Numbers 1:13 (KJV)

What does Numbers 1:13 mean?

Numbers 1:13 identifies Pagiel, the son of Ocran, as the representative leader from the tribe of Asher during the census of Israel. This verse is part of a list naming the heads of each tribe who would assist Moses and Aaron in counting the people.

In the context of Numbers chapter 1, God instructs Moses to take a census of all the Israelite men able to go to war, tribe by tribe. For each tribe, a leader is named to help with this task. Numbers 1:13 simply records the leader for the tribe of Asher, showing the organized and communal nature of Israel’s early leadership structure.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 1:13

• אָשֵׁר (Asher, H836): This is the name of one of Jacob’s sons and the tribe descended from him. The name means "happy" or "blessed," and it marks the specific tribal identity being referenced here.
• פַּגְעִיאֵל (Pagiel, H6295): This is the personal name of the leader from Asher. The name can be understood as "God has met" or "God intervenes," but here it simply identifies the individual chosen for this role.
• בֵּן (ben, H1121): This word means "son," indicating lineage, which was important for establishing tribal and family authority.
• עָכְרָן (Ocran, H5918): This is the name of Pagiel’s father, further clarifying his family background and helping distinguish him from others.

Why Numbers 1:13 matters

• Numbers 1:13 helps clarify the structure and orderliness of Israel’s community by showing that each tribe had a recognized leader involved in national matters.
• The verse connects to the broader census, emphasizing that leadership was not arbitrary but rooted in family and tribal lines, which was essential for identity and organization.
• By naming both Pagiel and his father Ocran, the verse highlights the importance of lineage and accountability in Israel’s leadership, which would have been meaningful to the original audience.