וּמִבֶּן֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב מִצְּבָ֣א הָעֲבֹדָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲבֹ֖ד עֹֽוד׃
(Numbers 8:25)
And from the age of fifty years he shall return from the service of the work, and shall serve no more.
Word-by-Word Explanation
- וּמִבֶּן — “and from the age of.” Preposition מִן (“from”) + בֵּן (“son”), used idiomatically for age (“years old”).
- חֲמִשִּׁים — “fifty.” Numeral for the age marker.
- שָׁנָה — “year.” Noun in singular, completing the phrase: “fifty years old.”
- יָשׁוּב — “he shall return.” Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular from שׁוּב (“to return, turn back”).
- מִצְּבָא — “from the service.” Preposition מִן + noun צָבָא (“service, host, duty, army”). Here, “from the duty.”
- הָעֲבֹדָה — “of the work.” Definite article + עֲבֹדָה (“work, labor, service”), here describing the Levites’ sacred duty.
- וְלֹא — “and not.” Negation.
- יַעֲבֹד — “he shall serve / work.” Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular from עָבַד (“to work, serve”).
- עוֹד — “any more / again.” Adverb of continuation, showing the service is now ended.
Word Order and Sentence Flow
The verse is built in two halves:
- וּמִבֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה יָשׁוּב מִצְּבָא הָעֲבֹדָה — “And from fifty years old he shall return from the service of the work.”
- וְלֹא יַעֲבֹד עוֹד — “and he shall serve no more.”
The Hebrew places emphasis on the turning point of age (50) and uses two imperfect verbs (יָשׁוּב, יַעֲבֹד) to mark the transition: leaving service, no longer serving.
Structure Chart
| Age Marker | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| מִבֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה from fifty years old |
יָשׁוּב מִצְּבָא הָעֲבֹדָה he shall return from the service |
וְלֹא יַעֲבֹד עוֹד he shall serve no more |
How the Sentence Works (Beginner’s View)
- Ages in Hebrew: בֵּן + number + שָׁנָה is the common way to express age (“a son of fifty years”).
- Service language: צָבָא and עֲבֹדָה highlight duty — here the Levites’ temple service.
- Finality: the adverb עוֹד plus negation shows an irreversible change: “no longer.”
Brick by Brick: Building Hebrew Understanding
This verse shows how Hebrew can mark life’s stages with precision: “from fifty years old” signals transition, verbs describe retirement from sacred duty, and the final עוֹד closes the door on further service. You’ve just seen how Hebrew grammar captures a turning point in human life — clear, rhythmic, and memorable.
“Hebrew shows us life’s rhythms through verbs and phrases — every age, every season has its place.”
