What Does Numbers 31:48 Mean in the King James?
And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses:
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 captains’ “came near” shares its root with the Hebrew word for an offering, so their approach carries the sense of something brought close and presented.
THE MEANING
Responsibility becomes visible in proximity: the captains come within Moses’ presence instead of remaining distant behind their ranks. The verse holds authority as something that approaches and can be seen.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Rank places a leader beyond reach. Here, even the captains come near.
THE ROOT
וַיִּקְרְבוּ
wayyiqrevu
GROWS FROM
קרב
q-r-b
To approach, draw near, or bring close.
“came near” in this verse is wayyiqrevu. The verb for approaching Moses grows from קרב (q-r-b), the same root as קָרְבָּן (qorban), meaning an offering understood as a drawing near. English gives only the movement; the Hebrew root also evokes what is brought close and presented.
ALSO GROWS
qorban: Offering; something brought near.
קָרְבָּן
The shared root lets “came near” carry an echo of presentation, as well as physical approach.
qarov: Near, close.
קָרוֹב
This branch makes the root’s central image plain: crossing distance into closeness.
הַפְּקֻדִים
happequdim
GROWS FROM
פקד
p-q-d
To attend to, appoint, muster, or number, depending on context.
The title for these officers comes from a root that can describe both appointing and mustering or numbering. It links their authority with the work of attending to an assigned charge and gathering a count.
ALSO GROWS
paqad: To attend to, appoint, muster, or number.
פָּקַד
This root holds together the officers’ appointed role and the act of taking account.
pequddah: Appointment, oversight, or charge.
פְּקֻדָּה
The related noun gives the officers’ title the sense of responsibility entrusted to them.
THE PATTERN
Those entrusted with oversight bring their charge into view and answer for what is in their hands.
This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.THE THREAD
Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.The Hebrew verb translated “come nigh” comes from קרב (q-r-b), meaning to draw near, the same root as “came near” here. In Leviticus it describes approaching the LORD; the shared root lets the captains’ movement be heard as entering a presence, not merely changing position.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us