Joshua 18:26

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

והמצפה וְהַמִּצְפֶּה

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wə

Definition

and

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

The conjunctive ו is not merely a fixed coordinator with a stable semantic value (“and/but/or/then”). Its core function is linkage, not meaning. It binds units into a single discourse field—phrases, clauses, or whole scenes—while leaving the logical relation to be inferred from aspect, word order, genre, and context.

So the variability in translation (“and / but / or / even / then”) is not polyvalence in the particle; it is underspecification by design. The language expects the reader/hearer to perceive the relation rather than have it encoded.

Crucially, conjunctive ו does not imply temporal sequence. It implies continuity of attention. Think of it as:
- “this belongs with what precedes,”
- “remain within the same frame,”
“do not reset the discourse.”
This is why Hebrew can chain dozens of clauses with ו without subordination or explicit logic markers. The text advances by accumulation, not by branching syntactic trees. Meaning arises from the interaction:
- Aspect (qatal / yiqtol / participle),
- Position (fronted elements, resumptive nouns),
- Genre (law, narrative, oracle),
- Context (who speaks, to whom).
The ו simply keeps the circuit closed so these cues can operate together. Remove tense assumptions, and the system becomes coherent.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

ה

Definition

the

Root

Demonstrative primitive

Exhaustive

definite article, the, used for all numbers and genders; originally a pronoun demonstrative, this. interrogative particle in direct and indirect questions; in disjunctive questions: whether--or.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

מצפה

Mitspâh

Definition

Mitspah, the name of two places in Palestine

Root

feminine of H4708 (מצפה);

Exhaustive

feminine of מצפה; Mitspah, the name of two places in Palestine; Mitspah. (This seems rather to be only an orthographic variation of מצפה when 'in pause'.)

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H4709

מצפה

Mitspeh

Definition

Mitspeh, the name of five places in Palestine

Root

the same as H4707 (מצפה);

Exhaustive

the same as מצפה; Mitspeh, the name of five places in Palestine; Mizpeh, watch tower. Compare מצפה.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H4708

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

מִצְפָּה

proper noun • Root צפה • Strongs / High • Page 896

An appellative meaning mountain-watch. A proper noun for different elevated localities, such as one in Benjamin where there was a sanctuary where the sacred lots were cast.

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

מִצְפֶּה

masculine noun / proper noun • Root צפה • Strongs / High • Page 896

1. a mountain-fort, a watch-tower, on which a scout or watchman stands. 2. As a proper noun for many elevated, fort-like localities, often determined by context (e.g., watch-tower of Moab, watch-tower of Gilead).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

מִצְפֶּה

noun masculine • Root צפה • Page 400

1. a high place affording an extensive prospect, a watch-tower. Is. 21:8. 2 Chr. 20:24. 2. proper name (1.) of a city in the plain of the tribe of Judah. Josh. 15:38. (2.) of a city in Moab. 1 Sam. 22:3. (3.) of a valley in the region of mount Libanus. Josh. 11:8. (4.) of a city in the tribe of Gad. (5.) of a city in the tribe of Benjamin. Josh. 18:26.

מִצְפָּה

noun proper • Root צפה • Page 400

(a high place, watch-tower.) 1. proper name of a place in Gilead, beyond Jordan. Judg. 10:17. 2. also of a place in the tribe of Benjamin, where assemblies of the people were often held. Josh. 18:26. Judg. 10:1. King Asa strengthened it for a frontier fortification against the kingdom of Israel, 1 K. 15:22.

Conjunction, Particle definite article, Noun proper name

LXX: μασσηφα μασσηφαθ ''

LXX Usage Statistics

H4709:

μασσηφα 19× (42.4%)

μασσηφαθ 9× (20.5%)

'' 4× (8.9%)

H4708:

No stats available

והכפירה וְהַכְּפִירָה

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wə

Definition

and

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

The conjunctive ו is not merely a fixed coordinator with a stable semantic value (“and/but/or/then”). Its core function is linkage, not meaning. It binds units into a single discourse field—phrases, clauses, or whole scenes—while leaving the logical relation to be inferred from aspect, word order, genre, and context.

So the variability in translation (“and / but / or / even / then”) is not polyvalence in the particle; it is underspecification by design. The language expects the reader/hearer to perceive the relation rather than have it encoded.

Crucially, conjunctive ו does not imply temporal sequence. It implies continuity of attention. Think of it as:
- “this belongs with what precedes,”
- “remain within the same frame,”
“do not reset the discourse.”
This is why Hebrew can chain dozens of clauses with ו without subordination or explicit logic markers. The text advances by accumulation, not by branching syntactic trees. Meaning arises from the interaction:
- Aspect (qatal / yiqtol / participle),
- Position (fronted elements, resumptive nouns),
- Genre (law, narrative, oracle),
- Context (who speaks, to whom).
The ו simply keeps the circuit closed so these cues can operate together. Remove tense assumptions, and the system becomes coherent.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

ה

Definition

the

Root

Demonstrative primitive

Exhaustive

definite article, the, used for all numbers and genders; originally a pronoun demonstrative, this. interrogative particle in direct and indirect questions; in disjunctive questions: whether--or.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

כפירה

Kᵉphîyrâh

Definition

Kephirah, a place in Palestine

Root

feminine of H3715 (כפיר); the village (always with the art.);

Exhaustive

feminine of כפיר; the village (always with the art.); Kephirah, a place in Palestine; Chephirah.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3716

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

כְּפִירָה

noun proper • Strongs / High • Page 726

A village or hamlet; a proper name of a place of the Hivites, now called Kefir.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

כְּפִירָה

proper name • Page 326

Proper name of a city of the Hivites, which was allotted to the tribe of Benjamin. As an appellative, i. q. כְּפָר a village. (Josh. 9:17; 18:26; Ezra 2:25; Neh. 7:29).

Conjunction, Particle definite article, Noun proper name

LXX: καφιρα

LXX Usage Statistics

H3716:

καφιρα 2× (54.1%)

והמצה וְהַמֹּצָה׃

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wə

Definition

and

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

The conjunctive ו is not merely a fixed coordinator with a stable semantic value (“and/but/or/then”). Its core function is linkage, not meaning. It binds units into a single discourse field—phrases, clauses, or whole scenes—while leaving the logical relation to be inferred from aspect, word order, genre, and context.

So the variability in translation (“and / but / or / even / then”) is not polyvalence in the particle; it is underspecification by design. The language expects the reader/hearer to perceive the relation rather than have it encoded.

Crucially, conjunctive ו does not imply temporal sequence. It implies continuity of attention. Think of it as:
- “this belongs with what precedes,”
- “remain within the same frame,”
“do not reset the discourse.”
This is why Hebrew can chain dozens of clauses with ו without subordination or explicit logic markers. The text advances by accumulation, not by branching syntactic trees. Meaning arises from the interaction:
- Aspect (qatal / yiqtol / participle),
- Position (fronted elements, resumptive nouns),
- Genre (law, narrative, oracle),
- Context (who speaks, to whom).
The ו simply keeps the circuit closed so these cues can operate together. Remove tense assumptions, and the system becomes coherent.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

ה

Definition

the

Root

Demonstrative primitive

Exhaustive

definite article, the, used for all numbers and genders; originally a pronoun demonstrative, this. interrogative particle in direct and indirect questions; in disjunctive questions: whether--or.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

מצה

Môtsâh

Definition

Motsah, a place in Palestine

Root

active participle feminine of H4680 (מצה); drained;

Exhaustive

active participle feminine of מצה; drained; Motsah, a place in Palestine; Mozah.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H4681

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

מֹצָה

noun proper • Root מצה • Strongs / High • Page 894

(place of reeds, from מָצָה to swallow, to suck in) noun proper of a place in Benjamin.

Conjunction, Particle definite article, Noun proper name

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H4681:

No stats available

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And Mizpeh and Chephirah, and Mozah,

LITV Translation:
and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
and Massema, and Miron, and Amoke;