What Does Numbers 13:4 Mean in the King James?
And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The first scout is Shammua, “heard,” son of Zaccur, “remembered”: before he reports what he sees, his name already carries testimony.
THE MEANING
Shammua carries the sense “heard,” and his father’s name, Zaccur, carries “remembered.” Even the tribe name Reuben (רְאוּבֵן, Re’uven: “see a son”) adds sight to the chain. Your seeing, too, arrives within what has already been heard and carried forward.
THE ROOT
שַׁמּוּעַ
Shammua
GROWS FROM
שמע
Hear, listen, heed; Shammua carries the sense “heard.”
English reads Shammua as a label, while the Hebrew name retains the sense “heard.” Its root also holds hearing, response, and report together, so the name carries the shape of a witness.
ALSO GROWS
shama: Hear, listen, heed.
שָׁמַע
The root verb shows the hearing held inside Shammua’s name.
shemuah: Report, news, tidings.
שְׁמוּעָה
This branch connects hearing with what is received and carried onward as a report.
זַכּוּר
Zakkur
GROWS FROM
זכר
Remember, call to mind; Zaccur carries the sense “remembered.”
“Zaccur” in this verse is Zakkur. The father’s name carries remembrance beneath the English spelling. Paired with Shammua, it places hearing beside what remains present in memory.
ALSO GROWS
zakar: Remember, call to mind.
זָכַר
The verb names the root action contained in Zaccur.
zikkaron: Remembrance, memorial.
זִכָּרוֹן
This branch shows remembrance taking durable form, as a name can preserve a meaning.
THE PATTERN
Scripture lets names preserve testimony by compressing an experience or meaning into a person’s identity.
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.THE THREAD
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Shammua grows from שמע (shama: hear), the same root heard in שְׁמַע (shema: hear and respond). The name “heard” and Israel’s call to hear share one root, opening the scout’s name as part of a larger pattern of receiving and responding.
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