Numbers 3:18

Paleo Hebrew Niqqud

RBT Hebrew Interlinear:

ואלה וְאֵלֶּה

the a mighty one

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

אלה

ʼâlâh

Definition

an imprecation

Root

from H422 (אלה);

Exhaustive

from אלה; an imprecation; curse, cursing, execration, oath, swearing.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H423

אלה

ʼêlâh

Definition

an oak or other strong tree

Root

feminine of H352 (איל);

Exhaustive

lemma אלה first vowel, corrected to אלה; feminine of איל; an oak or other strong tree; elm, oak, teil-tree.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H424

אלה

ʼêl-leh

Definition

these or those

Root

prolonged from H411 (אל);

Exhaustive

prolonged from אל; these or those; an-(the) other; one sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those, thus, which, who(-m).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H428

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

אָלָה

verb • Root אל • Strongs_Numbers • Page 132

I. 1. To be strong, powerful, stout (intr.); 2. To strengthen, to swear, confirm by an oath (tr.); 3. To curse (not used); 4. To be fat.

אָלָה

noun feminine • Strongs_Numbers • Page 132

1. An oath (allied in sense is שְׁבֻעָה); 2. A covenant confirmed by an oath; 3. Curse, imprecation, connected with exclamations of swearing.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֵלֶּה

pronoun • Page 51

these, employed as the plural of זֶה (zeh) and זאת (zot). Ref: Judg. 6:11, 19; 1 Sam. 17:2, 19; 2 Sam. 18:9, 14; Ezek. 31:14.

אֵלֶּה

chald. pron. plur. • Page 51

Chaldee equivalent of the Hebrew אֵלֶּה (these). Ref: Jer. 10:11.

אָלָה

f. verbal / dec. x • Root אלה • Page 50

1. oath; 2. particularly a covenant confirmed by an oath (Gen. 26:28); 3. imprecation, curse (Num. 5:21).

אָלָה

verb • Page 50

1. to swear (1 K. 8:31); 2. to curse (Judg. 17:2). Hiph. to cause to swear (1 K. 8:31).

אָלָה

verb • Page 50

to lament (Joel 1:8). Equivalent to Syriac usage.

אֵלָה

f. verbal / dec. x • Root אל • Page 50

turpentine-tree, pistacia terebinthus. A common tree in Palestine growing to considerable height with evergreen leaves and clustering fruit (Gen. 35:4).

Conjunction, Particle demonstrative

LXX:

LXX Usage Statistics

H0423:

No stats available

H0424:

No stats available

H0428:

No stats available

שמות שְׁמוֹת

names

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

שם

shêm

Definition

an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

Root

a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare H8064 (שמים));

Exhaustive

a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שמים); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H8034

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שֵׁם

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1442

A sign, a memorial, a token, a mark, and therefore a name. (Includes usage regarding calling or inscribing a name).

שֵׁם

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1442

Metaphor: The internal essence as outwardly revealed and known as operative; hence of God (the Divine Essence, Presence, Protection, or Power).

שֵׁם

noun masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1442

Fame, renown, fama, an honourable name. Also used to denote a good name, sweet scent (assonance), bad reputation, or posterity (name after death).

שֵׁם

noun proper • Strongs / High • Page 1442

Proper noun: The oldest son of Noah (Gen. 5, 32), progenitor of the Semites.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

שֵׁם

m. constr. • Page 683

1. a name; a celebrated name, celebrity, renown. Gen. 6: 4, Num. 16: 2. 2. a rumour, report. Deut. 22: 14. 3. the name of Jehovah, particularly his praise or glory. Ps. 79: 9, Is. 48: 9.

שָׁם

adverb • Page 683

1. there. 2. thither (i.q. שָׁמָּה). 3. then (spoken of time). 4. thither/whither (with paragagic ה). Gen. 13: 3, 1 Sam. 2: 14, Ps. 14: 5, Gen. 19: 20.

שֻׁם

m. chald. • Page 684

A name. References: Dan. 4:5 [4:8]; Ezra 5:1. With suffix שֻׁמֵּהּ (from שֵׁם) Dan. 2:20, 26; 4:5 [4:8]; 5:12. Ezra 5:14: 'and they were given to Sheshbazzar, as his name was'.

Noun common feminine plural construct

LXX: ὄνομα ὄνομά ὀνόματι ὀνόματί ὀνόματα

LXX Usage Statistics

H8034:

ὄνομα 400× (45.4%)

ὄνομά 128× (14.3%)

ὀνόματι 86× (9.2%)

ὀνόματί 62× (6.4%)

ὀνόματα 50× (5.6%)

ὀνομάτων 22× (2.8%)

ὀνόματοσ 17× (1.8%)

ὀνόματόσ 15× (1.6%)

'' 15× (1.7%)

αὐτῆσ 10× (0.9%)

בני בְּנֵי־

sons/my son

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

בן

bên

Definition

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

Root

from H1129 (בנה);

Exhaustive

from בנה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1121

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

בֵּן

masc. noun • Root בין • Strongs / High • Page 253

1. A child, begotten, born, often without distinction of sex (frequently pluralized as children). 2. Specifically, a son, a male child (opposite daughter). 3. Used metaphorically to denote personal characteristics (virtuous or vicious personality, heir of virtue/vice) or objects (e.g., young animals, plants, or inanimate objects). 4. A grandson; also used as boy, youth, prince, heir to the throne.

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

אֶל

chald. • Page 49

Chald. idem. [to Hebrew אַל]. Dan. 2: 24.

אֶל

preposition • Page 50

Primary preposition meaning: 1. to (sign of the dative); 2. towards, even to (Num. 24:1); 3. at, on, near (1 K. 13:20); 4. about, concerning (Gen. 20:2); 5. in, into (Gen. 8:9); 6. among (1 Sam. 10:22); 7. through (Ezek. 44:7); 8. for, on account of (1 K. 14:5); 9. in combination with other prepositions implies direction.

Noun common masculine plural construct

LXX: υἱοὶ υἱὸσ υἱῶν υἱοῦ υἱοῖσ

LXX Usage Statistics

H1121a:

υἱοὶ 1075× (22.0%)

υἱὸσ 753× (16.8%)

υἱῶν 607× (12.2%)

υἱοῦ 368× (8.1%)

υἱοῖσ 329× (6.1%)

υἱοὺσ 292× (5.7%)

υἱὸν 213× (4.6%)

--- 116× (2.6%)

υἱὲ 96× (2.2%)

'' 84× (1.6%)

גרשון גֵרְשׁוֹן

None

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

גרשון

Gêrᵉshôwn

Definition

Gereshon or Gereshom, an Israelite

Root

or גרשום; from H1644 (גרש); a refugee;

Exhaustive

or גרשום; from גרש; a refugee; Gereshon or Gereshom, an Israelite; Gershon, Gershom.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H1648

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

גֵּרְשׁוֹן

proper noun • Root גרש • Strongs / High • Page 342

(banishment, exile) n. p. m. Gentile גֵּרְשֻׁנִּי.

Noun proper name masculine

LXX: γεδσων γηρσωνι γεδσωνι

LXX Usage Statistics

H1648:

γεδσων 16× (53.5%)

γεδσων 7× (22.0%)

γηρσωνι 3× (8.8%)

γεδσωνι 2× (6.4%)

למשפחתם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם

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

משפחה

mishpâchâh

Definition

a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

Root

from H8192 (שפה) (compare H8198 (שפחה));

Exhaustive

from שפה (compare שפחה); a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people; family, kind(-red).

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H4940

הם

Definition

their, personal posessive - noun suffix: 3rd person masculine plural

Root

Exhaustive

Personal posessive pronoun - suffix for nouns, adjectives and passive participles: 3rd person masculine plural

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H9028

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שֶׁפַח

concept / noun • Root שפח • Consonantal / Low • Page 1469

shed, blood; figuratively to break out, of pustules, leprosy.

Matched via prefix/suffix stripped stem

שָׁפַח

verb • Root שפח • Consonantal / Low • Page 1468

(Not used) intransitive. To be attached, to associate, of the members of a family and domestics; to be related.

Matched via prefix/suffix stripped stem

שִׁפַּח

verb piel • Root שפח • Consonantal / Low • Page 1469

To make break out, i. e. to cover with leprosy; perhaps to make empty.

Matched via prefix/suffix stripped stem

Gesenius

Gesenius Lexicon

מִשְׁפָּחָה

noun feminine • Root שפח • Page 416

1. a kind, species, of animals. Gen. 8: 19. 2. a tribe. Gen. 10: 18. 3. a subdivision of a tribe, a family. Ex. 6: 14.

Preposition, Noun common feminine plural construct, Suffix pronominal third person masculine plural

LXX: δῆμοσ δήμουσ δῆμοι --- δήμου

LXX Usage Statistics

H4940:

δῆμοσ 75× (27.0%)

δήμουσ 66× (20.5%)

δῆμοι 16× (5.8%)

--- 14× (5.1%)

δήμου 14× (4.2%)

φυλῆσ 10× (2.8%)

φυλὴ 9× (2.9%)

συγγενείασ 9× (2.6%)

πατριαὶ 7× (2.3%)

φυλαὶ 6× (1.8%)

לבני לִבְני

to the sons

STRONGS

Strong's Lexicon

לבני

Libnîy

Definition

Libni, an Israelite

Root

from H3835 (לבן); white;

Exhaustive

from לבן; white; Libni, an Israelite; Libni.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H3845

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

לִבְנִי

noun proper masculine • Root לבן • Strongs / High • Page 768

A masculine proper name, meaning 'a distinguished, noble one'; also used as a patronymic.

Noun proper name masculine

LXX: λοβενι

LXX Usage Statistics

H3845:

λοβενι 5× (74.0%)

λοβενι 2× (26.0%)

ושמעי וְשִׁמְעִי׃

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

שמעי

Shimʻîy

Definition

Shimi, the name of twenty Israelites

Root

from H8088 (שמע); famous;

Exhaustive

from שמע; famous; Shimi, the name of twenty Israelites; Shimeah (from the margin), Shimei, Shimhi, Shimi.

Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance — H8096

Fürst

Fürst Lexicon

שִׁמְעִי

noun proper masculine • Strongs / High • Page 1452

(Jah is Fame). Proper name.

שִׁמְעִי

noun proper masculine • Root שמע • Strongs / High • Page 1451

Proper name masculine, meaning 'a Hearer' (viz. El is).

Conjunction, Noun proper name masculine

LXX: σεμεϊ σεμει

LXX Usage Statistics

H8096:

σεμεϊ 34× (78.8%)

σεμει 3× (7.4%)

RBT Translation:

No verse found

RBT Paraphrase:
No verse found

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And these the names of the sons of Gershon according to their families: Libni and Shimei.

LITV Translation:
And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.

Brenton Septuagint Translation:
And these are the names of the sons of Gershon according to their families; Libni and Shimei: