiah 36:3,22) probably the same as the preceding. The keeper of the royal forest or "paradise" of Artaxerxes, (Nehemiah 2:8) a Jew, in high office at the court of Persia. (B.C. 536.) Ancestor of Mattaniah, the conductor of the…
1. Assembler, a celebrated musician in David’s time, and one of the leaders of the temple music. 1Ch 16:5 25:1,2. This service appears to have been hereditary in his family, Ne 7:44 11:22. He is also called a seer, 2Ch 29:30; and his name is prefixed to twelve Psalms, (Ps 50:1-23 73:1-83:18) but whether they were written by him, or for him or his family to sing, is unknown. See MUSIC.
2. A recorder of King Hezekiah, 2Ki 18:18 Isa 36:3
3. Keeper of forests under Artaxerxes, Ne 2:8.
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)
Adj — AdjHAcfsa
hun'-dred (me'-ah; hekaton).
See NUMBER.
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)
HAcmpa — HAcmpa
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/Acbsa — ConjunctionHC/Acbsa