Numbers 20:2

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

ולא וְלֹא־

and not

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

לא

lôʼ

Definition

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

Root

or לוא; or לה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle;

Exhaustive

or לוא; or לה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles; [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3808

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

לֹא

negative particle • Root אל • Strongs / High • Page 759

A negative particle; not, no. It functions as an absolute negative, a negative answer to a question, or a refusal. Used with verbs in various tenses and moods to express negation or prohibition.

לֹא

particle • Strongs / High • Page 761

A K'ri reading for לוֹ.

לֹא

adverb / particle • Strongs / High • Page 760

Not; No; Nothing (substantive use); Before (cognate sense to טֶרֶם).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

לֹא

adverb • Page 338

A primitive adverb of negation (more rarely לוֹא). 1. not. 2. no (Gen. 19:2). 3. nothing (Job 6:21). 4. without (1 Chr. 2:30). 5. interrogative, nonne? (Jon. 4:11). 6. lest, that not (Ex. 28:32). 7. In combination with adjectives/substantives it gives a negative signification (e.g., לֹא עֹז without strength).

Conjunction, Particle negative

LXX: οὐκ οὐ μὴ οὐδὲ οὐχ

LXX Usage Statistics

H3808:

οὐκ 1137× (34.5%)

οὐ 797× (24.2%)

μὴ 184× (5.6%)

οὐδὲ 150× (4.5%)

οὐχ 127× (3.9%)

οὐχὶ 120× (3.6%)

--- 98× (3.0%)

'' 94× (2.4%)

---% 62× (1.5%)

οὐκέτι 50× (1.4%)

היה הָיָה

he has become

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

היה

hâyâh

Definition

to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

Root

a primitive root (compare H1933 (הוא));

Exhaustive

a primitive root (compare הוא); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary); beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1961

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

הָיָה

verb • Root היה • Strongs / High • Page 397

To be, to exist, to live, to become. A substantive verb used to unite a subject and predicate. It can also mean to happen, to arise, or to belong to. Used in a wide variety of grammatical constructions.

הָיָה

verb • Root היה • Strongs / High • Page 591

To be, to become, to exist. The common Hebrew verb for 'to be', considered the root of the divine name.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

הַיָּה

noun feminine • Page 185

Keri הַוָּה suffering, calamity. Job 6: 2; 30: 13.

הָיָה

verb • Page 184

1. To be (Ex. 20:3, Num. 10:31, etc.); 2. to become (Ex. 4:4, Hos. 3:3, etc.); 3. to happen (Is. 19:15).

Verb Qal perfect third person masculine singular

LXX: ἔσται ἐγένετο ἦν ἐγενήθη ἔσονται

LXX Usage Statistics

H1961:

ἔσται 827× (22.9%)

ἐγένετο 634× (16.8%)

ἦν 280× (7.9%)

ἐγενήθη 215× (5.8%)

ἔσονται 160× (4.5%)

ἦσαν 134× (3.8%)

ἐγένοντο 83× (2.3%)

'' 74× (1.9%)

--- 73× (2.2%)

εἶναι 67× (1.7%)

מים מַיִם

dual water

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

מים

mayim

Definition

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

Root

dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);

Exhaustive

dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H4325

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

מַיִם

m. noun • Root מיה • Strongs / High • Page 842

The flowing, pouring, running; hence water (collective noun). Figuratively: juice of a plant, seed, seminal flux, urine.

מַיִם

coll. m. • Strongs / High • Page 845

Water, in the widest sense and with the greatest variety of applications; used for the ocean, sea, lakes, clouds, rain-water, etc. Also used as a figure of multitude, fulness, abundance, numerous enemies, dangers, and fear.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

מַיִם

masc. plur. prim. irreg. • Page 372

1. Water or waters. (Gen. 26:19; Num. 5:17). 2. Seed (Is. 48:1).

Noun common masculine plural absolute

LXX: ὕδωρ ὕδατοσ ὕδατι ὕδατα ὑδάτων

LXX Usage Statistics

H4325:

ὕδωρ 255× (41.0%)

ὕδατοσ 96× (15.5%)

ὕδατι 65× (10.3%)

ὕδατα 45× (7.3%)

ὑδάτων 37× (6.2%)

ὡσ 17× (2.9%)

--- 17× (3.0%)

---% 7× (1.0%)

ὕδασιν 7× (0.9%)

'' 6× (0.9%)

לעדה לָעֵדָה

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

ל

lə

Definition

to, for

Root

A primitive particle; a prefix

Exhaustive

(lamed) — to / toward / for

Core value: orientation, directionality, belonging
ל is often mistranslated as purpose (“in order to”), but that smuggles in future-time. In reality, ל marks:
- movement toward,
- dedication unto,
- reference with respect to.
Aonically, ל is vectorial, not teleological.
not “for the sake of a future outcome”
but “oriented toward a locus or pole.”
This is why possession (“belongs to”) and motion (“toward”) use the same preposition: both indicate relational alignment, not time.

Source: The Aonic Nature of Biblical Hebrew Prepositions

עדה

ʻêdâh

Definition

a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)

Root

feminine of H5707 (עד) in the original sense of fixture;

Exhaustive

feminine of עד in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd); assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare עדה.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5712

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עֵדָה

noun feminine • Root עדה • Strongs / High • Page 1055

An assembly, association, congregation (specifically of Israel); a synogogue, church; a household, family; a troop, a gang (in a bad sense); a herd (of animals).

עֵדָה

unknown • Strongs / High • Page 1054

See עָדָה.

עֵדָה

noun feminine • Root עוד • Strongs / High • Page 1056

1) A swarm of bees. 2) (from עִוַד) a) f. of עֵד, female witness. b) abstract testimony, same as עֵדֻת. c) (only pl. עֵדֹת) attestation, announcement, prescription, law, determination, hence coupled with חֹק, דִּין, מִשְׁפָּט, פְּקֻדִּים.

עֵדָה

pl. • Strongs / High • Page 1056

(pl. עֵדִים) after the Arab. עِدَة (multitude/troop).

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

עֵדָה

noun feminine • Root יעד • Page 492

1. The Israelitish people, the congregation of Israel (Ex. 12:3; Num. 27:17). 2. In a bad sense, a gang or faction (Ps. 22:17; Num. 16:5). 3. Those pertaining to one's household, familia (Job 16:7). 4. A swarm (of bees) (Judg. 14:8).

עֵדָה

noun feminine • Root עוד • Page 492

1. A female witness (Gen. 31:52). 2. Testimony (Gen. 21:30). 3. An institution, ordinance, precept of God (Ps. 119:22, 24, 59, 79, 138, 146, 168).

Preposition -For/Into Art, Noun common feminine singular absolute

LXX: συναγωγῆσ συναγωγὴ συναγωγὴν συναγωγῇ ---

LXX Usage Statistics

H5712:

συναγωγῆσ 40× (27.1%)

συναγωγὴ 32× (22.1%)

συναγωγὴν 25× (17.1%)

συναγωγῇ 20× (12.8%)

--- 10× (7.6%)

συναγωγή 7× (4.5%)

ισραηλ 2× (1.3%)

ויקהלו וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ

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

קהל

qâhal

Definition

to convoke

Root

a primitive root;

Exhaustive

a primitive root; to convoke; assemble (selves) (together), gather (selves) (together).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H6950

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

קָהַל

verb transitive • Root קהל • Strongs / High • Page 1263

To sweep up together, to wind together, to crowd together, to collect, to join in a heap. (Kal not used).

קָהַל

verb • Strongs / High • Page 1264

To call.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

קָהַל

verb • Page 582

In Kal not used. Hiph. to assemble, call together (a people). Num. 8: 9. Niph. to assemble, come together. Num. 16: 3.

conjunctive, Verb Niphal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural

LXX: ἐξεκκλησίασεν συνήχθησαν ἐξεκκλησιάσθη ἐκκλησίασον ''

LXX Usage Statistics

H6950:

ἐξεκκλησίασεν 9× (22.0%)

συνήχθησαν 3× (7.9%)

ἐξεκκλησιάσθη 3× (7.0%)

ἐκκλησίασον 2× (5.1%)

'' 2× (4.7%)

על עַל־

upon/against/yoke

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

על

ʻal

Definition

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

Root

properly, the same as H5920 (על) used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following);

Exhaustive

properly, the same as על used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications; above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5921

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עַל

adjective / noun • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1088

Highest; same as עֶלְיוֹן. This form is abridged from עָלָה and derived from עָלַי (like יַד from יָדָה I.), serving as the construct form עֲלֵי (out of עֲלַאי).

עַל

preposition / adverb • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1088

A preposition: upon, over, above, super, in the widest sense. It expresses protecting, covering, resting above upon (answering to 'where'); motion toward the upper surface (answering to 'whither?'); local direction to a more distant agency; or proximity/timing ('with, at'). Used figuratively as dat. commodi and incommodi, meaning a burden or duty upon one, or with certain verbs replacing the dative case. Also expresses motion down upon or up to, sometimes interchanging with אֶל.

עַל

preposition / adverb • Strongs / High • Page 1089

Preposition or Adverb meaning upon, over, at, above (denoting physical overtopping or mental superiority/dominion); expressing addition (to, reckoned to); proximity (by, around); suitability (according to); or occasionally used concessively (though, quanquam).

עַל

preposition / particle / conjunction • Strongs / High • Page 1090

Properly, over, upon, concerning, notwithstanding, against, towards, for the sake of, on account of. Used to express position, antithesis, or distance (away from). After certain verbs, signifies giving way, removing, or fleeing. Also forms various compound particles (e.g., עַל-מָה, עַל-כֵּן, עַל אֲשֶׁר).

עַל

preposition (aramaic) • Root אלא • Strongs / High • Page 1090

Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew עַל. Means: Upon, over, on account of, unto, against, or dative. (Used with suffixes like עָלַי, עָלֵךְ, עֲלֵיהוֹן).

עַל

noun / prepos. • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1092

Derivative of עָלָה, listed as a noun and a preposition.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

עַל

substantive / adverb / adjective • Root עלה • Page 507

Strictly a substantive meaning whatever is high or uppermost (Hos. 7:16, 11:7). Used as an adverb: (1.) 'above' (Gen. 27:39, 49:25; Ps. 50:4). Used as an adjective: (2.) 'high' (2 Sam. 23:1).

Preposition

LXX: ἐπὶ ἐπ' ἐφ' τοῦτο ''

LXX Usage Statistics

H5921a:

ἐπὶ 1722× (33.1%)

ἐπ' 701× (13.4%)

ἐφ' 195× (3.7%)

τοῦτο 116× (1.9%)

'' 116× (1.9%)

περὶ 113× (2.2%)

ἀπὸ 108× (2.1%)

--- 108× (2.1%)

αὐτοὺσ 95× (1.6%)

εἰσ 93× (1.8%)

משה מֹשֶׁה

Drawn Out ("Moses")

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

משה

Môsheh

Definition

Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver

Root

from H4871 (משה); drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued;

Exhaustive

from משה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H4872

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

מֹשֶׁה

noun proper • Root משה • Strongs / High • Page 915

Proper name of the great Jewish law-giver and leader, Moses, meaning 'drawer out' or 'deliverer'.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

מַשֶּׁה

noun masculine • Root נשה • Page 411

A debt. Deut. 15: 2. Verbal from נָשָׁה.

מָשָׁה

verb • Root משה • Page 411

To draw, to draw out. Ex. 2: 10, 2 Sam. 22: 17, Ps. 18: 17.

מֹשֶׁה

m. proper name • Root משה • Page 411

Moses, the great leader and lawgiver. Etymology discussed as Hebrew 'drawing out' or Egyptian 'drawn out of the water'. Ex. 2: 10.

Noun proper name masculine

LXX: μωυσῆσ μωυσῆν μωυσῇ μωυσῆ ---

LXX Usage Statistics

H4872:

μωυσῆσ 326× (44.6%)

μωυσῆν 222× (30.3%)

μωυσῇ 78× (9.4%)

μωυσῆ 77× (10.4%)

--- 13× (1.8%)

μωυσεῖ 6× (0.8%)

'' 4× (0.5%)

μωσῆ 2× (0.3%)

ἐκεῖ 2× (0.3%)

[b] 2× (0.2%)

ועל וְעַל־

and upon

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

על

ʻal

Definition

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

Root

properly, the same as H5920 (על) used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following);

Exhaustive

properly, the same as על used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications; above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H5921

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

עַל

adjective / noun • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1088

Highest; same as עֶלְיוֹן. This form is abridged from עָלָה and derived from עָלַי (like יַד from יָדָה I.), serving as the construct form עֲלֵי (out of עֲלַאי).

עַל

preposition / adverb • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1088

A preposition: upon, over, above, super, in the widest sense. It expresses protecting, covering, resting above upon (answering to 'where'); motion toward the upper surface (answering to 'whither?'); local direction to a more distant agency; or proximity/timing ('with, at'). Used figuratively as dat. commodi and incommodi, meaning a burden or duty upon one, or with certain verbs replacing the dative case. Also expresses motion down upon or up to, sometimes interchanging with אֶל.

עַל

preposition / adverb • Strongs / High • Page 1089

Preposition or Adverb meaning upon, over, at, above (denoting physical overtopping or mental superiority/dominion); expressing addition (to, reckoned to); proximity (by, around); suitability (according to); or occasionally used concessively (though, quanquam).

עַל

preposition / particle / conjunction • Strongs / High • Page 1090

Properly, over, upon, concerning, notwithstanding, against, towards, for the sake of, on account of. Used to express position, antithesis, or distance (away from). After certain verbs, signifies giving way, removing, or fleeing. Also forms various compound particles (e.g., עַל-מָה, עַל-כֵּן, עַל אֲשֶׁר).

עַל

preposition (aramaic) • Root אלא • Strongs / High • Page 1090

Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew עַל. Means: Upon, over, on account of, unto, against, or dative. (Used with suffixes like עָלַי, עָלֵךְ, עֲלֵיהוֹן).

עַל

noun / prepos. • Root עלה • Strongs / High • Page 1092

Derivative of עָלָה, listed as a noun and a preposition.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

עַל

substantive / adverb / adjective • Root עלה • Page 507

Strictly a substantive meaning whatever is high or uppermost (Hos. 7:16, 11:7). Used as an adverb: (1.) 'above' (Gen. 27:39, 49:25; Ps. 50:4). Used as an adjective: (2.) 'high' (2 Sam. 23:1).

Conjunction, Preposition

LXX: ἐπὶ ἐπ' ἐφ' τοῦτο ''

LXX Usage Statistics

H5921a:

ἐπὶ 1722× (33.1%)

ἐπ' 701× (13.4%)

ἐφ' 195× (3.7%)

τοῦτο 116× (1.9%)

'' 116× (1.9%)

περὶ 113× (2.2%)

ἀπὸ 108× (2.1%)

--- 108× (2.1%)

αὐτοὺσ 95× (1.6%)

εἰσ 93× (1.8%)

אהרן אַהֲרֹן׃

Inner Conceived One ("Aaron")

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

אהרון

ʼAhărôwn

Definition

Aharon, the brother of Moses

Root

of uncertain derivation;

Exhaustive

of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H175

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אַהֲרֹן

m. proper name • Root אהר • Page 29

proper name of the brother of Moses and first high-priest of the Hebrews. (Ex. 4:14, 6:20).

Noun proper name masculine

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0175:

No stats available

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And there was not water for the assembly: and they will gather together against Moses and against Aaron.

LITV Translation:
And there was no water for the congregation, and they were gathered against Moses, and against Aaron.

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron.