The Meaning of Numbers 2:18 Explained

Numbers 2:18

KJV: On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.

YLT: The standard of the camp of Ephraim, by their hosts, is westward; and the prince of the sons of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud;

Darby: The standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their hosts shall be westward; and the prince of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud;

ASV: On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their hosts: and the prince of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

On the west side  [shall be] the standard  of the camp  of Ephraim  according to their armies:  and the captain  of the sons  of Ephraim  [shall be] Elishama  the son  of Ammihud. 

What does Numbers 2:18 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Numbers 2

1  The order of the tribes in their tents

What do the individual words in Numbers 2:18 mean?

[shall be] the standard of the forces with Ephraim according to their armies On the west side and the leader of the sons of Ephraim [shall be] Elishama son of Ammihud
דֶּ֣גֶל מַחֲנֵ֥ה אֶפְרַ֛יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֖ם יָ֑מָּה וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־ עַמִּיהֽוּד

דֶּ֣גֶל  [shall  be]  the  standard 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דֶּגֶל  
Sense: banner, standard.
מַחֲנֵ֥ה  of  the  forces  with 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
אֶפְרַ֛יִם  Ephraim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
לְצִבְאֹתָ֖ם  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.
יָ֑מָּה  On  the  west  side 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
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.
אֶפְרַ֔יִם  of  Ephraim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע  [shall  be]  Elishama 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלִישָׁמָע  
Sense: an Ephraimite chief in the wilderness.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
עַמִּיהֽוּד  of  Ammihud 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַמִּיהוּד  
Sense: an Ephraimite, father of Elishama, the chief of the tribe at the time of the exodus.