Numbers 12:16

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

ואחר וְאַחַר

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

אחר

ʼachar

Definition

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

Root

from H309 (אחר);

Exhaustive

from אחר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H310

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אַחַר

noun masculine / adv. / preposition • Root אחר • Strongs_Numbers • Page 103

Properly hinder, later, after. Commonly used as: 1. An adverb of time (after, then, thereupon) or place (behind). 2. A preposition (after, behind). The construct state plural אַחֲרֵי (acharei) is frequently used as an adverb of time (afterward), an adverb of place/preposition (after, behind), or in a substantive meaning (hinder part, e.g., of a spear).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אַחֲרֵי

preposition • Root אחר • Page 41

after, as in Heb. Dan. 2:29.

אַחֲרֵי

adjective • Page 41

another. Dan. 2:39. 7:5, 6.

אַחַר

substantive / adv. / preposition • Page 40

1. originally a subst. the hinder part. 2 Sam. 2: 23. 2. adv. behind (Gen. 22: 13) or more frequently afterwards (Gen. 18: 5). 3. prep. (Plur. אַחֲרֵי) after, behind. Ex. 3: 1.

Conjunction, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0310a:

No stats available

נסעו נָסְעוּ

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

נסע

nâçaʻ

Definition

properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney; cause to blow, bring, get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward, out), (take) journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), [idiom] still, be on his (go their) way.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5265

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

נָסַע

verb • Root נסע • Strongs / High • Page 975

Properly to push away, to tear away, to pluck away. Hence to tear out (e.g., a tent-pin).

נָסַע

verb • Root נסע • Strongs / High • Page 976

to break up, a nomadic tent, metaphor. to move on, of men, warlike armies, pillar of fire, sacred tent, ark of the covenant; to migrate; to break up or depart, of shepherds with their flock. In derivatives also, to break off, to loosen, stones; to draw, to bend a bow; to rush on, to rush away.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

נָסַע

verb • Root נסע • Page 447

1. to tear out, to pluck up; e. g. the door-posts, Judg. 16:3, 14. 2. to break up, to remove, spoken of a nomadic horde. Gen. 35:16. 3. to march, journey, spoken of nomadic people, Gen. 12:9. Niph. to be broken up or removed. Is. 38:12. Hiph. to tear up, as a tree, Job 19:10; to let or cause to remove, Ex. 15:22; to lead, guide, Ps. 78:52.

Verb Qal perfect third person common plural

LXX: ἀπῆραν ἐξῆρεν ἀπῆρεν ἐξαροῦσιν ἀπάραντεσ

LXX Usage Statistics

H5265:

ἀπῆραν 52× (34.0%)

ἐξῆρεν 8× (5.9%)

ἀπῆρεν 8× (5.3%)

ἐξαροῦσιν 8× (5.2%)

ἀπάραντεσ 7× (4.8%)

ἐξῆραν 6× (3.8%)

--- 5× (3.8%)

ἀπαροῦσιν 4× (2.9%)

ἐξαίρειν 4× (2.0%)

ἀπάρατε 3× (1.9%)

העם הָעָם

the People

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

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

עם

ʻam

Definition

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

Root

from H6004 (עמם);

Exhaustive

from עמם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5971

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עַם

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1100

Properly union, association, community, congregation, company. Hence: 1. A people (including the Israelite people, different nations, mankind, inhabitants of a city, countrymen, a tribe, kindred, or family-stock). 2. The mass of the people, the populace, or lower people (opposed to leaders/rich). 3. A troop of animals.

עַם

noun m. • Root עמם • Strongs / High • Page 1101

People, the community, the mass of the people. Used along with אֻמָּה and גּוֹי.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

עַם

com. gen. • Page 512

a people, i. e. my people or country. Applied to animals, Prov. 30: 25, 26. Ps. 74: 14. Plur. עַמִּים (rarely in Chaldaic form עַמְמִים). Denotes the Jews as opposed to other nations (gentiles). Sometimes plur. stands for singular as Lev. 19: 16. נֶאֱסַף אֶל־עַמָּיו to be gathered to his people, i. e. to die.

עַם

chald. n. • Page 512

idem. Plur. עַמְמִין, emph. עַמְמַיָּא, Dan. 3 : 4, 7, 31. 5 : 19. 6 : 26. 7 : 14.

Particle definite article, Noun common both singular absolute

LXX: λαοῦ λαὸσ λαὸν λαῷ λαόν

LXX Usage Statistics

H5971a:

λαοῦ 347× (18.2%)

λαὸσ 338× (17.6%)

λαὸν 251× (13.2%)

λαῷ 173× (8.7%)

λαόν 170× (8.8%)

λαόσ 132× (6.8%)

ἐθνῶν 46× (2.5%)

'' 43× (2.2%)

--- 41× (2.5%)

ἔθνη 39× (2.2%)

מחצרות מֵחֲצֵרוֹת

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

מ

mi / min

Definition

from

Root

Abbreviated from H4480

Exhaustive

(mem) — from / out of

Core value: emergence, separation, derivation
מ does not merely indicate origin in time (“after”). It marks boundary-crossing:
- source,
- differentiation,
- contrast,
- extraction.
Aonically, מ indicates transition between states.
not “after X” but “out from within X.”
This is why מ can signal both cause and contrast: both involve standing on the far side of a boundary.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

חצרות

Chătsêrôwth

Definition

Chatseroth, a place in Palestine

Root

feminine plural of H2691 (חצר); yards;

Exhaustive

feminine plural of חצר; yards; Chatseroth, a place in Palestine; Hazeroth.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H2698

בן־חנן

Ben-Chânân

Definition

Ben-Chanan, an Israelite

Root

from H1121 (בן) and H2605 (חנן); son of Chanan;

Exhaustive

from בן and חנן; son of Chanan; Ben-Chanan, an Israelite; Ben-hanan.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1135

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

חֲצֵרוֹת

noun proper • Root חצר • Strongs / High • Page 521

(hamlets) n. p. of a station of the Israelites in the Arabian desert.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

בֶּן

noun • Root בר • Page 105

Chaldee form of son. Found only in the plural בְּנֵי, בְּנַיִן (the singular בַּר being used). Refers to 'the exiles' in Dan. 2:25 and 'bullocks' in Ezr. 6:9.

בֵּן

m. prim. • Root בנה בנה • Page 104

1. son, in the plural sons or children (Gen. 4:25; 43:29; 3:16; Deut. 4:10). This word is used in a very extended sense in Hebrew. 2. grandson, descendant (Gen. 29:5; 32:1). Includes various phrases: children's children (בְּנֵי בָנִים), children of Israel or Israelites (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל), inhabitants of nations such as Zion (בְּנֵי צִיּוֹן) or Greeks (Joel 4:6). 3. pupil, disciple, follower, worshipper of any one (1 K. 20:35; 2 K. 2:3, 5, 7, 15). Includes 'sons of the prophets' (בְּנֵי נְבִיאִים) and 'worshippers of God' (בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים). The didactic poet addresses the reader as 'my son' (Prov. 2:1, etc.). 4. a client, favourite; the Israelitish nation is called Jehovah's son (Ps. 80:16; Hos. 11:1; Ex. 4:22). 5. In combination with substantives expressing age, quality, or similar, it denotes one who has this age or quality (Gen. 5:32; Lev. 12:6; Jon. 4:10; Deut. 3:18); e.g., בֶּן־חַיִל (a man of courage), בֶּן־בְּלִיַּעַל (a worthless fellow). 6. used figuratively in other phrases; e.g. 'son of death' (one condemned to die).

חֲצֵרֹות

proper name • Page 244

a station of the Israelites in Arabia. Num. 11:35; 12:16; 33:17. Deut. 1:1.

Prep-M, Noun proper name

LXX: ασηρωθ

LXX Usage Statistics

H2698:

ασηρωθ 4× (64.8%)

Hazeroth_§Hazeroth@Num.11.35:

No stats available

ויחנו וַיַּחֲנוּ

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ו

wāw

Definition

sequential 'and'

Root

From H8505; a prefix

Exhaustive

Vav Conversive/Consecutive: The category “vav conversive / vav consecutive” is not an ancient grammatical datum; it is a modern explanatory construct, developed by early Hebraists to force Biblical Hebrew into a Latin/chronological tense model that it simply does not share.

The notion arose in early modern grammar (17th–19th c.) when scholars assumed:
- verbs must encode tense,
- narratives must advance by past → present → future,
- therefore Hebrew forms that “don’t behave” must be converted.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

חנה

chânâh

Definition

properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege)

Root

a primitive root (compare H2603 (חנן));

Exhaustive

a primitive root (compare חנן); properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege); abide (in tents), camp, dwell, encamp, grow to an end, lie, pitch (tent), rest in tent.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H2583

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

חָנָה

verb • Root חנה • Strongs / High • Page 502

To incline, to bend.

חָנָה

verb • Root חנה • Strongs / High • Page 503

To be inclined, to sink (of the sun); to set oneself down, to encamp, to dwell, to put up, to besiege, to encamp around for defense.

חָנָה

verb • Root חנה • Strongs / High • Page 503

(not used) transitive verb, to pierce, of a weapon.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

חָנָה

verb • Page 237

1. To decline (Judg. 19:9: חֲנוֹת הַיּוֹם, the declining of the day). 2. To station one's self, to pitch one's tent, to encamp (Gen. 26:17; Ex. 13:20). 3. To encamp about any one for protection (Zech. 9:8; Ps. 34:8) or against any one (Ps. 27:3).

conjunctive, Verb Qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural

LXX: παρενέβαλον παρενέβαλεν παρεμβαλοῦσιν παρεμβάλλουσιν παρεμβάλλοντεσ

LXX Usage Statistics

H2583:

παρενέβαλον 60× (40.6%)

παρενέβαλεν 11× (7.5%)

παρεμβαλοῦσιν 10× (7.7%)

παρεμβάλλουσιν 10× (6.8%)

παρεμβάλλοντεσ 5× (2.7%)

--- 4× (3.1%)

παρενεβάλοσαν 4× (2.6%)

περιεκάθισεν 3× (2.0%)

παρεμβαλέτωσαν 2× (1.6%)

παρεμβάλετε 2× (1.6%)

במדבר בְּמִדְבַּר

in the Desolate/Word-Wilderness

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ב

bə

Definition

in, by

Root

A primitive particle; a prefix

Exhaustive

(beth) — in / within / by means of

Core value: interiority, enclosure, participation

ב does not primarily mean “in time” (“when”) or even “in space.” It marks being inside a domain, whether that domain is:
- spatial (house, land),
- conceptual (wisdom, covenant),
- modal (strength, fear),
- instrumental (by means of).
Aonically, ב marks immersion.
not “when X happened” but “within the state or field of X.”
This is why ב־יום does not need to mean “on the day (chronological)” but “within the day-realm / condition”.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

מדבר

midbâr

Definition

a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)

Root

from H1696 (דבר) in the sense of driving;

Exhaustive

from דבר in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs); desert, south, speech, wilderness.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H4057

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

מִדְבָּר

noun • Root דבר • Strongs / High • Page 351

Wilderness, pasture. Derived from דָּבַר II (to lead cattle to pasture).

מִדְבָּר

noun masculine • Root דבר • Strongs / High • Page 810

1. pasture, pasture land, a plain where grass plots are dried up from want of rain; then a steppe. 2. a dry, sterile wilderness. 3. lodge; then a desert generally, an uninhabited, forsaken place.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

מִדְבָּר

m. verbal / dec. ii. b. • Root דבר • Page 355

1. Speech (Cant. 4:3). 2. A wilderness, uncultivated barren country (Ps. 65:13). 3. An actual waste, a sandy desert (Is. 32:15).

Preposition, Noun common both singular construct

LXX: ἐρήμῳ ἔρημον ἐρήμου ἔρημοσ pεἰσ

LXX Usage Statistics

H4057b:

ἐρήμῳ 128× (40.3%)

ἔρημον 60× (21.3%)

ἐρήμου 42× (15.1%)

ἔρημοσ 10× (4.2%)

pεἰσ 7× (3.0%)

ὡσ 6× (2.7%)

'' 6× (2.3%)

--- 2× (0.9%)

πεδίον 2× (0.8%)

פארןפ פָּארָן׃פ

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

פארן

Pâʼrân

Definition

Paran, a desert of Arabia

Root

from H6286 (פאר); ornamental;

Exhaustive

from פאר; ornamental; Paran, a desert of Arabia; Paran.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H6290

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

פָּארָן

noun proper • Root פאר • Strongs / High • Page 1153

Region name (N. P.) of the great desert (מִדְבָּר) south of Palestine and west of Edom, abounding in caverns.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

פָּארָן

proper name • Page 536

Proper name of a desert between Midian and Egypt. Gen. 21:21, Num. 10:12, Hab. 3:3, Deut. 33:2.

Noun proper name

LXX: φαραν

LXX Usage Statistics

H6290:

φαραν 7× (63.0%)

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And afterward the people removed from the enclosures, and they will encamp in the desert of Paran.

LITV Translation:
And afterward the people pulled up from Hazeroth, and they encamped in the wilderness of Paran.

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
And afterward the people set forth from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.