What Does Numbers 32:16 Mean in the King James?
And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
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 care named here is architectural: what is vulnerable receives a place bounded enough to shelter it.
THE MEANING
This verse holds care in two concrete forms: enclosed ground for livestock and cities for children. When something depends on you, concern takes shape in the places made for it. Vulnerability is met with shelter.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The idea that care can stay abstract dissolves here: it takes shape as enclosures and cities.
THE ROOT
גְּדֵרוֹת
gederot
GROWS FROM
גדר
g-d-r
to wall around, fence in, or enclose
“sheepfolds” in this verse is gederot. The English suggests a specialized farm structure; גְּדֵרוֹת (gederot, “enclosures”) carries the wider image of a boundary made around what needs shelter. The same enclosing logic stretches from folds for livestock to cities for children: protection takes the form of a space that holds life.
ALSO GROWS
gader: wall, fence, or hedge
גָּדֵר
It names the boundary that makes an open space into an enclosure.
gadar: to wall up or fence in
גָּדַר
The verb shows the action inside the noun: shelter is made by setting a boundary around what is vulnerable.
נִבְנֶה
nibneh
GROWS FROM
בנה
b-n-h
to build
“build” in this verse is nibneh. The one act of building governs both the livestock’s enclosures and the children’s cities. Provision here is something made into a place where dependents can remain.
ALSO GROWS
banah: to build
בָּנָה
This is the root verb expressed in “we will build.”
binyan: building or structure
בִּנְיָן
This related noun makes the verb’s result visible: a built form that can shelter.
THE PATTERN
Protective care takes material form in places built and kept for life to dwell.
And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:THE THREAD
And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.Genesis uses the same build root, בנה (banah, “build”), and the same livestock word, מִקְנֶה (miqneh, “livestock”), for Jacob’s provision. Together, the verses show care becoming built shelter for what depends on you.
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