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Joshua 1:12 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְלָרֽאוּבֵנִי֙ וְלַגָּדִ֔י וְלַחֲצִ֖י שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹֽר׃

BSABut to the ReubenitesRᵉʼûwbênîy [descendants of Reuben, son of Israel] the GaditesGâdîy [tribe of Gad] and the half-tribechêtsîy [half of the tribe, a division] of ManassehMᵉnashsheh JoshuaYᵉhôwshûwaʻ [a leader, successor of Moses] saidʼâmar [to speak, to command, to proclaim]

Word
Listen & take awayJoshua 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (le.Mor) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Joshua 1:12quick helps
In a sentenceJoshua addresses the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, reminding them of their commitments.
Who is speakingJoshua, the leader of the Israelites.
Where we areIn the context of preparing the Israelites to enter the Promised Land.
The hard wordמְנַשֶּׁה
Take awayJoshua's leadership is pivotal as he communicates God's commands.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectיְהֹושֻׁעַ verbאָמַר The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 — Joshua 1:12

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 — Joshua Addresses the Tribesgenerated

11“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”
12But to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,
13“Remember what Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you when he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest, and He will give you this land.’
14Your wives, your young children, and your livestock may remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But all your mighty men of valor must be armed for battle to cross over ahead of your brothers and help them,

Joshua 1:12 is part of a larger narrative where Joshua prepares the Israelites to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land promised to them by God. He specifically addresses the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, reminding them of their responsibilities as they prepare for this significant transition.


Cross References


The Key Word מְנַשֶּׁה, ham.na.Shehgenerated

The word מְנַשֶּׁה (Mnashsheh) refers to the tribe descended from Manasseh, one of Joseph's sons. It emphasizes the connection to the ancestral lineage and the importance of this tribe in the context of Israel's history.

As a noun, it is used here in a gentilic form, indicating the members of the tribe. This tribe played a significant role in the settlement of the land, and Joshua's address to them highlights their inclusion in the covenant promises.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses Manasseh consistently across translations.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is אָמַר, he said, which governs the entire sentence. It is followed by the subject יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Joshua, and a series of prepositional phrases that specify to whom he is speaking.

The structure emphasizes Joshua's command to specific groups, showing the importance of their roles in the upcoming conquest.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the word for Manasseh is rendered as μανασση (manassē), which aligns closely with the Hebrew. This choice reflects the continuity of the tribe's identity across translations.

The LXX maintains the focus on the tribes' ancestral connections, similar to the Hebrew text, ensuring that the significance of each group is preserved.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Joshua 1:12 shows Joshua speaking to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, reminding them of their commitments as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. This verse emphasizes the importance of these tribes in the overall narrative of Israel's journey.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Who are the Reubenites and Gadites?

They are tribes descended from Reuben and Gad, sons of Jacob, who played significant roles in the Israelite community.

What does Joshua remind these tribes?

Joshua reminds them of their responsibilities as they prepare to help the other tribes in conquering the land.

Why is Manasseh mentioned as a half-tribe?

Manasseh is referred to as a half-tribe because it was divided into two portions, one on each side of the Jordan River.

What is the significance of Joshua's address?

Joshua's address emphasizes unity and commitment among the tribes as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What responsibilities do I have in my community that parallel those of the Reubenites and Gadites?
  2. How can I support others in their journeys, just as Joshua did?
  3. In what ways can I remind others of their commitments and responsibilities?
  4. What does it mean for me to be part of a larger community, like the tribes of Israel?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Origen of Alexandria comments on the significance of the tribes receiving their inheritance, linking it to broader themes in biblical history.

Origen of AlexandriaHOMILIES ON Joshua 3.1 c. 185–253
Let us look closely at what sign those two and a half tribes hold who receive the land of inheritance through Moses, and what sign the remainder of the nine and a half tribes hold who receive the promise of the holy land through Jesus…
Early Church Fathers on Joshua 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Joshua 1:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh,.... Who were settled on that side Jordan where Israel now were: spake Joshua, saying; as follows.

Read John Gill on Joshua 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua.

Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Joshua 1:12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,Ver. 12. And to the Reubenites,] i.e., To the rulers of their tribes, who were their representatives.

Read John Trapp on Joshua 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) To the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua.—The reference to Numbers 32 explains this order. We have only to observe that these two tribes and a half were not forbidden to leave a sufficient number of their fighting men to protect their homes and families. (See on Joshua 4:12.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Joshua 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. the Reubenites] Gadites, and the Half-Tribe of Manasseh, on account of their wealth in flocks and herds (Numbers 32:16; Numbers 32:24), had received already their possessions in “the forest-land,” “the pastureland” of the country beyond the Jordan, the territory of the conquered kings Sihon and Og. The remote downs of this portion of Palestine received a special name, “Mishor,” expressive of their contrast with the rough and rocky soil of the west. “The vast herds of wild cattle which then wandered through the woods, as those of Scotland through its ancient forests, were in like manner, at once the terror and pride of the Israelite,—“the fat bulls of Bashan.” The king of Moab was but a…

Read Cambridge on Joshua 1 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

ADDRESS TO THE TRANS- TRIBES, Joshua 1:12-15.Palestine, east of the Jordan, had already been conquered, and allotted, at their earnest request, to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 1 →

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

But to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

But to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,

NETBNew English Translation2006

Joshua told the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh:

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,

RVARevised Version, American1894

And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spoke Joshua, saying,

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And vnto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to halfe the tribe of Manasseh spake Ioshua, saying,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to half the tribe of Manasseh spoke Joshua, saying,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And to the Reubenite, and to the Gadite, and to the half of the tribe of Manasseh, hath Joshua spoken, saying,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And to the Reubenite, and to the Gadite, and to the half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua has spoken, saying,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Menasseh, spoke Joshua, saying,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

To the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And he said to the Rubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasses:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,

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.

וְandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseלָtonoun phrasetheרֽאוּבֵנִי֙Reubenite[s]וְandprepositional phraseלַtonoun phrasetheגָּדִ֔יGadite[s]וְandprepositional phraseלַtonoun phraseחֲצִ֖יthe.halfnoun phraseשֵׁ֣בֶטof.the.tribenoun phraseהַֽof.(the)מְנַשֶּׁ֑הManassehverbאָמַ֥רhe.saidsubjectיְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַJoshuaprepositional phrase · prepositionalלֵ(cmp)clauseverbאמֹֽרsay

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 their wording, with 7 of the 8 words matching. The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment also contains portions of the verse, confirming the consistency of the text across these ancient witnesses.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְלָרֽאוּבֵנִי֙ וְלַגָּדִ֔י וְלַחֲצִ֖י שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹֽר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְלָרֽאוּבֵנִי֙ρουβηνוְלַגָּדִ֔יγαδוְלַחֲצִ֖יἡμίσειשֵׁ֣בֶטφυλῆςהַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑הμανασσηאָמַ֥רεἶπενיְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַἰησοῦς

7 of the 8 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — Xjoshuaa copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ולראובני ולגדי ולחצי שבט המנשה

5 words of the verse are on this fragment — 2 partly restored.

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.

Joshua 1:12רְאוּבֵנִיand to the and to the Reubרְאוּבֵנִיגָּדִיand to the and to the Gadiגָּדִיחֲצִיand to [theand to [the] haחֲצִישֵׁ֫בֶט[the] tribe[the] tribe ofשֵׁ֫בֶטמְנַשֶּׁהManassehManassehמְנַשֶּׁהאָמַרhe saidhe saidאָמַריְהוֹשׁוּעַJoshuaJoshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַאָמַרsayingsayingאָמַררְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןגָּדGadGadגָּדחָצָהto divideto divideחָצָהנָשָׁהto forgetto forgetנָשָׁהיהוהThe LordThe LordיהוהחֲצִיhalfhalfחֲצִימְנַשֶּׁהMosesMosesמְנַשֶּׁהכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/GodיהוהגָּדִיGadGadגָּדִימְנַשִּׁיManassiteManassiteמְנַשִּׁירְאוּבֵנִיReubeniteReubeniteרְאוּבֵנִימָכִירMachirMachirמָכִירנוּןNunNunנוּןיְהוֹצָדָקJehozadakJehozadakיְהוֹצָדָק
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Joshua 1:12

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.

and to the Reubenite[s] and to the Gadite[s] and to [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh he said Joshua saying
וְלָרֽאוּבֵנִי֙ve.la.r.'u.ve.Ni and to the Reubenite[s] H7206 Conjunction · preposition · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A Reubenite is a descendant of Reuben, son of Israel and Leah, first mentioned in Genesis 29:32. Reubenites are part of the tribe of Reuben, living during the time of the Patriarchs. They are named after their ancestor Reuben.
Amplified meaning
descendants of Reuben, son of Israel
Tyndale gloss
Reubenite
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רְאוּבֵנִי (R'uwbeniy) refers to a Reubenite, meaning a descendant of Reuben, the son of Jacob. The term is derived from רְאוּבֵן (Reuben) and is used to describe individuals from the tribe of Reuben, first mentioned in Genesis 29:32. It highlights familial connections, including Reuben's brothers and descendants.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רְאוּבֵנִי adj.gent. of foreg. [רְאוּבֵן]

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7206 רְאוּבֵנִי of foreg. [רְאוּבֵן]

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7206 R'uwbeniy reh-oob-ay-nee'

patronymic from 7205; a Reubenite or descendant of

Reuben:--children of Reuben, Reubenites.

see HEBREW for 07205

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רְאוּבֵנִי (re.u.ve.ni) — Reubenite.

Someone from the tribe of Reuben living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.32;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);

brother of: Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);

half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);

father of: Hanoch (H2585J), Pallu (H6396), Hezron (H2696) and Carmi (H3756)

Group of re.u.ven (רְאוּבֵן "Reuben" H7205)

§ Reubenite, of Reuben "behold a son"

a descendant of Reuben the son of Jacob

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | Ngmsa — Conjunction · preposition · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
HC/Rd/Ngmsa
and to the Reubenite[s] and to the Gadite[s] and to [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh he said Joshua saying
וְלַגָּדִ֔יve.la.ga.Di and to the Gadite[s] H1425 Conjunction · preposition · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The term Gad refers to the descendants of Gad, one of the twelve sons of Israel. The Gadites were a tribe that lived during the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned in Genesis 30:11. They were part of the Israelite community.
Amplified meaning
tribe of Gad
Tyndale gloss
Gad
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּדִי (Gadiy) refers to a member of the tribe of Gad, one of the tribes of Israel. The term is derived from the name Gad, who was a son of Jacob and Zilpah, and it encompasses the descendants of Gad. The word is associated with meanings like 'invader' or 'troop.' It is first mentioned in Genesis 30:11.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּדִי adj.gent. Gadite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1425 גָּדִי Gadite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1425 Gadiy gaw-dee'

patronymically from 1410; a Gadite (collectively) or

descendants of Gad:--Gadites, children of Gad.

see HEBREW for 01410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּדִי (ga.di) — Gad.

Spomeone from the tribe of Gad living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.11;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Zilpah (H2153);

brother of: Asher (H0836);

half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);

father of: Ziphion (H6837), Haggi (H2291), Shuni (H7764), Ezbon (H0675), Eri (H6179), Arod (H0720) and Areli (H0692)

Another name of gad (גָּד "Gad" H1410G)

§ Gadite = "an invader: a troop: fortune"

one of the tribe descended from Gad

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | Ngmsa — Conjunction · preposition · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
HC/Rd/Ngmsa
and to the Reubenite[s] and to the Gadite[s] and to [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh he said Joshua saying
וְלַחֲצִ֖יve.la.cha.Tzi and to [the] half of H2677 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
125× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means half or middle, describing a division or a part of something. It is used to talk about physical things or time, like half of the day. The Bible uses it in various contexts.
Amplified meaning
half of the tribe, a division
Tyndale gloss
half
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֲצִי (chetsiy) means 'half' or 'middle,' referring to a division of something into two parts. It can denote the concept of 'midnight' as well. The word is derived from a root that also relates to 'midst' or 'part.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֲצִי 123 n.m. half

half of anything

middle … midnight

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2677 חֲצִי half . half of anything

. middle … midnight

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2677 chetsiy khay-tsee'

from 2673; the half or middle:--half, middle, mid(-night),

midst, part, two parts.

see HEBREW for 02673

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲצִי (che.tsi) — half.

1) half

1a) half

1b) middle

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-ms — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/R/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

and to the Reubenite[s] and to the Gadite[s] and to [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh he said Joshua saying
שֵׁ֣בֶטShe.vet [the] tribe of H7626 Noun common · masculine singular construct
190× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a stick or staff, but also a clan or tribe, and can refer to a symbol of authority or a tool for punishing. It is used in the Bible to describe the rods used by shepherds or the scepters of kings.
Tyndale gloss
tribe
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁ֫בֶט (shebet) refers to both a physical object and a social group. It can mean a rod, staff, or sceptre, often associated with authority or punishment, as well as a tribe or clan. The word is built from a root likely meaning to branch off, indicating both literal and figurative uses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁ֫בֶט 189 n.m. 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7626 שֵׁ֫בֶט 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7626 shebet shay'-bet

from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion,

i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting,

ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan:--X

correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: staff.

: staff

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

1a) rod, staff

1b) shaft (of spear, dart)

1c) club (of shepherd's implement)

1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)

1e) clan, tribe

שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe.

: tribe

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

1a) rod, staff

1b) shaft (of spear, dart)

1c) club (of shepherd's implement)

1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)

1e) clan, tribe

שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: javelin.

: javelin

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

1a) rod, staff

1b) shaft (of spear, dart)

1c) club (of shepherd's implement)

1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)

1e) clan, tribe

שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: ruler.

: ruler

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

1a) rod, staff

1b) shaft (of spear, dart)

1c) club (of shepherd's implement)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

and to the Reubenite[s] and to the Gadite[s] and to [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh he said Joshua saying
הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑הham.na.Sheh Manasseh H4519 Particle · noun gentilic both singular absolute
146× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Manasseh was a grandson of Jacob and the ancestor of a large tribe in the Bible, mentioned in Genesis 41:51 and throughout the book of Numbers.
Tyndale gloss
Moses
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְנַשֶּׁה (Mnashsheh) means 'causing to forget' and refers to several figures in the Old Testament. Primarily, it denotes the eldest son of Joseph and the tribe descended from him, as well as the territory they occupied. Additionally, it identifies a king of Judah, son of Hezekiah, and several individuals mentioned during the Exile and Return. The entries consistently highlight these connections without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְנַשֶּׁה 136 n.pr.m. et trib. Manasseh

Manasseh, eldest son of Joseph

of tribe

son of Hezekiah

two who had taken strange wives

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4519 מְנַשֶּׁה Manasseh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4519 Mnashsheh men-ash-sheh'

from 5382; causing to forget; Menashsheh, a grandson of

Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its

territory:--Manasseh.

see HEBREW for 05382

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְנַשֶּׁה (me.nash.sheh) — Manasseh.

A man of the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.41.51;

son of: Joseph (H3130) and Asenath (H0621);

brother of: Ephraim (H0669); married to Aramitess (H0761);

father of: Machir (H4353) and Asriel (H0844H)

§ Manasseh = "causing to forget"

1) the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh

1a) the tribe descended from Manasseh

1b) the territory occupied by the tribe of Manasseh

2) son of king Hezekiah of Judah and himself king of Judah; he was the immediate and direct cause for the exile

3) a descendant of Pahath-moab who put away a foreign wife in the time of Ezra

4) a descendant of Hashum who put away a foreign wife in the time of Ezra

מְנַשֶּׁה (me.nash.sheh) — Manasseh.

A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.20.21;

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-proper — Particle · noun gentilic both singular absolute
HTd/Ngbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Manasseh

Who makes to forget. “God hath made me forget” (Heb. nashshani), Gen. 41:51. (1.) The elder of the two sons of Joseph. He and his brother Ephraim were afterwards adopted by Jacob as his own sons (48:1). There is an account of his marriage to a Syrian (1 Chr. 7:14); and the only thing afterwards recorded of him is, that his grandchildren were “brought up upon Joseph’s knees” (Gen. 50:23; R.V., “born upon Joseph’s knees”) i.e., were from their birth adopted by Joseph as his own children.

The tribe of Manasseh was associated with that of Ephraim and Benjamin during the wanderings in the wilderness. They encamped on the west side of the tabernacle. According to the census taken at Sinai, this tribe then…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(forgetting). The thirteenth king of Judah, son of Hezekiah, (2 Kings 21:1) ascended the throne at the age of twelve, and reigned 55 years, from B.C. 608 to 642. His accession was the signal for an entire change in the religious administration of the kingdom. Idolatry was again established to such an extent that every faith was tolerated but the old faith of Israel. The Babylonian alliance which the king formed against Assyria resulted in his being made prisoner and carried off to Babylon in the twenty-second year of his reign, according to a Jewish tradition. There his eyes were opened and he repented, and his prayer was heard and the Lord delivered him, (2 Chronicles 33:12,13) and he returned after some uncertain interval of time to Jerusalem. The altar of the Lord was again…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. The eldest son of Joseph, born in Egypt. His descendants constituted a full tribe. This was divided in the promised land: one part having settled east of the Jordan, in the country of Bashan, from the river Jabbok northwards; and the other west of the Jordan, between Ephraim and Issachar, extending from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. It was far inferior to Ephraim in wealth and power, according to the prediction of Jacob, Ge 41:50,51 48:1-22 Jos 16:10.

2. The son and impious successor of the good Hezekiah, king of Judah. He began to reign at twelve years old, B. C. 698, and reigned fifty-five years. For his shocking idolatries, tyranny, and cruelties, God suffered him to be carried as a prisoner to Babylon in the twenty-second year of his reign, probably by Esarhaddon king…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

forgetfulness; he that is forgotten

and to the Reubenite[s] and to the Gadite[s] and to [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh he said Joshua saying
אָמַ֥ר'a.Mar he said H559 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Amplified meaning
to speak, to command, to proclaim
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and to the Reubenite[s] and to the Gadite[s] and to [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh he said Joshua saying
יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַye.ho.Shu.a' Joshua H3091 Noun proper masculine
218× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Joshua was a leader in the Bible, first mentioned in Ezra 2:2, who helped the Israelites return from exile. His name means Jehovah is salvation, and he is also known as Jeshua in some parts of the Bible. He was a key figure in the conquest of Canaan.
Amplified meaning
a leader, successor of Moses
Tyndale gloss
Joshua
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (*Yhowshuwa`*) refers to Joshua, the successor of Moses and leader of the Israelites. It encompasses various figures, including a resident of Beth-shemesh, a high priest after the restoration, and a governor of Jerusalem under Josiah. The name means 'Jehovah is salvation' and appears in different contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, and (later) יֵשׁוּעַ, n.pr.m. (& loc., v. 9 infr.) (י׳ is salvation or י׳ is opulence)

Moses’ successor, son of Nun

a Bethshemite

h.p. after the restoration, son of Jehozadak

governor of Jerusalem under Josiah

head of one of the classes of priests

a Levitical family-name of frequent occurrence

father of a builder at the wall

a Judaite family-name

n.pr.loc. in south of Judah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3091 יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, and (later) יֵשׁוּעַ . Moses’ successor, son of Nun

. a Bethshemite

. h. p. after the restoration, son of Jehozadak

. governor of Jerusalem under Josiah

. head of one of the classes of priests

. a Levitical family-name of frequent occurrence

. father of a builder at the wall

. a Judaite family-name

. n. pr. loc. in south of Judah

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3091 Yhowshuwa` yeh-ho-shoo'-ah

or Yhowshua {yeh-ho-shoo'-ah}; from 3068 and 3467;

Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish

leader:--Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare 1954, 3442.

see HEBREW for 03068

see HEBREW for 03467

see HEBREW for 01954

see HEBREW for 03442

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (ye.ho.shu.a) — Joshua.

A man of the tribe of Ephraim living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness and Israel before the Monarchy, first mentioned at Exo.17.9;

son of: Nun (H5126); also called Hoshea (KJV: Oshea) at Num.13.8; Jeshua at Neh.8.17;

§ Joshua or Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation"

1) son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan

2) a resident of Beth-shemesh on whose land the Ark of the Covenant came to a stop after the Philistines returned it

3) son of Jehozadak and high priest after the restoration

4) governor of Jerusalem under king Josiah who gave his name to a gate of the city of Jerusalem

יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (ye.ho.shu.a) — Joshua.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.6.14

§ Joshua or Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation"

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Joshua

Jehovah is his help, or Jehovah the Saviour. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, the successor of Moses as the leader of Israel. He is called Jehoshua in Num. 13:16 (A.V.), and Jesus in Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8 (R.V., Joshua).

He was born in Egypt, and was probably of the age of Caleb, with whom he is generally associated. He shared in all the events of the Exodus, and held the place of commander of the host of the Israelites at their great battle against the Amalekites in Rephidim (Ex. 17:8-16). He became Moses’ minister or servant, and accompanied him part of the way when he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the two tables (

(saviour, or whose help is Jehovah). His name appears in the various forms of HOSHEAHOSHEA, OSHEA, JEHOSHUA, JESHUA and JESUS. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Chronicles 7:27) (B.C. 1530-1420.) He was nearly forty years old when he shared in the hurried triumph of the exodus. He is mentioned first in connection with the fight against Amalek at Rephidim, when he was chosen by Moses to lead the Israelites. (Exodus 17:9) Soon afterward he was one of the twelve chiefs who were sent, (Numbers 13:17) to explore the land of Canaan, and one of the two, ch. (Numbers 14:6) who gave an encouraging report of their journey. Moses, shortly before his death, was directed, (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. The son of Nun, a distinguished leader of the Hebrews, and the successor of Moses. His name at first was Oshea, Nu 13:8,16; and in the New Testament he is called Jesus, Ac 7:45 Heb 4:8. Both the names, Joshua and Jesus, signify savior, deliverer. See JESUS. Joshua led Israel over the Jordan, and took possession of the promised land; he conquered the Canaanites, and then distributed the country among the tribes. He is first mentioned as the leader of Israel against the Amalekites at Rephidim,

Ex 17:8-16. See also Nu 14:6. At the passage over Jordan he was eighty-four years of age; and after about twenty-six years employed…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

a savior; a deliverer

and to the Reubenite[s] and to the Gadite[s] and to [the] half of [the] tribe of Manasseh he said Joshua saying
לֵאמֹֽר׃le.Mor saying H559 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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