Numbers 32:35 (KJV)

What does Numbers 32:35 mean?

Numbers 32:35 lists the names of towns—Atroth, Shophan, Jaazer, and Jogbehah—that are being mentioned as part of a larger description of territory. This verse is part of a record of places that the tribes of Reuben and Gad requested to settle in after Israel’s conquest of the land east of the Jordan River.

In this section of Numbers, Moses is recounting which towns and regions the tribes wanted for their livestock and families. The verse simply names some of the locations included in their request, without adding further details or narrative about them.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 32:35

• שֹׁפָן (Shophan, shophan): This is the name of one of the towns listed. The meaning of the name is not entirely clear, but it is included to mark a specific location within the territory being discussed.
• יַעְזֵר (Jaazer, ya‘zer): Another town named here, Jaazer was known elsewhere in the Bible as a place with good pastureland, which fits the context of the tribes seeking land for their livestock.
• יָגְבְּהָה (Jogbehah, yogbehah): This town is also listed among the settlements. Its inclusion helps define the boundaries of the land being described.

Why Numbers 32:35 matters

• Numbers 32:35 helps clarify which specific towns were part of the territory east of the Jordan that the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to settle, showing the practical details of their request.
• The verse connects to the larger passage by showing that the land allocation was not vague or general, but involved real, named places, emphasizing the historical and geographical reality of the settlement.
• By naming these towns, the text anchors the story in the actual landscape of the region, which can help readers understand the scope and seriousness of the tribes’ request.