Numbers 3:2

Summary

The verse introduces a list of names, identifying the sons of Aaron: Nadab (designated as the firstborn), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. It functions as a heading that opens the genealogical/priestly record continued in the following verses.

Key words

• 'E.leh ("these", H0428) — demonstrative particle that opens the clause and points forward to the list of names about to be given.
• she.Mot ("names of", H8034) — feminine plural noun in construct state, syntactically bound to be.nei ("sons of"), forming the phrase "names of the sons of."
• be.nei ("sons of", H1121A) — masculine plural noun in construct, linking to 'a.ha.Ron ("Aaron", H0175) to specify whose sons are named.
• ha.be.Khor ("the firstborn", H1060 with article H9009) — definite singular noun functioning as an appositional title attached to na.Dav ("Nadab", H5070G), marking his birth-order status among the brothers.

What the text says

The verse opens with the conjunction ve ("and", H9002) attached to the demonstrative 'E.leh ("these", H0428), a construction commonly used in Biblical Hebrew to introduce a list or genealogical section. The core of the sentence is a construct chain: she.Mot be.nei-'a.ha.Ron ("names of the sons of Aaron"), where she.Mot (H8034) governs be.nei (H1121A), and be.nei in turn governs the proper name 'a.ha.Ron (H0175). This chain establishes the grammatical subject of the sentence as a list-heading rather than a full predicate clause.

Following the heading, four proper names are given in sequence: na.Dav (H5070G), 'a.vi.Hu' (H0030), 'el.'a.Zar (H0499G), and 'i.ta.Mar (H0385). The first name, Nadab, is preceded by the phrase ha.be.Khor ("the firstborn", H1060 with the definite article H9009), which stands in apposition to his name, marking his status as firstborn among Aaron's sons without a separate verb — the Hebrew simply juxtaposes the title and the name. The remaining three names are joined by the conjunction ve (H9002), appearing before "Abihu" in the Hebrew and again before "Ithamar," while Eleazar has no preceding conjunction in the Masoretic text as presented here, showing a paratactic listing style typical of genealogical enumerations.

Differences between versions

The Vulgate renders ha.be.Khor ("the firstborn") with the added possessive "ejus" ("his firstborn"), making explicit a relation that the Hebrew construct/apposition leaves implicit. The LXX uses πρωτότοκος ("firstborn") without a possessive pronoun, closer to the Hebrew's bare apposition. Additionally, the LXX spells the second son's name as Ἀβιούδ ("Abioud") where the Hebrew has 'a.vi.Hu' ("Abihu", H0030), a transliteration difference visible in the Greek form.