Lexicon
מִסְפָּר
mis.par
H4557
H:N-M Hebrew

number

134
Occurrences
25
Books
Hebrew
Language

mis.par denotes a count or stated quantity, including totals, prescribed amounts, and measured spans of days or years.

The term most often identifies a stated total obtained or reported in counting people, groups, offerings, or objects. It also marks quantities set in proportion to something else, spans measured in days or years, and contexts where an amount is few or beyond counting.

Senses in use

  1. Counted total or tally · dominant

    In 2 Samuel 24:9 the construct form occurs when Joab delivers the tally of registered people, followed by totals for Israel and Judah. It likewise introduces stated totals for military heads in 2 Chronicles 26:12, those killed in Susa in Esther 9:11, and trained singers in 1 Chronicles 25:7.

  2. Set quantity or proportional amount · common

    The construct form marks an amount determined in relation to another group or requirement: Exodus 16:16 concerns gathering by the persons in each tent, and 1 Kings 18:31 concerns twelve stones in relation to the tribes. In Ezra 3:4 the APB renders offerings made each day according to the required quantity, while 1 Chronicles 23:31 refers to offerings according to what was prescribed.

  3. Measured extent of time · occasional

    With days or years, the construct form marks the duration under consideration. In 1 Samuel 27:7 the APB renders the duration of David's residence as a year and four months; Daniel 9:2 concerns the years leading to Jerusalem's desolations, and Ezekiel 4:9 specifies the days of eating the prepared food.

  4. Amount characterized as few or uncountable · occasional

    Absolute forms occur where the surrounding clause characterizes an amount rather than supplies a total. In 1 Chronicles 22:4 the APB describes cedar trees as "without number," whereas 1 Chronicles 16:19 and Deuteronomy 4:27 describe people as few in quantity; Ezekiel 5:3 likewise concerns taking only a little.

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB often presents the clause with "number," "total," or "count," and in limiting contexts uses expressions such as "few in number" and "without number." These English expressions confirm the clauses' quantity language rather than establish separate lexical definitions.

Passages featuring this word

Across Scripture