What Does Numbers 24:6 Mean in the King James?
As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
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 Hebrew for aloes echoes the word for tents in the line before, carrying the image of dwelling into a fragrant tree planted by God.
THE MEANING
Your life is held in an image of abundance: streams stretch out, gardens grow beside a river, aloes are planted by the LORD, and cedars stand beside waters. Flourishing is pictured as life placed within reach of flowing water and allowed to spread.
THE ROOT
אֲהָלִים
ʾăhālîm
GROWS FROM
אהל
The tent-word אֹהֶל (ʾōhel) means tent or dwelling; אֲהָלִים (ʾăhālîm) here means aloes. The consonants match, though the words may not share an etymology.
“lign aloes” in this verse is ʾăhālîm. English separates tents and aloes, but Hebrew gives them the same consonants with different vowels. The sound-link carries dwelling into the planted, fragrant landscape, without proving that the words have the same origin.
ALSO GROWS
ʾōhel: tent, dwelling
אֹהֶל
The same consonants appear in the tents named in the preceding verse, letting the dwelling image resonate here.
ʾăhālîm: aloes, aromatic trees or wood
אֲהָלִים
The aloes are planted by the LORD, carrying the echo of dwelling into rooted, fragrant life.
נִטָּיוּ
niṭṭāyû
GROWS FROM
נטה
To stretch out, extend, or incline.
“spread forth” in this verse is niṭṭāyû. The comparison is dynamic: the streams are stretched out across the land. This root also carries inclination or turning, so the abundance has both reach and direction.
ALSO GROWS
nāṭāh: to stretch out, extend, incline
נָטָה
It names the outward movement in the image of streams spreading across the landscape.
neṭiyyāh: inclination, turning
נְטִיָּה
This branch keeps a sense of direction within the same root that describes the streams’ extension.
נָטַע
nāṭaʿ
GROWS FROM
נטע
n-ṭ-ʿ
To plant or set in the ground.
“planted” in this verse is nāṭaʿ. The verse explicitly names the LORD as the one planting the aloes; their growth begins with placement. The cedars then stand beside waters, carrying the image of life sustained at the water’s edge.
ALSO GROWS
maṭṭāʿ: planting, plantation
מַטָּע
This branch names a place or grouping of planted growth, widening the verse’s single act of planting into a landscape.
netiʿāh: planting
נְטִיעָה
This branch names the act itself, keeping attention on how the aloes come to be rooted.
THE PATTERN
Life that flourishes is pictured beside flowing water and extends outward in growth.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.THE THREAD
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!The Hebrew word for tents is אֹהֶל (ʾōhel), and the next verse’s word for aloes is אֲהָלִים (ʾăhālîm); both share the consonants א-ה-ל, though their etymological relationship is uncertain. That sound-link carries the dwelling image forward into a landscape of planted fragrance.
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