Numbers 24:5 — Word Study
WLCמַה־ טֹּ֥בוּ אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
BSAHowmâh [extremely, wonderfully] lovely areṭôwb■ [goodly, beautiful, pleasing] your tentsʼôhel [nomadic homes, tabernacles] O JacobYaʻăqôb [the son of Isaac, a key figure] your dwellingsmishkân [places of rest, habitations] O IsraelYisrâʼêl [the descendants of Jacob, God's chosen people]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מַה־ | how! | Pronoun |
| טֹּ֥בוּ | they are good | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ | tents your | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| יַעֲקֹ֑ב | O Jacob | Noun proper masculine |
| מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָ | dwelling places your | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | O Israel | Noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! |
| KJV | How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! |
| ASV | How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel! |
| YLT | How good have been thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel; |
| WEB | How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel! |
| BBE | How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your houses, O Israel! |
Where they part company is in the rendering of טֹּ֥בוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of two main clauses, each praising different aspects of Israel's dwellings.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbטוֹב
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 24:5
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 Prophecy of Balaamgenerated
Numbers 24:5 is part of Balaam's prophecy, where he expresses admiration for the dwellings of Jacob and Israel. This verse captures the essence of God's blessing upon His chosen people, highlighting their beauty and significance in the eyes of the speaker. The context reveals a larger narrative about God's plans for Israel, emphasizing their favored status among the nations.
Cross References
The Key Word — טֹּ֥בוּ, Tougenerated
The word טוֹב (tov) is a verb meaning 'to be good' or 'pleasing.' It is used here in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action that describes the inherent goodness of Jacob's tents and Israel's dwellings. This word is often associated with God's creation and His blessings, suggesting that these dwellings are not just physically appealing but also reflect divine favor.
In this context, the use of טוֹב emphasizes the positive attributes of the dwellings, suggesting they are not only good in a general sense but also beautiful and pleasing to God. This aligns with the broader theme of the blessings bestowed upon Israel.
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 verse consists of two main clauses, both praising the dwellings of Jacob and Israel. The finite verb טֹּ֥בוּ (they are good) governs the sentence, with the subject being the tents of Jacob and the dwellings of Israel. The structure emphasizes the beauty of these places through the use of exclamatory phrases.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the beauty of the dwellings right at the beginning, drawing the reader's attention to the significance of Jacob and Israel's homes.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates טֹּ֥בוּ as καλοί (beautiful), which aligns with the idea of loveliness and aesthetic appeal. This choice highlights the beauty of the dwellings in a way that resonates with the Greek-speaking audience.
The translation of אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ as σου (your) maintains the possessive nature of the original Hebrew, emphasizing the personal connection to Jacob's and Israel's homes.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 24:5 expresses admiration for the tents of Jacob and the dwellings of Israel, highlighting their beauty and significance. The verse reflects God's blessings upon His people, emphasizing that their homes are lovely and pleasing.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that the dwellings of Jacob (Israel) are favored by God and reflect beauty and goodness.
The beauty of the dwellings symbolizes the blessings and favor that God has bestowed upon His people.
It highlights Israel's chosen status and the significance of their homes as places of divine presence.
We can appreciate the importance of our own homes and communities as places where God's blessings are evident.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see God's blessings reflected in my own home?
- How can I appreciate the beauty and goodness in the places where I live?
- What does it mean to me that God considers His people’s dwellings lovely?
- How can I create a welcoming and beautiful environment for others?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 24:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHow goodly are thy tents, O Jacob,.... Not that the matter of which they were made was so rich, or their structure so admirable, but the order in which they were placed was so beautiful and
Read John Gill on Numbers 24 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHow goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! - a fine burst of admiration, expressed in highly poetical strains.
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 24 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsNumbers 24:5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, [and] thy tabernacles, O Israel!Ver. 5. How goodly are thy tents.] It fareth with a hypocrite, as with a surveyor of lands, that taketh an exact compass of other men’ s grounds, of which he shall never enjoy a foot. See Numbers 23:10.
Read John Trapp on Numbers 24 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3–9. Balaam’s first prophetic message. In its present form this consists of nine couplets and two triplets. But the text has undergone corruption, and perhaps there were originally eleven couplets.
Read Cambridge on Numbers 24 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible5. How goodly — Beauteous, delightful, profitable, and enduring. Thy tents — In the Greek, houses. The Church is called the tents of Jacob (Malachi 2:12) and the tents of Judah. Zechariah 12:7.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 24 →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
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!
How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!
‘How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwelling places, O Israel!
Tyndale line
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel!
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel!
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
How goodly are thy tentes, O Iaakob, and thine habitations, O Israel!
Strictly literal
How goodly are thy tents, Jacob, and thy tabernacles, Israel!
How good have been thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel;
How good have been your tents, O Jacob, || Your dwelling places, O Israel;
How beautiful are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwelling, O Israel!
How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, the place where you live, Israel!
From the Latin
How beautiful are thy tabernacles, O Jacob, and thy tents, O Israel!
Simplified
How well set out your tents are, Jacob; the places where you live, Israel!
How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your houses, O Israel!
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 is consistent with the Septuagint, with all six words matched. The Samaritan Pentateuch has one word differing: it includes the conjunction ו (and). The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, with some words supplied by an editor, but the key phrases align with the Masoretic Text.
מַה־ טֹּ֥בוּ אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
6 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.
מה טבו אהליך יעקב ומשׁכנתיך ישׂראל
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: ו (and)
[מה] [טובו] אוהלי׳כה [יעקוב] [משכנותי׳כה] [ישראל]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
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 24:5
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.
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
interr pron
1) what, how, of what kind
1a) (interrogative)
1a1) what?
1a2) of what kind
1a3) what? (rhetorical)
1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what
1b) (adverb)
1b1) how, how now
1b2) why
1b3) how! (exclamation)
1c) (with prep)
1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
1c2) because of what?
1c3) the like of what?
1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?
1c3b) for how long?
1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?
indef pron
2) anything, aught, what may
Part — PronounHPi
Represents various Hebrew and Greek words, interrogative, interjectional and relative. Its different uses refer to
(1) the manner or way, e.g. Ge 44:34, "How shall I go up to my father?" ('ekh); Mt 6:28, "how they grow" (pos); 1Co 15:35, "How are the dead raised?";
(2) degree, extent, frequently, "how great" (Da 4:3, mah; Mr 5:19, hosos, "how much"); "how many" (Mt 27:13, posos); "how much" (Ac 9:13, hosos); "how much more" (Mt 7:11, posos;
The Hebrew word טוֹב (tov) is a primitive root meaning to be good or pleasing in various senses, including being delightful, joyful, and beneficial. It covers a range of meanings from personal well-being to moral actions, as seen in its uses in the Old Testament. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations without significant disagreement.
טוֹב vb. pleasing, good
Qal
be pleasant, delightful
be glad, joyful
of rank, position, claim: art thou really better than Balak?
be well with, good for
be pleasing
Hiph. do well, act right
base
H2895 טוֹב pleasing, good .. be pleasant, delightful
. be glad, joyful
. of rank, position, claim: art thou really better than Balak?
. be well with, good for
. be pleasing
. do well, act right
2895 towb tobe
a primitive root, to be (transitively, do or make) good (or
well) in the widest sense:--be (do) better, cheer, be (do,
seem) good, (make) goodly, X please, (be, do, go, play) well.
טוֹב (tov) — be pleasing.
1) to be good, be pleasing, be joyful, be beneficial, be pleasant, be favourable, be happy, be right
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be pleasant, be delightful
1a2) to be glad, be joyful
1a3) to be better
1a4) to be well with, be good for
1a5) to be pleasing
1b) (Hiphil) to do well, do good, act right, act rightly
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.
(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:
(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).
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.
אֹ֫הֶל 343 n.m. tent
tent of nomad
dwelling, habitation
the sacred tent used in worship of God
base
H168 אֹ֫הֶל tent
168 'ohel o'-hel
from 166; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a
distance):--covering, (dwelling)(place), home, tabernacle,
tent.
see HEBREW for 0166
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)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp2ms
יַעֲקֹב (i.e. *Ya`aqob*) refers to Jacob, a key figure in the Old Testament. The word is derived from a root meaning 'heel-catcher' or 'supplanter.' Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, brother of Esau, and father of the twelve tribes of Israel. He is also known as Israel, highlighting his significance in biblical history.
יַעֲקֹב 344, יַעֲקוֹב 6 n.pr.m. et gent. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, father of tribes of Isr.
as n.pr.m.
as n.pr.gent.
base
H3290 יַעֲקֹב, יַעֲקוֹב Jacob
3290 Ya`aqob yah-ak-obe'
from 6117; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the
Israelitish patriarch:--Jacob.
see HEBREW for 06117
יַעֲקֹב (ya.a.qov) — Jacob.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;
son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);
brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);
father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently
Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478)
§ Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter"
son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Jacob
One who follows on another’s heels; supplanter, (Gen. 25:26; 27:36; Hos. 12:2-4), the second born of the twin sons of Isaac by Rebekah. He was born probably at Lahai-roi, when his father was fifty-nine and Abraham one hundred and fifty-nine years old. Like his father, he was of a quiet and gentle disposition, and when he grew up followed the life of a shepherd, while his brother Esau became an enterprising hunter. His dealing with Esau, however, showed much mean selfishness and cunning (Gen. 25:29-34).
When Isaac was about 160 years of age, Jacob and his mother conspired to deceive the aged patriarch (Gen. 27), with the view of procuring the transfer of the birthright to himself. The birthright secured to him who…
(supplanter), the second son of Isaac and Rebekah. He was born with Esau, probably at the well of Lahai-roi, about B.C. 1837. His history is related in the latter half of the book of Genesis. He bought the birthright from his brother Esau, and afterward acquired the blessing intended for Esau, by practicing a well-known deceit on Isaac. (Jacob did not obtain the blessing because of his deceit, but in spite of it. That which was promised he would have received in some good way; but Jacob and his mother, distrusting God’s promise, sought the promised blessing in a wrong way, and received with it trouble and sorrow. --ED.) Jacob, in his 78th year, was sent from the family home to avoid his brother, and to seek a wife among his kindred in Padan-aram. As he passed through Bethel, God appeared to him. After the lapse of twenty-one years he returned from Padan-aram with two wives, two…
Son of Isaac and Rebekah, and twin-brother to Esau. As at his birth he held his brother’s heel, he was called Jacob, that is, the heelholder, one who comes behind and catches the heel of his adversary, a supplanter, Ge 25:26. This was a king of predictive intimation of his future conduct in life. Jacob was meek and peaceable, living a shepherd life at home. Esau was more turbulent and fierce, and passionately fond of hunting. Isaac was partial to Esau, Rebekah to Jacob. Jacob having taken advantage of his brother’s absence and his father’s infirmity to obtain the blessing of the birthright, or primogeniture, was compelled to fly into Mesopotamia to avoid the consequences of his brother’s wrath, Ge 27:1-28:22. On his journey the Lord appeared to him in a dream, (see LADDER,)…
that supplants, undermines; the heel
מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan) means 'dwelling-place' or 'tabernacle.' It is derived from a root meaning to dwell and can refer to various types of residences, including the Tabernacle in the Old Testament. The term encompasses both literal and figurative meanings, such as a grave or the Temple.
מִשְׁכָּן 139 n.m. dwelling-place, ‘tabernacle’
base
H4908 מִשְׁכָּן dwelling-place, ‘tabernacle’
4908 mishkan mish-kawn'
from 7931; a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair
of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple);
specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden
walls):--dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle,
tent.
see HEBREW for 07931
מִשְׁכָּן (mish.kan) — tabernacle.
1) dwelling place, tabernacle
1a) dwelling-place
1b) dwellings
Aramaic equivalent: mish.kan (מִשְׁכַּן "habitation" H4907)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp2ms
יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) refers to both the second name of Jacob, meaning 'God prevails,' and the name of the Hebrew nation descended from him. It is derived from roots meaning 'to rule' and 'God.' The term encompasses Jacob's descendants and is used historically for the northern kingdom of Israel and the nation as a whole after the Babylonian exile.
יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)
n.pr.m. second name of Jacob
n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation
base
H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth) . n. pr. m. second name of Jacob
. n. pr. gent. name of Hebrew nation
3478 Yisra'el yis-raw-ale'
from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical
name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:
--Israel.
see HEBREW for 08280
see HEBREW for 0410
יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis.ra.el) — Israel.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;
son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);
brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);
father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently
§ Israel = "God prevails"
1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel
2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob
2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
iz'-ra-el.
See JACOB.
Israel
The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because “as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,” the “children of Israel” (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the “house of Israel” (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).
This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3;
(the prince that prevails with God). The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of…
Who prevails with God, a name given to Jacob, after having wrestled with the Angel-Jehovah at Penuel. Ge 32:1,2,28,30 Ho 12:3. See JACOB. By the name Israel is sometimes understood all the posterity of Israel, the seed of Jacob, 1Co 10:18; sometimes all true believers, his spiritual seed, Ro 9:6; and sometimes the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, as distinct from the kingdom of Judah.