The Meaning of Numbers 32:1 Explained

Numbers 32:1

KJV: Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;

YLT: And much cattle hath been to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad, very many; and they see the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, and lo, the place is a place for cattle;

Darby: And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had much cattle, a very great multitude; and they saw the land of Jaazer, and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for cattle.

ASV: Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now the children  of Reuben  and the children  of Gad  had a very  great  multitude  of cattle:  and when they saw  the land  of Jazer,  and the land  of Gilead,  that, behold, the place  [was] a place  for cattle; 

What does Numbers 32:1 Mean?

Study Notes

The Reubenites
The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, who chose their inheritance just outside the land, are types of world-borderers--carnal Christians. What their descendants were when Messiah came is seen in Mark 5:1-17 .

Context Summary

Numbers 32:1-19 - Seeking Inheritance Beyond Jordan
Reuben and Gad were contiguous to each other when the host encamped. They had, therefore, many opportunities for conference, and finally united in asking permission to settle on the east of Jordan, where vast tracks of pasturage were eminently suited to their flocks. They have been held up as types of those whose "much cattle" hinder the realization to the full of the heavenly inheritance. Certainly many professing Christians live on the world's side of the Cross. They have no desire to share in the crucifixion of the self-life, if only they may build sheepcotes and cities and provide for their little ones. "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than"¦."
At first Moses was indignant at the request, thinking that they desired to evade the hardships, but their explanation modified his wrath. Be swift to hear, slow to speak! [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 32

1  The Reubenites and Gadites ask for inheritance on the east side of Jordan
6  Moses reproves them
16  They offer him conditions with which he is content
33  Moses assigns them the land
39  They conquer it

What do the individual words in Numbers 32:1 mean?

And of livestock Multitude had the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad a great very and when they saw - the land of Jazer and of Gilead that indeed the region [was] a place for livestock
וּמִקְנֶ֣ה ׀ רַ֗ב הָיָ֞ה לִבְנֵ֧י רְאוּבֵ֛ן וְלִבְנֵי־ גָ֖ד עָצ֣וּם מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּרְא֞וּ אֶת־ אֶ֤רֶץ יַעְזֵר֙ וְאֶת־ גִּלְעָ֔ד וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַמָּק֖וֹם מְק֥וֹם מִקְנֶֽה

וּמִקְנֶ֣ה ׀  And  of  livestock 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
רַ֗ב  Multitude 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
לִבְנֵ֧י  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
רְאוּבֵ֛ן  of  Reuben 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְאוּבֵן  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Leah.
וְלִבְנֵי־  and  the  sons 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
גָ֖ד  of  Gad 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: גָּד  
Sense: seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and full brother of Asher.
עָצ֣וּם  a  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָצוּם  
Sense: mighty, vast, numerous.
מְאֹ֑ד  very 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
וַיִּרְא֞וּ  and  when  they  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֶ֤רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
יַעְזֵר֙  of  Jazer 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַעְזֵיר  
Sense: a Levitical city east of the Jordan, in Gilead in the territory of Gad, formerly an Amorite city; site uncertain.
גִּלְעָ֔ד  of  Gilead 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גִּלְעָד  
Sense: a mountainous region bounded on the west by the Jordan, on the north by Bashan, on the east by the Arabian plateau, and on the south by Moab and Ammon; sometimes called ‘Mount Gilead’ or the ‘land of Gilead’ or just ‘Gilead’.
וְהִנֵּ֥ה  that  indeed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
הַמָּק֖וֹם  the  region  [was] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
מְק֥וֹם  a  place  for 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
מִקְנֶֽה  livestock 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.