What Does Numbers 34:21 Mean in the King James?

Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.

Numbers 34:21 · KJV

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

Benjamin’s “tribe” is matteh, a word also meaning staff or rod, from natah, “to stretch out”: the people appear as an extension within a larger whole.

THE MEANING

Benjamin (⁨בִּנְיָמִין⁩, Binyamin, “son of the right hand”) has a place in the list through Elidad (⁨אֱלִידָד⁩, Elidad, “God has loved”), son of Chislon (⁨כִּסְלוֹן⁩, Kislon, “confidence”). The verse makes belonging specific: a people, a representative, and a family line.

THE ROOT

מַטֵּה

matteh

GROWS FROM

נטה

to stretch out, extend, incline

English gives only “tribe,” but matteh also means a staff or rod and comes from natah, “to stretch out.” Benjamin is presented as a distinct extension within the people, carried here by a named representative.

ALSO GROWS

natah: to stretch out, extend, incline

נָטָה

This is the verbal root beneath matteh, so the tribal word carries an image of extension.

matteh: staff, rod; tribe

מַטֵּה

The verse uses this word for Benjamin’s tribal unit; the English “tribe” leaves its concrete staff or rod sense out of view.

THE PATTERN

A whole becomes visible through particular members and representatives who hold a place within it.

And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.

Numbers 1:4 · KJVEach tribe is represented by a head connected to a family line.

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

1 Corinthians 12:18 · KJVThe body is presented as a whole made up of members, each with a place within it.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Acts 6:3 · KJVThe assembly identifies people from among itself to carry a shared responsibility.

THE THREAD

And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.

Numbers 1:4 · KJV

The Hebrew word matteh names the tribe in both verses, carrying the same word-family image of extension. Numbers 1:4 makes that structure explicit by pairing each tribe with a head connected to a father’s house.

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