The Meaning of Numbers 26:3 Explained

Numbers 26:3

KJV: And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,

YLT: And Moses speaketh -- Eleazar the priest also -- with them, in the plains of Moab, by Jordan, near Jericho, saying,

Darby: And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan of Jericho, saying,

ASV: And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  and Eleazar  the priest  spake  with them in the plains  of Moab  by Jordan  [near] Jericho,  saying, 

What does Numbers 26:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 26:1-4 - 51-65, The Census Of The Nation
The terrible visitation of the preceding chapter swept away the survivors of the old generation. See Psalms 95:11. This new census was very important, partly as showing the numbers to which Israel had grown, and partly as fixing families and clans, preparatory to their entrance into Canaan.
The census of the Levites was taken separately, and conducted on different principles. It showed an increase of 1000 since the numbering, forty years before, Numbers 3:39. That this was no greater was probably due to Korah's rebellion.
God is ever writing up His people. Can we claim to be included in the divine enumeration and enrolled in the Lamb's book of life? Compare Psalms 87:5-6; Revelation 3:5. We are born to a great inheritance, but must claim it by faith. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 26

1  The sum of all Israel is taken in the plains of Moab
52  The law of dividing among them the inheritance of the land
57  The families and number of the Levites
63  None but Caleb and Joshua was left of those who were numbered at Sinai

What do the individual words in Numbers 26:3 mean?

So spoke Moses and Eleazar the priest with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan [across from] Jericho saying
וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר מֹשֶׁ֜ה וְאֶלְעָזָ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֹתָ֖ם בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֑ב עַל־ יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר

וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר  So  spoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
מֹשֶׁ֜ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
וְאֶלְעָזָ֧ר  and  Eleazar 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶלְעָזָר  
Sense: Additional Information: Eleazar = “God has helped”.
הַכֹּהֵ֛ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
אֹתָ֖ם  with  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת  in  the  plains 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: עֲרָבָה  
Sense: desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness.
מוֹאָ֑ב  of  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
יַרְדֵּ֥ן  the  Jordan 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
יְרֵח֖וֹ  [across  from]  Jericho 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרִחֹו 
Sense: a city 5 miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and 7 miles (.
לֵאמֹֽר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.