Numbers 33:30 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽחַשְׁמֹנָ֑ה וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּמֹסֵרֽוֹת׃
BSAThey set outnâçaʻ▸ [journeyed, departed, traveled] from HashmonahChashmônâh [a place of fatness] and campedchânâh▸ [encamped, pitched their tents, settled] at MoserothMôwçêrâh [near Mount Hor, in the desert]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּסְע֖וּ | and they set out | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| מֵֽחַשְׁמֹנָ֑ה | from Hashmoneh | Preposition, noun proper |
| וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ | and they encamped | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| בְּמֹסֵרֽוֹת׃ | at Moseroth | Preposition, noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth. |
| KJV | And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth. |
| ASV | And they journeyed from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth. |
| YLT | and they journey from Hashmonah, and encamp in Moseroth. |
| WEB | They traveled from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth. |
| BBE | And they went on from Hashmonah, and put up their tents in Moseroth. |
The translations agree on the actions of setting out and encamping.
The sentence consists of two main clauses connected by 'and', detailing the actions of setting out and camping.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, AdamClarke, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָסַע
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 33:30
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 Journey of the Israelitesgenerated
Numbers 33:30 describes a stage in the Israelites' wilderness journey, highlighting their movements from one campsite to another. This verse is part of a larger narrative detailing the various locations where the Israelites camped during their travels, emphasizing the importance of each stop along the way as they journeyed toward the Promised Land.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 10:5 | and I went back down the mountain and placed the tablets in the ark I had made, as the LORD had commanded me; and there they have remained. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נָסַע, vai.yis.'Ugenerated
The verb נָסַע (nasá) means to set out or start a journey. It conveys the action of departing or moving away from a place, which is crucial in the context of the Israelites' travels. The parsing as a sequential imperfect indicates ongoing action, showing that this journey is part of a series of movements.
This word encompasses both the physical act of setting out and the broader concept of embarking on a journey. The Israelites' departure from Hashmonah signifies a continuation of their pilgrimage through the wilderness.
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 main verbs in this verse are וַיִּסְע֖וּ (and they set out) and וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ (and they encamped), which govern the actions of the subjects. The structure is straightforward, with the verbs leading the clauses that describe the locations.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the actions of setting out and encamping, reflecting the sequence of events in the Israelites' journey.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew נָסַע is rendered as ἀπῆραν (they departed), which captures the essence of setting out on a journey. This choice reflects a similar meaning but may emphasize the act of leaving more than the physical journey itself.
The translation of חָנָה as παρενέβαλον (they encamped) also aligns with the idea of establishing a temporary dwelling, consistent with the Hebrew meaning.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 33:30 tells us that the Israelites set out from a place called Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth. This movement is part of their journey through the wilderness, where they traveled from one significant location to another as they made their way to the Promised Land.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Hashmonah means 'a place of fatness' and was one of the locations where the Israelites camped during their journey in the wilderness.
Moseroth was a significant stopping point for the Israelites, located near Mount Hor, where Aaron died. It served as a place for rest and preparation for their continued journey.
The journey of the Israelites through the wilderness is significant as it represents their transition from slavery in Egypt to freedom and the eventual entry into the Promised Land.
This verse is part of a larger account detailing the various locations where the Israelites camped, highlighting the importance of each stop along their journey and God's guidance throughout.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What do you think it means to set out on a journey, both physically and spiritually?
- How can we learn from the Israelites' experiences in the wilderness as we navigate our own lives?
- What are some significant 'stopping points' in your life where you have felt God's guidance?
- In what ways can we prepare ourselves for the journeys we face, just as the Israelites did?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Origen of Alexandria comments on the significance of the Israelites' journey, interpreting the locations they traveled through as spiritually meaningful stages in their pilgrimage.
Now from here a stage is made at Mesoroth [Moseroth], which is thought to mean “shutting out.” What do they shut out? Doubtless the wicked suggestions of the opposing spirit from their thoughts.Early Church Fathers on Numbers 33 →
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 33:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleVer. 30-31. And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth. Thirty two miles from Hashmonah.
Read John Gill on Numbers 33 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibroth-hatta'avah. Kibroth-hattaavah - the graves of lust .
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 33 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleSTAT. XXVI. Verse 30. MOSEROTH.] Situation unknown. In Deuteronomy 10:6 it is said that the Israelites took their journey from Beeroth, the wells of the children of Jaakan, to Mosera, and there Aaron died. If so, Mosera, Moseroth, and Hor, must be different names of the same place; or Moseroth, or Mosera, must have been some town or village near Mount Hor, for there Aaron died. See Numbers 33:38.
Read AdamClarke on Numbers 33 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleTHE OF THE , Numbers 33:1-49.Having reached the Land of Promise, and taken possession of its eastern portion, it is proper that the history of the desert wandering should close with a list of
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 33 →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
They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
They traveled from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth.
They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
They traveled from Hashmonah and camped in Moseroth.
Tyndale line
And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth.
And they journeyed from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth.
And they journeyed from Hashmonah, and pitched in Moseroth.
And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth.
And they departed from Hashmonah, and lay in Moseroth.
Strictly literal
And they removed from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth.
and they journey from Hashmonah, and encamp in Moseroth.
And they journey from Hashmonah and encamp in Moseroth.
And they removed from Chashmonah, and encamped in Mosseroth.
They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
From the Latin
And departing from Hesmona, they came to Moseroth.
Simplified
They moved on from Hashmonah and set up camp at Moseroth.
And they went on from Hashmonah, and put up their tents in Moseroth.
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 states, "They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth," using the Hebrew words וַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽחַשְׁמֹנָ֑ה וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּמֹסֵרֽוֹת. The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, although its word order and articles differ. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using the form חשׁמונה (Hashmonah) instead of the Masoretic Text's form. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain variations in the spelling of Hashmonah, appearing as מחשמנה in one manuscript and as מחשמונה in another, but both agree on the overall structure of the verse with minor editorial restorations noted. Overall, the core message remains consistent across these ancient witnesses, with slight variations in wording.
וַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽחַשְׁמֹנָ֑ה וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּמֹסֵרֽוֹת׃
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.
ויסעו מחשׁמונה ויחנו במסרות
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: חשׁמונה (Hashmonah)
[ויסעו] [מחשמנה] [ויחנו] [במסרות]
nothing on the leather here — 4 supplied entire by an editor.
[ויסעו] [מחשמונה] [ויחנו] [במוסרות]
nothing on the leather here — 4 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 33:30
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.
נָסַע (naca`) means to pull out or up, particularly in the context of setting out on a journey. It encompasses actions like departing, marching, and removing, with nuances related to both physical movement and the wind. The word can also imply causing someone or something to set out or be led away.
נָסַע 147 vb. pull out or up, set out, journey
Qal 137
pull out or up
hence (from pulling up tent-pegs),
set out
depart
journey, march (by stages)
of wind
Niph. be pulled up, removed
Hiph.
cause to set out, lead out
remove
base
H5265 נָסַע pull out or up, set out, journey .. pull out or up
. hence (from pulling up tent-pegs), . set out
. depart
. journey, march (by stages)
. of wind
. be pulled up, removed
. . cause to set out, lead out
. remove
5265 naca` naw-sah'
a primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the
tent-pins, i.e. start on a journey:--cause to blow, bring,
get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward, out), (take)
journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), X still, be on
his (go their) way.
נָסַע (na.sa) — to set out.
1) to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pull out or up
1a2) to set out, depart
1a3) to journey, march
1a4) to set forth (of wind)
1b) (Niphal) to be pulled up, be removed, be plucked up
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to set out, lead out, cause to spring up
1c2) to remove, quarry
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
חַשְׁמֹנָה (Chashmonah) refers to a location mentioned in the wilderness journeys of Israel, described as a station. The name is derived from a root meaning 'fertile' or 'fatness.' The entries consistently identify it as a place, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
חַשְׁמֹנָה n.pr.loc. a station of Isr. in wilderness
base
H2832 חַשְׁמֹנָה
2832 Chashmonah khash-mo-naw'
feminine of 2831; fertile; Chasmonah, a place in the
Desert:--Hashmonah.
see HEBREW for 02831
חַשְׁמֹנָה (chash.mo.nah) — Hashmonah.
§ Hashmonah = "fatness"
a station of Israel in the wilderness
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
חָנָה (chanah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to decline, bend down, or encamp. It conveys the idea of inclining or settling, particularly in the context of pitching a tent or establishing a temporary dwelling. The word appears in various forms, including the act of encamping or laying siege. It is associated with the imagery of the evening's slanting rays and the conclusion of a day's journey.
חָנָה 143 vb. decline, bend down, encamp
Qal
decline, of day drawing to its close
encamp (prop. verge toward, incline to, settle at, of goal of day’s march)
base
H2583 חָנָה decline, bend down, encamp
2583 chanah khaw-naw'
a primitive root (compare 2603); properly, to incline; by
implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);
specifically, to pitch a tent; gen. to encamp (for abode or
siege):--abide (in tents), camp, dwell, encamp, grow to an
end, lie, pitch (tent), rest in tent.
see HEBREW for 02603
חָנָה (cha.nah) — to camp.
1) to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to decline
1a2) to encamp
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
מוֹסֵרָה (Mowcerah) refers to a location in the wilderness where Aaron died, with the name possibly meaning 'bonds.' It appears in Deuteronomy 10:6 and Numbers 33:30-31. The word has a plural form, מֹסֵרוֹת (Moseroth), which is also linked to the same site.
H4149a מוֹסֵרָה station of Isr. in wilderness, where Aaron died H4149b מֹסֵרוֹת id. [4149a]
4149 Mowcerah mo-say-raw'
or (plural) Mocrowth {mo-ser-othe'} feminine of 4147;
correction or corrections; Moserah or Moseroth, a place in the
Desert:--Mosera, Moseroth.
see HEBREW for 04147
מוֹסֵרָה (mo.se.rah) — Moserah.
§ Mosera or Moseroth = "bonds"
a place near Mount Hor where Aaron died
מֹסֵרוֹת (mo.se.rot) — Moseroth.
§ Mosera or Moseroth = "bonds"
a place near Mount Hor where Aaron died
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
Moseroth
Bonds, one of the stations in the wilderness (Num. 33:30, 31), probably the same as Mosera.
→ An encampment of the Israelites Nu 33:30,31