Numbers 1:7 — Word Study
WLCלִֽיהוּדָ֕ה נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־ עַמִּינָדָֽב׃
BSAfrom JudahYᵉhûwdâh [the tribe descended from Jacob's son] NahshonNachshôwn [a leader of Israel] sonbên [a descendant or offspring] of AmminadabʻAmmîynâdâb [meaning my kinsman is noble]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לִֽיהוּדָ֕ה | for Judah | Preposition, noun proper |
| נַחְשׁ֖וֹן | Nahshon | Noun proper masculine |
| בֶּן־ | [the] son of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| עַמִּינָדָֽב׃ | Amminadab | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab; |
| KJV | Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab. |
| ASV | Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab. |
| YLT | 'For Judah — Nahshon son of Amminadab. |
| WEB | Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab. |
| BBE | From Judah, Nahshon, the son of Amminadab; |
There are no significant differences among the translations on this verse.
The structure consists of a main clause identifying the tribe, with two subordinate phrases providing details about the leader and his lineage.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, 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 — Numbers 1:7
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 — Census of Israel's Leadersgenerated
Numbers 1:7 provides a list of leaders from each tribe of Israel during the wilderness period. This verse specifically mentions Nahshon from the tribe of Judah, highlighting his lineage as a descendant of Amminadab. This context is crucial as it sets the stage for understanding the organization and leadership within the Israelite community as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 2:3 | On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard: The leader of the descendants of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab, |
| 2 | Numbers 7:12 | On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah drew near with his offering. |
| 3 | Numbers 10:14 | First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command. |
| 4 | Ruth 4:18 | Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, |
| 5 | 1 Chronicles 2:10–11 | Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, a leader of the descendants of Judah. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְהוּדָה, li.hu.Dahgenerated
The name יְהוּדָה (yehudah) refers to the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob. The name means 'praised' and signifies both the tribe and the territory they occupied. It is a prominent name in Israel's history, representing not only a tribe but also the southern kingdom after the division of Israel.
The parsing as a proper noun indicates its specific identity as a tribe, while its root meaning connects to the idea of praise, emphasizing the significance of Judah in the biblical narrative.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the rendering of יְהוּדָה as 'Judah' and נַחְשׁוֹן as 'Nahshon', maintaining the genealogical context.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main structure of the verse centers around the phrase introduced by the preposition לִֽיהוּדָ֕ה, for Judah, which leads into the noun phrase identifying Nahshon as the subject. This structure emphasizes the lineage and role of Nahshon within the tribe.
The finite verb is implied in the context, with the focus on identifying the leader and his lineage rather than on action.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יְהוּדָה as ιουδα, which retains the same meaning and significance as in the Hebrew text, indicating the tribe's importance.
This choice reflects a consistent understanding of Judah's identity across both Hebrew and Greek texts.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 1:7 lists Nahshon as the leader from the tribe of Judah, identifying him as the son of Amminadab. This verse is part of a census of Israel's leaders, showing the organization of the tribes as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Nahshon was a leader from the tribe of Judah, noted for his role during the wilderness journey of the Israelites.
Amminadab means 'my kinsman is noble' and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, including Nahshon's father.
Judah is significant as one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's son, and it plays a prominent role in biblical history.
This census was conducted to organize the tribes of Israel and identify their leaders as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from Nahshon's leadership in the context of the Israelite community?
- How does understanding the lineage of leaders like Nahshon help us appreciate the structure of ancient Israel?
- In what ways can we apply the concept of leadership from this verse to our own lives?
- Why is it important to recognize the significance of different tribes in the biblical narrative?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church father Ambrose of Milan reflects on the significance of Amminadab in his writings, drawing deeper spiritual insights from the genealogical details.
Therefore, the soul says: Aminadab has placed me in the chariot (Song of Solomon VI, 11). Therefore, the soul is the chariot that sustains a good charioteer. If the chariot is the soul, it has horses, either good or bad.Early Church Fathers on Numbers 1 →
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 1:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleOf Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab. [See comments on Numbers 1:5].
Read John Gill on Numbers 1 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryOf Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 1 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges7. Nahshon the son of Amminaaab] See Rth 4:20, Matthew 1:4.
Read Cambridge on Numbers 1 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleAND MUSTER OF THE ADULT MALES, Numbers 1:1-46.At the close of the third book of Moses the temple in the wilderness — the tabernacle — had been erected, the law of sacrifices instituted, the Aaronic
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 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
from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
Tyndale line
Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Of Iudah, Nahshon the sonne of Amminadab:
Strictly literal
for Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab;
'For Judah — Nahshon son of Amminadab.
for Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
Of Judah: Nachshon the son of 'Amminadab.
from the tribe of Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
From the Latin
Of Juda, Nahasson the son of Aminadab.
Simplified
from the tribe of Judah, Nahshon, son of Amminadab;
From Judah, Nahshon, the son of Amminadab;
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 Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word in this verse, affirming the accuracy of the transmission of this genealogical detail.
לִֽיהוּדָ֕ה נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־ עַמִּינָדָֽב׃
4 of the 4 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.
ליהודה נחשׁון בן עמינדב
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
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 Numbers 1:7
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.
יְהוּדָה (yehudah) means 'Judah' and is derived from a root meaning 'praised.' It refers to the son of Jacob and Leah, the tribe descended from him, and the territory they occupied. The term also encompasses the southern kingdom of Judah, which included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Additionally, it identifies various individuals, including Levites and overseers during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
יְהוּדָה 820 n.pr.m. et terr. Judah
n.pr.m.
son of Jacob and Leah
tribe descended from Judah
nation, of southern kingdom under dynasty of David, as distinguished from northern kingdom of Ephraim or Israel
Levite, Ezra’s time
an overseer of Jerus.
Levite musician
priest
n.pr.terr. land of Judah
base
H3063 יְהוּדָה Judah
3063 Yhuwdah yeh-hoo-daw'
from 3034; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five
Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of
its territory:--Judah.
see HEBREW for 03034
יְהוּדָה (ye.hu.dah) — Judah.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);
brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);
half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); married to Bath-shua (H1323I) and Tamar (H8559);
father of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209), Shelah (H7956), Perez (H6557) and Zerah (H2226I)
§ Judah = "praised"
1) the son of Jacob by Leah
2) the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob
3) the territory occupied by the tribe of Judah
4) the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon
5) a Levite in Ezra's time
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
Judah
Praise, the fourth son of Jacob by Leah. The name originated in Leah’s words of praise to the Lord on account of his birth: “Now will I praise [Heb. odeh] Jehovah, and she called his name Yehudah” (Gen. 29:35).
It was Judah that interposed in behalf of Joseph, so that his life was spared (Gen. 37:26, 27). He took a lead in the affairs of the family, and “prevailed above his brethren” (Gen. 43:3-10; 44:14, 16-34; 46:28; 1 Chr. 5:2).
Soon after the sale of Joseph to the Ishmaelites, Judah went to reside at Adullam, where he married a woman of Canaan. (See ONAN; TAMAR.) After the death of his wife Shuah, he returned to his father’s house, and there exercised much…
(praised, celebrated), the fourth son of Jacob and the fourth of Leah. (B.C. after 1753.) Of Judah’s personal character more traits are preserved than of any other of the patriarchs, with the exception of Joseph, whose life he in conjunction with Reuben saved. (Genesis 37:26-28) During the second visit to Egypt for corn it was Judah who understood to be responsible for the safety of Benjamin, ch. (Genesis 43:3-10) and when, through Joseph’s artifice, the brothers were brought back to the palace, he is again the leader and spokesman of the band. So too it is Judah who is sent before Jacob to smooth the way for him in the land of Goshen. ch. (Genesis 46:28) This ascendancy over his brethren is reflected in the last words…
The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, born in Mesopotamia, B. C. 1755, Ge 29:35. His name appears honorably in the history of Joseph, Ge 37:26,27 44:16-34; but disgracefully in that of Tamar his daughter-in-law, Ge 38:1-30. The dying benediction of Jacob foretells the superior power and prosperity of the family of Judah, and their continuance as chief of the Jewish race until the time of Christ, Ge 49:8-12. Though not the firstborn, Judah soon came to be considered as the chief of Jacob’s children, and his tribe was the most powerful and numerous. The southeastern part of Palestine fell to their lot. See JUDEA. On the border of their territory was Jerusalem, the seat of the…
the praise of the Lord; confession
נַחְשׁוֹן (Nachshown) refers to a man from the tribe of Judah, specifically the son of Amminadab and brother-in-law of Aaron. He is noted as a prince during the wilderness period and is mentioned in Exodus 6:23. The name is associated with the meaning 'enchanter' and appears in genealogies leading to Christ.
נַחְשׁוֹן n.pr.m. son of Aminadab, of Judah, brother-in-law of Aaron
base
H5177 נַחְשׁוֹן son of Aminadab, of Judah, brother-in-law of Aaron
5177 Nachshown nakh-shone'
from 5172; enchanter; Nachshon, an Israelite:--Naashon,
Nahshon.
see HEBREW for 05172
נַחְשׁוֹן (nach.shon) — Nahshon.
A man of the tribe of Judah living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Exo.6.23;
son of: Amminadab (H5992);
brother of: Elisheba (H0472);
father of: Salmon (H8007)
Also named: Naassōn (Ναασσών "Nahshon" G3476)
§ Nahshon = "enchanter"
son of Amminadab and prince of the Judah at the first numbering in the wilderness; 5th in descent from Judah in the genealogy of Christ
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Nahshon
Sorcerer, the son of Aminadab, and prince of the children of Judah at the time of the first numbering of the tribes in the wilderness (Ex. 6:23). His sister Elisheba was the wife of Aaron. He died in the wilderness (Num. 26:64, 65). His name occurs in the Greek form Naasson in the genealogy of Christ (Matt, 1:4; Luke 3:32).
same as Naashon
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-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…
עַמִּינָדָב (Ammiynadab) means "my kinsman is noble" and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, notably Aaron's father-in-law and a Levite. The name is derived from roots meaning 'people' and 'liberality.' It is first mentioned in Exodus 6:23 and is associated with the tribe of Judah.
עַמִּינָדָב n.pr.m. (my kinsman is noble)
Aaron’s father-in-law
Levites
base
H5992 עַמִּינָדָב (my kinsman hath bestowed) . Aaron’s father-in-law
. Levites
5992 `Ammiynadab am-mee-naw-dawb'
from 5971 and 5068; people of liberality; Amminadab, the name
of four Israelites:--Amminadab.
see HEBREW for 05971
see HEBREW for 05068
עַמִּינָדָב (am.mi.na.dav) — Amminadab.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.23;
son of: Ram (H7410);
father of: Elisheba (H0472) and Nahshon (H5177)
Also named: Aminadab (Ἀμιναδάβ "Amminadab" G0284)
§ Amminadab = "my kinsman is noble"
1) son of Ram or Aram and father of Nahshon or Naasson and an ancestor of Jesus; father-in-law of Aaron
2) a Kohathite Levite and chief of the sons of Uzziel
3) a Levite, son of Kohath; also 'Izhar'
עַמִּינָדָב (am.mi.na.dav) — Amminadab.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.15.10
§ Amminadab = "my kinsman is noble"
1) son of Ram or Aram and father of Nahshon or Naasson and an ancestor of Jesus; father-in-law of Aaron
2) a Kohathite Levite and chief of the sons of Uzziel
3) a Levite, son of Kohath; also 'Izhar'
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
a-min'-a-dab (`amminadhabh = "my people (or my kinsman) is generous or noble"): Three persons bearing this name are mentioned in the Old Testament.
(1) In Ru 4:19,20 and 1Ch 2:10 Amminadab is referred to as one of David's ancestors. He was the great- grandson of Perez, a son of Judah (Ge 38:29; 46:12) and the great-grandfather of Boaz, who again was the great- grandfather of David. Aaron's wife, Elisheba, was a daughter of Amminadab (Ex 6:23), while one of the sons, namely, Nahshon, occupied an important position in the Judah-clan (Nu 1:7; 2:3; 7:12; 10:14).
Amminadab
Kindred of the prince. (1.) The father of Nahshon, who was chief of the tribe of Judah (Num. 1:7; 2:3; 7:12, 17; 10:14). His daughter Elisheba was married to Aaron (Ex. 6:23).
(2.) A son of Kohath, the second son of Levi (1 Chr. 6:22), called also Izhar (2, 18).
(3.) Chief of the 112 descendants of Uzziel the Levite (1 Chr. 15:10, 11).
(one of the prince’s people). Son of Ram or Aram, and father of Nahshon, or NAASSON (as it is written) (Matthew 1:4; Luke 3:32); (Numbers 1:7; 2:3; Ruth 4:19,20; 1 Chronicles 2:10) One of the ancestors of Jesus Christ. The chief of the 112 sons of Uzziel, a Junior Levitical house of the family of the Kohathites. (Exodus 6:23; 1 Chronicles 15:10,11) In (1 Chronicles 6:22) Izhar, the son of Kohath, is called AMMINADIB; probably a clerical error.
1. A son of Aram, of the tribe of Judah, and father of Naashon. He was one of the ancestors of Christ; and his daughter Elisheba was the wife of Aaron, Ex 6:23 Ru 4:20 Mt 1:4. "The Chariots of Amminadib," So 6:12, were very light and swift, in allusion perhaps to some noted charioteer of that day.
2. A son of Kohath, 1Ch 6:33.