The Meaning of Numbers 2:10 Explained

Numbers 2:10

KJV: On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.

YLT: The standard of the camp of Reuben is southward, by their hosts; and the prince of the sons of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur;

Darby: The standard of the camp of Reuben shall be southward according to their hosts; and the prince of the sons of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur;

ASV: On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their hosts: and the prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

On the south side  [shall be] the standard  of the camp  of Reuben  according to their armies:  and the captain  of the children  of Reuben  [shall be] Elizur  the son  of Shedeur. 

What does Numbers 2:10 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Numbers 2

1  The order of the tribes in their tents

What do the individual words in Numbers 2:10 mean?

The standard of the forces with Reuben On the south side [shall be] according to their armies and the leader of the sons of Reuben [shall be] Elizur son of Shedeur
דֶּ֣גֶל מַחֲנֵ֧ה רְאוּבֵ֛ן תֵּימָ֖נָה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֔ן אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־ שְׁדֵיאֽוּר

דֶּ֣גֶל  The  standard 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דֶּגֶל  
Sense: banner, standard.
מַחֲנֵ֧ה  of  the  forces  with 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
רְאוּבֵ֛ן  Reuben 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְאוּבֵן  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Leah.
תֵּימָ֖נָה  On  the  south  side  [shall  be] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: תֵּימָן  
Sense: south, southward, whatever is on the right (so the southern quarter), south wind.
לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם  according  to  their  armies 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
וְנָשִׂיא֙  and  the  leader 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָשִׂיא 
Sense: one lifted up, chief, prince, captain, leader.
לִבְנֵ֣י  of  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
רְאוּבֵ֔ן  of  Reuben 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְאוּבֵן  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Leah.
אֱלִיצ֖וּר  [shall  be]  Elizur 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלִיצוּר  
Sense: a chief of Reuben in the wilderness.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
שְׁדֵיאֽוּר  of  Shedeur 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁדֵיאוּר  
Sense: father of Elizur, chief of the tribe of Reuben at the time of the exodus.