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Numbers 17:7 — Word Study

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WLCוַיַּנַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־ הַמַּטֹּ֖ת לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה בְּאֹ֖הֶל הָעֵדֻֽת׃

BSAThen MosesMôsheh [the leader of the Israelites] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God] in the Tentʼôhel [tabernacle, sacred dwelling]

Word
Listen & take awayNumbers 17
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 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 (ha.'e.Dut) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Numbers 17:7quick helps
In a sentenceMoses placed the staffs before the LORD in the sacred tent.
Who is speakingMoses, the leader of the Israelites.
Where we areIn the context of the Israelites' leadership and God's instructions.
The hard wordוַיַּנַּ֥ח
Take awayThe act of placing signifies obedience and reverence.
3 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Whedon & more — read them › clause subjectבְּ verbהָיָה 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 — Numbers 17:7

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 — The Placement of the Staffsgenerated

6So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff—one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them.
7Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.
8The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds.
9Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff.

Numbers 17:7 describes how Moses, following God's command, placed the staffs of the Israelite leaders before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony. This action was part of a divine demonstration to affirm Aaron's leadership and the legitimacy of the priesthood. The context emphasizes the importance of God's presence and guidance among His people, as seen in the surrounding verses where the staffs are presented and later show signs of God's choice.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Numbers 18:2But bring with you also your brothers from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and assist you and your sons before the Tent of the Testimony.
2Exodus 38:21This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
3Acts 7:44Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.Numbers 18:2 Exodus 38:21 Acts 7:44

The Key Word וַיַּנַּ֥ח, vai.ya.Nachgenerated

The verb וַיַּנַּח (vai.ya.Nach) is a Hiphil form of the root נוּחַ (nuwach), meaning 'to rest' or 'to settle.' In this context, it indicates the act of depositing or placing something in a designated spot, specifically the staffs before the LORD.

This word conveys a sense of intentionality and reverence, as Moses places the staffs in the sacred space where God's presence dwells. The Hiphil form suggests that Moses is causing the staffs to be at rest in the presence of the LORD, highlighting the significance of this act in the context of Israel's leadership.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the word placed.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb וַיַּנַּח (he deposited) governs the entire sentence, with the subject מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moses) performing the action. The structure emphasizes the action of placing the staffs in a sacred context.

The prepositional phrase בְּאֹ֖הֶל (in the tent) specifies the location, while the object הַמַּטֹּ֖ת (the rods) clarifies what is being placed. The sentence flows logically, highlighting the significance of the act within the narrative.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַיַּנַּח as ἐγένετο (it came to pass), indicating a narrative transition rather than a direct action of placing. This choice may reflect a broader interpretive approach to the text, emphasizing the unfolding events rather than the specific action.

This translation choice suggests a focus on the divine orchestration of events, aligning with the broader themes of God's guidance and authority over Israel's leadership.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Numbers 17:7 tells us that Moses placed the staffs of the Israelite leaders before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony. This act was significant as it represented the leaders' submission to God's authority and the confirmation of Aaron's role as high priest.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that Moses placed the staffs before the LORD?

This act symbolizes the leaders' submission to God's authority and the importance of God's presence in guiding Israel.

Why were the staffs significant?

The staffs represented the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel and were a means for God to demonstrate His choice of Aaron as high priest.

What is the Tent of the Testimony?

The Tent of the Testimony, also known as the tabernacle, was the sacred dwelling place where God met with His people and where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.

How does this verse connect to the broader narrative of Exodus?

This verse highlights the establishment of leadership and the confirmation of Aaron's priesthood, which is a key theme in the narrative of Israel's journey in the wilderness.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does it mean for me to place my concerns before God, similar to how Moses placed the staffs?
  2. How can I recognize God's authority in my life as the Israelites did through their leaders?
  3. In what ways can I demonstrate my submission to God's guidance like the leaders of the tribes?
  4. How does understanding the significance of the Tent of the Testimony enhance my appreciation of God's presence?

Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Numbers 17:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.

Read John Gill on Numbers 17 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. No JFB commentary on this verse.

Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 17 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

7. Witness — The Hebrew is the same as that for testimony in Numbers 17:4.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 17 →

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

Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Moses laid up the rods before Yahweh in the Tent of the Testimony.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Then Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the testimony.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Moses laid up the rods before Jehovah in the tent of the testimony.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Moses laid the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And Moses layde the rods before the Lord in the Tabernacle of the Testimonie.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Moses laid the staves before Jehovah in the tent of the testimony.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and Moses placeth the rods before Jehovah, in the tent of the testimony.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and Moses places the rods before YHWH in the Tent of the Testimony.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(17:22) And Moses laid down the staves before the Lord in the tabernacle of the testimony.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then Moses deposited the staffs before Yahweh in the tent of the covenant decrees.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And when Moses had laid them up before the Lord in the tabernacle of the testimony:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Moses placed the walking sticks before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And Moses put the rods before the Lord in the Tent of witness.

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.

וַandclauseverbיַּנַּ֥חhe.depositedsubjectמֹשֶׁ֛הMosesnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseהַtheמַּטֹּ֖תrodsprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִbeforenoun phraseפְנֵ֣ייְהוָ֑הYahwehprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseאֹ֖הֶלthe.tentnoun phraseהָofעֵדֻֽתthe.testimony

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text states: וַיַּנַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־ הַמַּטֹּ֖ת לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה בְּאֹ֖הֶל הָעֵדֻֽת׃. The Septuagint closely matches this wording, with 7 of the 8 words aligned. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs by including the word יראה (see), indicating a variation in the text's emphasis.

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

וַיַּנַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־ הַמַּטֹּ֖ת לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה בְּאֹ֖הֶל הָעֵדֻֽת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיַּנַּ֥חἐγένετοמֹשֶׁ֛הἐνהַמַּטֹּ֖תσυναγωγὴνלִפְנֵ֣יμωυσῆνיְהוָ֑הκαὶבְּאֹ֖הֶלααρωνהָעֵדֻֽת׃ὥρμησαν

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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ויהי בהקהל העדה על משׁה ועל אהרן ויפנו אל אהל מועד והנה כסהו הענן ויראה כבוד יהוה

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: יראה (see)

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.

Numbers 17:7נוּחַand he depoand he depositeנוּחַמֹשֶׁהMosesMosesמֹשֶׁהאֵתthe object the object markאֵתמַטֶּהthe rodsthe rodsמַטֶּהפָּנֶהbeforebeforeפָּנֶהיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהאֹ֫הֶלin [the] tein [the] tent oאֹ֫הֶלעֵדוּתthe testimothe testimonyעֵדוּתמָשָׁהto drawto drawמָשָׁהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתנָטָהto stretchto stretchנָטָהפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָההָיָהto beto beהָיָהאָהַלto shineto shineאָהַליָנוּםJanimJanimיָנוּםעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵדשָׁקַטto quietto quietשָׁקַטחֵמָהragerageחֵמָהאַהֲרֹןAaronAaronאַהֲרֹןצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁנָשִׂיאleaderleaderנָשִׂיאסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָא
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 Numbers 17:7

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.

and he deposited Moses the object marker the rods before Yahweh in [the] tent of the testimony
וַיַּנַּ֥חvai.ya.Nach and he deposited H5117 Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
142× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To rest means to settle down and remain in one place, and can be used literally or figuratively. This verb appears in many parts of the Bible, including Exodus 20:11 and Matthew 11:28.
Tyndale gloss
to rest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נוּחַ (nuwach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rest or settle down. It encompasses a wide range of applications, including both literal and figurative uses, such as to dwell, be quiet, or let something remain. The verb can appear in various forms, indicating actions like causing rest or allowing to depart. It is noted for its versatility in expressing different aspects of rest and stillness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נוּחַ vb. rest

Qal

rest, settle down and remain

repose, be quiet, have rest

Hiph.

cause to rest = give rest to

cause to rest (i.e. light) upon

lay or set down, deposit, let lie

let remain, leave (in present condition)

leave = depart from

abandon

let alone (refrain from interfering with)

permit

Hoph.

no rest is granted to us

as subst. = space left, open space

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5117 נוּחַ rest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5117 nuwach noo'-akh

a primitive root; to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great

variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive,

transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, let fall, place, let

alone, withdraw, give comfort, etc.):--cease, be confederate,

lay, let down, (be) quiet, remain, (cause to, be at, give,

have, make to) rest, set down. Compare 3241.

see HEBREW for 03241

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נוּחַ (nu.ach) — to rest.

1) to rest

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to rest, settle down and remain

1a2) to repose, have rest, be quiet

1b) (Hiph)

1b1) to cause to rest, give rest to, make quiet

1b2) to cause to rest, cause to alight, set down

1b3) to lay or set down, deposit, let lie, place

1b4) to let remain, leave

1b5) to leave, depart from

1b6) to abandon

1b7) to permit

1c) (Hoph)

1c1) to obtain rest, be granted rest

1c2) to be left, be placed

1c3) open space (subst)

Also means: ya.nach (יָנַח "to rest" H3240)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vhw3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vhw3ms
and he deposited Moses the object marker the rods before Yahweh in [the] tent of the testimony
מֹשֶׁ֛הmo.Sheh Moses H4872 Noun proper masculine
766× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Moses, the Israelite leader, was born to Amram and Jochebed and led the Exodus from Egypt. He received the law from God and is considered a key figure in the Bible. Moses means 'drawn' in Hebrew.
Amplified meaning
the leader of the Israelites
Tyndale gloss
Moses
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh) refers to Moses, the prominent Hebrew leader, prophet, and lawgiver. The name is derived from the root meaning 'drawing out,' indicating his rescue from water. He is a key figure in the Old Testament, first mentioned in Exodus 2:10, and is known for leading the Israelites during the Exodus.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֹשֶׁה 767 n.pr.m. Moses, the great Hebrew leader, prophet and lawgiver

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4872 מֹשֶׁה Moses, the great Hebrew leader, prophet and lawgiver

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4872 Mosheh mo-sheh'

from 4871; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh,

the Israelite lawgiver:--Moses.

see HEBREW for 04871

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֹשֶׁה (mo.sheh) — Moses.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.2.10;

son of: Amram (H6019) and Jochebed (H3115);

brother of: Aaron (H0175) and Miriam (H4813); married to Zipporah (H6855);

father of: Gershom (H1647) and Eliezer (H0461H); also called Manasseh at Jdg.18.30(?)

§ Moses = "drawn"

the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mo'-zez, mo'-ziz (mosheh; Egyptian mes, "drawn out," "born"; Septuagint Mouse(s)). The great Hebrew national hero, leader, author, law-giver and prophet.

I. LIFE

1. Son of Levi

2. Foundling Prince

3. Friend of the People

4. Refuge in Midian

5. Leader of Israel

II. WORK AND CHARACTER

1. The Author

2. The Lawgiver

3. The Prophet

LITERATURE

The traditional view of the Jewish church and of the Christian church, that Moses was a person and that the narrative with which his life-story is interwoven is real history, is in the main sustained by commentators and critics of all classes.

It is needless to mention the old writers among whom these questions were hardly under discussion. Among the advocates of the current radical criticism may be mentioned Stade and Renan, who minimize the historicity of the Bible narrative at this point. Renan thinks the narrative "may be very probable." Ewald, Wellhausen…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Moses

Drawn (or Egypt. mesu, “son;” hence Rameses, royal son). On the invitation of Pharaoh (Gen. 45:17-25), Jacob and his sons went down into Egypt. This immigration took place probably about 350 years before the birth of Moses. Some centuries before Joseph, Egypt had been conquered by a pastoral Semitic race from Asia, the Hyksos, who brought into cruel subjection the native Egyptians, who were an African race. Jacob and his retinue were accustomed to a shepherd’s life, and on their arrival in Egypt were received with favour by the king, who assigned them the “best of the land”, the land of Goshen, to dwell in. The Hyksos or “shepherd” king who thus showed favour to Joseph and his family was in all probability the Pharaoh Apopi (or Apopis).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Heb. Mosheh , "drawn," i.e. from the water; in the Coptic it means "saved from the water"), the legislator of the Jewish people, and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion. The immediate pedigree of Moses is as follows: Levi was the father of: Gershon -- Kohath -- Merari Kohath was the father of: Amram = Jochebed Amram = Jochebed was the father of: Hur = Miriam -- Aaron = Elisheba -- Moses = Zipporah Aaron = Elisheba was the father of: Nadab -- Abihu -- Eleazar -- Ithamar Eleazar was the father of: Phineas Moses = Zipporah was the father of: Gershom -- Eliezer Gershom was the father of: Jonathan The history of Moses naturally divides itself into three periods of 40 years each. Moses was born at Goshen, In Egypt, B.C. 1571. The story of his birth is thoroughly Egyptian in its scene. His mother made extraordinary efforts for his preservation from the general destruction of…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The name of the illustrious prophet and legislator of the Hebrews, who led them from Egypt to the Promised Land. Having been originally imposed by a native Egyptian princess, the word is no doubt Egyptian in its origin, and Josephus gives its true derivation—from the two Egyptian words, MO, water, and USE, saved. With this accords the Septuagint form, MOUSES. The Hebrews by a slight change accommodated it to their own language, as they did also in the case of some other foreign words; calling it MOSHIE, from the verb MASHA, to draw. See Ex 2:10. Moses was born about 15.71 B. C., the son of Amram and Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi, and the younger brother of Miriam and Aaron. His history is too extensive to permit insertion here, and in general too well known to need it. It is enough simply to remark, that it is divided into three…

and he deposited Moses the object marker the rods before Yahweh in [the] tent of the testimony
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he deposited Moses the object marker the rods before Yahweh in [the] tent of the testimony
הַמַּטֹּ֖תha.ma.Tot the rods H4294 Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
252× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word can mean a tribe, like the 12 tribes of Israel, or a staff, like the one Moses used to lead his people in Exodus 4:2.
Tyndale gloss
tribe
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַטֶּה (mat-teh) refers to a staff, rod, or branch, and can also denote a tribe. It is derived from a root meaning to extend, and its uses include both literal and figurative meanings, such as a support or a means of correction. The lexicons consistently highlight its association with leadership and community.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַטֶּה 251 n.m.

staff, rod, shaft

branch

tribe

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4294 מַטֶּה . staff, rod, shaft

. branch

. tribe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4294 matteh mat-teh'

or (feminine) mattah {mat-taw'}; from 5186; a branch (as

extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for

chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre),

throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a

support of life, e.g. bread):--rod, staff, tribe.

see HEBREW for 05186

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַטֶּה (mat.teh) — tribe: rod.

: rod/staff

1) staff, branch, tribe

1a) staff, rod, shaft

1b) branch (of vine)

1c) tribe

1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

מַטֶּה (mat.teh) — tribe.

: tribe

1) staff, branch, tribe

1a) staff, rod, shaft

1b) branch (of vine)

1c) tribe

1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

מַטֶּה (mat.teh) — tribe: arrow.

: arrow

1) staff, branch, tribe

1a) staff, rod, shaft

1b) branch (of vine)

1c) tribe

1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

מַטֶּה (mat.teh) — tribe: stick.

: stick

1) staff, branch, tribe

1a) staff, rod, shaft

1b) branch (of vine)

1c) tribe

1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

מַטֶּה (mat.teh) — tribe: supply.

: supply

1) staff, branch, tribe

1a) staff, rod, shaft

1b) branch (of vine)

1c) tribe

1c1) company led by chief with staff (originally)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncfpa — Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
HTd/Ncfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics
and he deposited Moses the object marker the rods before Yahweh in [the] tent of the testimony
לִפְנֵ֣יlif.Nei before H6440 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
2,127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces

face, faces

presence, person

technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

face of seraphim

face of animals

face (= surface) of ground

as adv.loc. before

for other phrases

with prepositions

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces

. . presence, person

. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

. face of seraphim

. face of animals

. face (= surface) of ground

. as adv. loc. before

. for other phrases

. with prepositions

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6440 paniym paw-neem'

plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh

{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);

used in a great variety of applications (literally and

figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a

preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),

against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),

+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,

face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er

time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +

honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +

meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,

open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,

presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right

forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,

X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.

: before/to/front

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.

: face

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmpc — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
HR/Ncmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-for': The translation of a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. "Haran died before (the English Revised Version "in the presence of," literally "before the face of") his father Terah" (Ge 11:28). To be "before" God is to enjoy His favor (Ps 31:22). "The Syrians before" (Isa 9:12 the Revised Version, margin "on the east," as "behind," owing to the position of Canaan, relative to Syria, implies the west).

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he deposited Moses the object marker the rods before Yahweh in [the] tent of the testimony
יְהוָ֑הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, the Lord God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he deposited Moses the object marker the rods before Yahweh in [the] tent of the testimony
בְּאֹ֖הֶלbe.'O.hel in [the] tent of H168 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
345× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a tent, often used to describe the tabernacle or a nomad's home. In Exodus 33:7-11, it refers to the sacred tent where God meets with Moses.
Amplified meaning
tabernacle, sacred dwelling
Tyndale gloss
tent
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֹ֫הֶל (*ohel*) means 'tent' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be conspicuous.' It encompasses various meanings, including a nomad's tent, a dwelling or home, and specifically refers to the sacred tent used for worship, known as the tabernacle. The entries consistently highlight its association with transience and habitation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֹ֫הֶל 343 n.m. tent

tent of nomad

dwelling, habitation

the sacred tent used in worship of God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H168 אֹ֫הֶל tent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

168 'ohel o'-hel

from 166; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a

distance):--covering, (dwelling)(place), home, tabernacle,

tent.

see HEBREW for 0166

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹ֫הֶל (o.hel) — tent.

: tent

1) tent

1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience

1b) dwelling, home, habitation

1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle)

Also means: o.hel (אֹ֫הֶל ": home" H0168H)

אֹ֫הֶל (o.hel) — tent: home.

: home

1) tent

1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience

1b) dwelling, home, habitation

1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/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 he deposited Moses the object marker the rods before Yahweh in [the] tent of the testimony
הָעֵדֻֽת׃ha.'e.Dut the testimony H5715 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
61× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a testimony or witness, often referring to God's laws or instructions. It is used in several books, including Exodus and Deuteronomy, to describe God's guidance. The word emphasizes the importance of following God's laws.
Tyndale gloss
testimony
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵדוּת (eduwth) is a feminine noun meaning 'testimony' or 'witness.' It is derived from the root word עֵד (ed), which also relates to the concept of testimony. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing its significance in legal and religious settings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵדוּת 19 and עֵדֻת 27 n.f. testimony

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5715 עֵדוּת, עֵדֻת testimony

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5715 `eduwth ay-dooth'

feminine of 5707; testimony:--testimony, witness.

see HEBREW for 05707

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵדוּת (e.dut) — testimony.

testimony

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncfsa — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Testimony

(1.) Witness or evidence (2 Thess. 1:10).

(2.) The Scriptures, as the revelation of God’s will (2 Kings 11:12; Ps. 19:7; 119:88; Isa. 8:16, 20).

(3.) The altar raised by the Gadites and Reubenites (Josh. 22:10).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The whole revelation of God, testifying to man what he is to believe, do, and hope, Ps 19:7 119:88,99 1Co 1:6 Re 1:2. The two stone tables of the law were a visible "testimony" or witness of God’s covenant with his people; and hence the ark of the covenant was called sometimes the testimony, or the ark of the testimony, Ex 25:22 34:29. See ARK.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ LEGAL

See EVIDENCE

See WITNESSES

Ark of

See ARK

→ RELIGIOUS 1Ch 16:8,9; Ps 9:11; 18:49; 26:6,7; 119:27,172; 145:11,12; Isa 12:4-6; 32:4; 43:10; 44:8; 45:24; Jer 51:10; Mt 5:15; 10:32; Mr 4:21; 5:16,19,20; Lu 8:16,38,39; 12:8,9; 24:48; Joh 4:28-30,39,41,42; 15:27; Ac 1:8,22; Ro 10:9,10; 1Co 1:5,6; 12:3…

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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