The Meaning of Numbers 32:38 Explained

Numbers 32:38

KJV: And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.

YLT: and Nebo, and Baal-Meon (changed in name), and Shibmah, and they call by these names the names of the cities which they have built.

Darby: and Nebo, and Baal-meon (of which the names were changed), and Sibmah; and they gave other names to the cities that they built.

ASV: and Nebo, and Baal-meon, (their names being changed,) and Sibmah: and they gave other names unto the cities which they builded.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Nebo,  and Baalmeon,  (their names  being changed,  ) and Shibmah:  and gave  other names  unto the cities  which they builded. 

What does Numbers 32:38 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 32:20-42 - Warning Against Forsaking Their Brethren
These two and a half tribes never entered the national life, as did those on the other side of Jordan. They were far from the center of religious life, first at Shiloh and then at Jerusalem. On them first the tide of invasion broke, sweeping them and their cattle into captivity.
In Deborah's great song Reuben is rebuked for sitting "among the sheepfolds to hear the pipings for the flocks," instead of coming to the help of the Lord against the mighty. The Brahmins say that the holy man dies to every other sin earlier and easier than to the love of money. Their cattle kept these tribes on the wrong side of the river of separation! Let us beware of the cares of this world, if we are poor, and of the deceitfulness of riches, if we are rich. Better lose all than the soul. See Matthew 16:26. [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 32:38 mean?

and Nebo in Baal Meon being changed [their] names Sibmah and they gave - - [other] names to the cities which they built
וְאֶת־ נְב֞וֹ בַּ֧עַל מְע֛וֹן מֽוּסַבֹּ֥ת שֵׁ֖ם שִׂבְמָ֑ה וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ בְשֵׁמֹ֔ת אֶת־ שְׁמ֥וֹת הֶעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנֽוּ

נְב֞וֹ  Nebo 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְבֹו 
Sense: a Babylonian deity who presided over learning and letters; corresponds to Greek Hermes, Latin Mercury, and Egyptian Thoth.
מְע֛וֹן  Baal  Meon 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בַּעַל מְעֹון  
Sense: a town in Reuben, mentioned in connection with Nebo, and in the time of Ezekiel, Moabite.
מֽוּסַבֹּ֥ת  being  changed 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Participle, feminine plural
Root: סָבַב  
Sense: to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or arou nd, surround, encircle, change direction.
שֵׁ֖ם  [their]  names 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
שִׂבְמָ֑ה  Sibmah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שְׂבָם 
Sense: one of the towns in the pastoral district on the east of the Jordan in Moab; allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad.
וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ  and  they  gave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
בְשֵׁמֹ֔ת  - 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
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.
שְׁמ֥וֹת  [other]  names 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
הֶעָרִ֖ים  to  the  cities 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
בָּנֽוּ  they  built 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.