Joshua 12:17 — Word Study
WLCמֶ֤לֶךְ תַּפּ֙וּחַ֙ אֶחָ֔ד מֶ֥לֶךְ חֵ֖פֶר אֶחָֽד׃
BSAthe kingmelek [ruler, sovereign] of TappuahTappûwach [the apple city] oneʼechâd [a single ruler] the kingmelek [royal person, monarch] of HepherChêpher [a well, a place of refreshment] oneʼechâd [a unique leader]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מֶ֤לֶךְ | [the] king of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| תַּפּ֙וּחַ֙ | Tappuah | Noun proper |
| אֶחָ֔ד | one | Adj |
| מֶ֥לֶךְ | [the] king of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| חֵ֖פֶר | Hepher | Noun proper |
| אֶחָֽד׃ | one | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; |
| KJV | The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; |
| ASV | the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; |
| YLT | The king of Tappuah, one; The king of Hepher, one; |
| WEB | the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; |
| BBE | The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; |
Where they part company is in the specific wording of the kings, but they all agree on the singularity of each ruler.
Two main clauses, each identifying a king and his singularity. The structure emphasizes the individual rulers mentioned.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, AdamClarke, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֶחָד
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 — Joshua 12:17
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 Kings Defeated by Israelgenerated
Joshua 12:17 lists the kings defeated by Israel during their conquest of Canaan. This verse specifically mentions the king of Tappuah and the king of Hepher, both noted as single rulers. The context highlights the systematic account of Israel's victories over various kings, illustrating the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land to His people.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 15:34 | Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, |
| 2 | Joshua 19:13 | From there it crossed eastward to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon and curved around toward Neah. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 4:10 | Ben-hesed in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him); |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מֶ֫לֶךְ, Me.lekhgenerated
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king' and is derived from a root that suggests royalty. It refers to a king or royal person, such as King David or King Saul, and is often used to describe the rulers of Israel.
In this verse, it emphasizes the authority and governance of the kings mentioned. The term appears frequently throughout the Old Testament, indicating its significance in the context of leadership and rule.
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 sentence is structured with two main clauses, each identifying a king and his status. The finite verb is implicit, as the sentence lists the kings in a straightforward manner.
The word order places emphasis on the kings and their titles, presenting a clear enumeration of the rulers.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מֶ֫לֶךְ as βασιλέα, which means 'king' in Greek, showing a direct correspondence in meaning and maintaining the royal connotation.
This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the term as it relates to authority and governance in both Hebrew and Greek contexts.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Joshua 12:17 lists the king of Tappuah and the king of Hepher, noting each as one ruler. This verse is part of a larger account detailing the kings defeated by Israel during their conquest of the land.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
In this context, 'king' refers to a ruler or sovereign who has authority over a specific territory, highlighting the political landscape during Israel's conquests.
These kings are mentioned to document Israel's victories and the territories conquered, which is a key theme in the book of Joshua.
The number one emphasizes the individuality and uniqueness of each king, signifying their singular rule over their respective cities.
This verse fits into the broader narrative by providing a systematic account of the kings defeated by Israel, illustrating God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to give the land to His people.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about leadership from the kings mentioned in this verse?
- How does the concept of kingship in the Old Testament inform our understanding of authority today?
- In what ways can we see God's promises fulfilled in our lives as they were in the conquest of Canaan?
- How does this enumeration of kings help us understand the historical context of Israel's journey?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Joshua 12:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe king of Tappuah, one,.... Which Jerom calls (l) Thaffu; it signifies an apple, and perhaps had its name from plenty of that fruit that grew there: a city of this name fell to the tribe of Judah,
Read John Gill on Joshua 12 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 17. Tappuah] There were two places of this name: one in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:34, and another in the tribe of Ephraim on the borders of Manasseh; but which of the two is meant here cannot be ascertained. See Clarke on Joshua 15:53. Hepher] The same, according to Calmet, as Ophrah in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:23.
Read AdamClarke on Joshua 12 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. Tappuah] In the Shephelah, or lowland of Judah, on the lower slopes of the mountains of the N. W. portion of Judah, about 12 miles W. of Jerusalem. Now called Teffûh. Hepher] Mentioned in 1 Kings 4:10. Situation not known.
Read Cambridge on Joshua 12 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible17. Tappuah and Hepher are unknown. The former is enumerated, in Joshua 15:34, among the cities of the valley of Judah, and is distinguished from Beth-Tappuah (Joshua 15:53) in the mountains.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Joshua 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
the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
the king of Tappuah (one), the king of Hepher (one),
Tyndale line
The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
The King of Tappuah, one: the King of Hepher, one:
Strictly literal
the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
The king of Tappuah, one; The king of Hepher, one;
the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
The king of Tappuach, one; the king of Chepher, one;
the king of Tappuah, the king of Hepher,
From the Latin
The king of Taphua one, the king of Opher one,
Simplified
The king of Tappuah. The king of Hepher.
The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
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 agree on the essential wording of the verse, with four of the six words matched. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this text across different traditions.
מֶ֤לֶךְ תַּפּ֙וּחַ֙ אֶחָ֔ד מֶ֥לֶךְ חֵ֖פֶר אֶחָֽד׃
4 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 Joshua 12:17
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 מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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…
תַּפֻּחַ (Tappuwach) refers to both a person and a location in ancient Palestine. It denotes a man from the tribe of Judah, specifically the son of Hebron, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:43, and also signifies a town known as 'the apple city,' located in the lowland of Judah and on the border of Ephraim and Manasseh.
תַּפֻּחַ n.pr.m. son of Hebron, acc. to 1 Ch 2:43
ref
תַּפּוּחַ n.pr.loc.
in lowland of Judah
on border between Ephraim and Manasseh
base
H8599a תַּפֻּחַ son of Hebron H8599b תַּפּוּחַ . in lowland of Judah
. on border between Ephraim and Manasseh
8599 Tappuwach tap-poo'-akh
the same as 8598; Tappuach, the name of two places in
Palestine, also of an Israelite:--Tappuah.
see HEBREW for 08598
תַּפֻּחַ (ta.phuch) — Tappuah.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.2.43;
son of: Hebron (H2275I);
brother of: Korah (H7141J), Rekem (H7552I) and Shema (H8087)
§ Tappuah = "the apple city"
a Judaite of the family of Caleb, son of Hebron
תַּפּוּחַ (tap.pu.ach) — Tappuah.
Tappuah = "the apple city"
a town on the border in Ephraim
Also named: en tap.pu.ach (עֵין תַּפּוּחַ "En-tappuah" H5887)
תַּפּוּחַ (tap.pu.ach) — Tappuah.
§ Tappuah = "the apple city"
a town in the lowland of Judah
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
Tappuah
Apple-region. (1.) A town in the valley or lowland of Judah; formerly a royal city of the Canaanites (Josh. 12:17; 15:34). It is now called Tuffuh, about 12 miles west of Jerusalem.
(2.) A town on the border of Ephraim (Josh. 16:8). The “land” of Tappuah fell to Manasseh, but the “city” to Ephraim (17:8).
(3.) En-tappuah, the well of the apple, probably one of the springs near Yassuf (Josh. 17:7).
apple; swelling
אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.
אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one
one
= each, every
= a certain
= indef. art.
only, & (fem.) once
one … another, one … the other
as ordinal first
in combin.
base
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
259 'echad ekh-awd'
a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an
ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,
any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +
eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,
other, some, together,
see HEBREW for 0258
אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Adj — AdjHAcfsa
wun.
See NUMBER.
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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…
The Hebrew word חֵ֫פֶר (*chepher*) refers to both a personal name and a geographical location. It denotes a Manassite and a man from Judah, as well as a Canaanite town mentioned in the context of battles. The word is associated with several individuals, including a warrior of David and a descendant of Gilead. The name is interpreted to mean 'a well.'
חֵ֫פֶר n.pr.m.
a Manassite
a man of Judah
one of David's heroes
base
חֵ֫פֶר n.pr.loc.
Canaanitish town, with a king, named just before Aphek
in Judah
base
H2660a חֵ֫פֶר . a Manassite
. a man of Judah
. one of David's heroes
H2660b חֵ֫פֶר . Canaanitish town, with a king, named just before Aphek
. in Judah
2660 Chepher khay'-fer
from 2658 or 2659; a pit of shame; Chepher, a place in
Palestine; also the name of three Israelites:--Hepher.
see HEBREW for 02658
see HEBREW for 02659
חֵ֫פֶר (che.pher) — Hepher.
A man of the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.26.32;
son of: Gilead (H1568H);
brother of: Abiezer (H0044I), Helek (H2507), Asriel (H0844), Shechem (H7928) and Shemida (H8061);
father of: Zelophehad (H6765)
Also named: cheph.ri (חֶפְרִי "Hepherite" H2662)
§ Hepher = "a well"
1) youngest son of Gilead and head of the family of Hepherites
2) son of Asher, the father of Tekoa
3) the Mecherathite, one of David's mighty warriors
חֵ֫פֶר (che.pher) — Hepher.
§ Hepher = "a well"
a place in ancient Canaan, west of the Jordan, conquered by Joshua
חֵ֫פֶר (che.pher) — Hepher.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.6;
son of: Ashhur (H0806) and Naarah (H5292B);
brother of: Ahuzzam (H0275), Temeni (H8488) and Haahashtari (H0326);
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
Hepher
A well or stream. (1.) A royal city of the Canaanites taken by Joshua (12:17).
(2.) The youngest son of Gilead (Num. 26:32; 27:1).
(3.) The second son of Asher (1 Chr. 4:6).
(4.) One of David’s heroes (1 Chr. 11:36).
a place in ancient Canaan which occurs in the lists of conquered kings. (Joshua 12:17) It was on the west of Jordan. Comp. (Joshua 12:7) and 1Kin 4:10
a digger
אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.
אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one
one
= each, every
= a certain
= indef. art.
only, & (fem.) once
one … another, one … the other
as ordinal first
in combin.
base
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
259 'echad ekh-awd'
a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an
ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,
any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +
eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,
other, some, together,
see HEBREW for 0258
אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.
1) one (number)
1a) one (number)
1b) each, every
1c) a certain
1d) an (indefinite article)
1e) only, once, once for all
1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one
1g) first
1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Adj — AdjHAcfsa
wun.
See NUMBER.