Numbers 32 38

Numbers 32:38 kjv

And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.

Numbers 32:38 nkjv

Nebo and Baal Meon (their names being changed) and Shibmah; and they gave other names to the cities which they built.

Numbers 32:38 niv

as well as Nebo and Baal Meon (these names were changed) and Sibmah. They gave names to the cities they rebuilt.

Numbers 32:38 esv

Nebo, and Baal-meon (their names were changed), and Sibmah. And they gave other names to the cities that they built.

Numbers 32:38 nlt

Nebo, Baal-meon, and Sibmah. They changed the names of some of the towns they conquered and rebuilt.

Numbers 32 verses

Numbers 32 38 Meaning

Numbers 32:38 describes specific actions taken by the tribes of Reuben and Gad after conquering territory east of the Jordan River. It states that they rebuilt cities previously held by the Amorites, specifically naming Nebo, Baal-meon (with the significant note that their names were changed), and Sibmah. The verse emphasizes that these were cities they had just taken in conquest, indicating their establishment of control and fulfillment of their agreement to settle in Transjordan. The renaming of cities like Baal-meon serves as a theological act, disconnecting them from pagan associations and consecrating them to Yahweh.

Numbers 32 38 Context

Numbers chapter 32 recounts the tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with half the tribe of Manasseh, requesting to settle the land east of the Jordan River. This territory, formerly ruled by the Amorite kings Sihon and Og, had just been conquered by Israel. Moses initially reacted with displeasure, fearing a lack of commitment to the larger conquest of Canaan. However, the tribes clarified their intention: they would first build defensive cities for their families and enclosures for their livestock in Transjordan, and then their fighting men would cross the Jordan and fight alongside the other tribes until all of Canaan was subdued. Moses agreed to these terms. Verse 38 is part of a list of cities the Reubenites and Gadites built or rebuilt as they began to establish their presence and fulfill their commitment to their families before crossing into Canaan proper. Historically, this marks the end of Israel's wilderness wanderings and the beginning of the actual possession of the land promised by God. The act of rebuilding and renaming reflects Israel's taking ownership and stamping their theological identity on the conquered territory.

Numbers 32 38 Word analysis

• and Nebo (וְנְבֹו֙ - wə-nəḇōw): From the Hebrew word נְבוֹ. Nebo was a city in Moabite territory (east of Jordan) known also for Mount Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death (Dt 34:1). The name may mean "prophet" or be linked to the Babylonian deity Nabu, a god of wisdom and writing. Its mention here signifies an existing settlement within the newly conquered lands now being claimed by Israel.
• and Baal-meon (וּבַ֥עַל מְעֹ֖ון - ū-ḇa‘al mə‘ōn): "Baal" (בַּ֫עַל - ba‘al) means "lord" or "owner" and often refers to the Canaanite storm and fertility deity. "Meon" (מְעֹון - mə‘ōn) means "habitation" or "dwelling." So, "Baal-meon" translates to "Lord of dwelling." This name directly associates the city with pagan worship. Its inclusion underscores the religious challenge and Israel's mission to cleanse the land of idolatry. This city is also found in other biblical texts with variant spellings such as Beth-Baal-Meon or Beth-Meon (Josh 13:17, Jer 48:23, 1 Chr 5:8).
• (their names being changed) (מוּסַבֹּ֥ת שֵׁ֖ם - mūsaḇbōṯ šēm): This crucial parenthetical phrase (appearing as "their name being changed" in many translations) clarifies that the original pagan-associated names, specifically Baal-meon, were altered. The Hebrew mūsabbōṯ is a passive participle meaning "turned," "changed," or "transferred." This action represents a direct theological polemic against the Canaanite deity Baal. Renaming places served to strip them of their former identity and consecrated them to the God of Israel. It was a tangible act of disassociation from pagan worship and an assertion of Yahweh's sovereignty over the land and its very nomenclature. This aligns with commands to dismantle idolatry (Dt 12:2-3).
• and Sibmah (וְשִׂבְמָ֑ה - wəśiḇmāh): A city also in Reuben's territory, noted for its abundant vineyards and wine production (Isa 16:8-9, Jer 48:32). Its name might mean "coolness" or "fragrant place," lacking the direct pagan association seen with Baal-meon. Its inclusion signifies another city that was brought under Israelite control and reestablished.
• and they built the cities (וַיִּבְנוּ֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים - wayyiḇnū ’eṯ-he‘ārîm): The verb wayyiḇnū means "and they built." This signifies not just taking over but fortifying, developing, and making the cities fit for Israelite dwelling, including families and livestock as agreed. This demonstrated their commitment to settling the land. While "built" can mean creating anew, in this context of conquered cities, it primarily means to rebuild, repair, or fortify existing structures, adapting them for Israelite use.
• which they took (אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָקָ֑חוּ - ’ăšer lāqāḥū): The phrase literally means "which they took" or "which they captured." This refers to the immediate military conquest of the kingdoms of Sihon and Og (Num 21). It reinforces that these actions were directly related to the recent victorious campaigns and the tribes taking physical possession of the promised territory.

• Words-group analysis:
• "Nebo, and Baal-meon (their names being changed)": This grouping highlights the proactive religious action taken by the Israelite tribes. By renaming Baal-meon, they were consciously purging the pagan religious identifiers from their new inheritance. This was more than just a change of address; it was a spiritual claiming of the land for Yahweh, directly confronting and repudiating the polytheism that had previously permeated these regions.
• "and they built the cities which they took": This phrase encapsulates the fulfillment of the Gadites and Reubenites' promise to Moses. They were not merely passing through or lightly occupying the land. Their commitment to "building" these cities for their families and flocks (Num 32:16) was a tangible act of taking deep root in the territory they had captured, signifying long-term settlement and securing the conquered regions for Israel. It also underscores the practical effort required in establishing new homelands.

Numbers 32 38 Bonus section

The practice of renaming places and people in the Bible often carries deep theological significance. It signifies a new beginning, a change of ownership, or a redefined relationship with God. In the case of Baal-meon, the name change symbolizes a declaration of spiritual victory and territorial appropriation, demonstrating that Yahweh, not Baal, is the true Lord of that dwelling. This act anticipates the larger mandate for Israel to completely remove pagan worship from the land of Canaan. Furthermore, these specific cities mentioned in Numbers 32, particularly Nebo, Baal-meon, and Sibmah, later reappear in prophecies against Moab (Jer 48, Isa 16), highlighting their ongoing importance as strategic locations that often reverted to non-Israelite control, reflecting the complex historical reality of maintaining the inheritance.

Numbers 32 38 Commentary

Numbers 32:38 reveals a critical step in Israel's settlement of the Transjordanian territory. The act of rebuilding Nebo, Baal-meon, and Sibmah by the tribes of Reuben and Gad demonstrates their earnestness in establishing their communities before aiding in the conquest of Canaan proper. Crucially, the verse notes that the names of cities like Baal-meon were changed. This wasn't merely administrative; it was a profound theological statement. "Baal" represented the primary Canaanite deity, embodying fertility cults and idolatry that opposed the monotheistic worship of Yahweh. By removing the name "Baal" and substituting it (implied by the phrase "their names being changed"), the Israelites were physically and symbolically purging the land of its pagan defilement and claiming it for the worship of the one true God. This reflects the divine command to eradicate all vestiges of paganism from the promised land. Their building efforts transformed previously hostile, pagan strongholds into Israelite cities, consecrated to God through acts of ownership and spiritual purification, thus actualizing God's covenant promise for His people to inhabit and reshape the land according to His will.