Zebulun זבולן
Genesis writes it one way, most of the Tanakh another. A third, the modern plene spelling, stands nowhere at all.
- Found in the Torah
- 2,889
- Chance alone: 2,949
- Skips 2 to 76,212
- Found in the Tanakh
- 54,780
- Chance alone: 54,531
- Skips 2 to 299,260
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Leah gives two reasons for this name in one verse, Genesis 30:20: God hath endowed me with a good dowry, and now will my husband dwell with me. The verbs זבד and זבל both sound in it. The scribes wrote the name without settling how. זבולן is the usual form, 25 times bare. זבלון stands six times, including that very verse, its first appearance. And the fully spelled זבולון, which a person today might expect, does not stand anywhere in the Tanakh. Three spellings, one of them absent from the text, make this a clean little example for anyone who is choosing what to type. All three are searched below, and the count of the absent one shows that a sequence does not care.
- As a whole word
- 25
- First, with any prefix
- Genesis 35:23
The measurement
Nothing on the site demonstrates this more cleanly. The Torah has 2,889 sequences of the usual spelling, 2,829 of the rarer one, and both share a chance figure of 2,949.3, because they use the same letters. The spelling the Tanakh never writes has 259.
| At every skip | Torah | Tanakh |
|---|---|---|
| Found | 2,889 | 54,780 |
| Chance alone | 2,949 | 54,531 |
| P (≥ found) | 0.87 | 0.14 |
| Shortest skip | 3 | 3 |
| Longest skip | 75,720 | 298,283 |
Counted forward and backward on the written text, with final letters treated as ordinary ones. At the laboratory's opening setting, skips 2 to 5,000, the Torah gives 386 against 374 by chance. How these figures are made.
Other spellings
Each spelling is its own search. Every skip, both directions.
| Spelling | Torah | Tanakh |
|---|---|---|
| זבולן25 as a word | 2,889 chance 2,949 | 54,780 chance 54,531 |
| זבלון6 as a word | 2,829 chance 2,949 | 53,776 chance 54,531 |
| זבולון0 as a word | 259 chance 236 | 4,706 chance 4,723 |
The sequences, letter by letter
Each letter is shown in the verse it happens to stand in, nothing more. Tap one to read it in the Tanakh, with the rest of the sequence marked.
In the Torah
Shortest skip 3, backward from Genesis 37:2
… אֶת־אֶחָיו֙ בַּצֹּ֔אן וְה֣וּא נַ֗עַר אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בִלְהָ֛ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵ֥י זִלְפָּ֖ה נְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֑יו וַיָּבֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף …
These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, being still a lad even with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought evil report of them unto their father.
Short skip 56, backward from Numbers 9:3
בְּאַרְבָּעָ֣ה עָשָֽׂר־י֠וֹם בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֜ה בֵּ֧ין הָֽעֲרְבַּ֛יִם תַּעֲשׂ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ בְּמוֹעֲד֑וֹ כְּכָל־חֻקֹּתָ֥יו וּכְכָל־מִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו תַּעֲשׂ֥וּ אֹתֽוֹ׃
In the fourteenth day of this month, at dusk, ye shall keep it in its appointed season; according to all the statutes of it, and according to all the ordinances thereof, shall ye keep it.’
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְקוָ֣ק אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה בְמִדְבַּר־סִ֠ינַי בַּשָּׁנָ֨ה הַשֵּׁנִ֜ית לְצֵאתָ֨ם מֵאֶ֧רֶץ מִצְרַ֛יִם בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן לֵאמֹֽר׃
And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
וְשֵׁרֵ֨ת אֶת־אֶחָ֜יו בְּאֹ֤הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ לִשְׁמֹ֣ר מִשְׁמֶ֔רֶת וַעֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א יַעֲבֹ֑ד כָּ֛כָה תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לַלְוִיִּ֖ם בְּמִשְׁמְרֹתָֽם׃
but shall minister with their brethren in the tent of meeting, to keep the charge, but they shall do no manner of service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charges.’
וּמִבֶּן֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב מִצְּבָ֣א הָעֲבֹדָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲבֹ֖ד עֽוֹד׃
and from the age of fifty years they shall return from the service of the work, and shall serve no more;
זֹ֖את אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַלְוִיִּ֑ם מִבֶּן֩ חָמֵ֨שׁ וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה יָבוֹא֙ לִצְבֹ֣א צָבָ֔א בַּעֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃
’This is that which pertaineth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to perform the service in the work of the tent of meeting;
Middle skip 503, forward from Leviticus 9:20
וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ אֶת־הַחֲלָבִ֖ים עַל־הֶחָז֑וֹת וַיַּקְטֵ֥ר הַחֲלָבִ֖ים הַמִּזְבֵּֽחָה׃
And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he made the fat smoke upon the altar.
וַֽיִּקְרְב֗וּ וַיִּשָּׂאֻם֙ בְּכֻתֳּנֹתָ֔ם אֶל־מִח֖וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר מֹשֶֽׁה׃
So they drew near, and carried them in their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said.
וְאֵת֩ חֲזֵ֨ה הַתְּנוּפָ֜ה וְאֵ֣ת שׁ֣וֹק …
And the breast of waving and the thigh of heaving shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee; for they are given as thy due, and thy sons’ due, out of the sacrifices of the peace-offerings of the children of Israel.
וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְקוָ֛ק אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹ֥ר אֲלֵהֶֽם׃
And the LORD spoke unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them:
וְשֶׁ֖קֶץ יִהְי֣וּ לָכֶ֑ם מִבְּשָׂרָם֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֔לוּ וְאֶת־נִבְלָתָ֖ם תְּשַׁקֵּֽצוּ׃
and they shall be a detestable thing unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses ye shall have in detestation.
Wide skip 5,023, backward from Exodus 30:3
וְצִפִּיתָ֨ אֹת֜וֹ זָהָ֣ב טָה֗וֹר אֶת־גַּגּ֧וֹ וְאֶת־קִירֹתָ֛יו סָבִ֖יב וְאֶת־קַרְנֹתָ֑יו וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ לּ֛וֹ זֵ֥ר זָהָ֖ב סָבִֽיב׃
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.
לְכֹל֙ כְּלֵ֣י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן בְּכֹ֖ל עֲבֹדָת֑וֹ וְכָל־יְתֵדֹתָ֛יו וְכָל־יִתְדֹ֥ת הֶחָצֵ֖ר נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃
All the instruments of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְקוָ֜ק אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה עֲלֵ֥ה אֵלַ֛י הָהָ֖רָה וֶהְיֵה־שָׁ֑ם וְאֶתְּנָ֨ה לְךָ֜ אֶת־לֻחֹ֣ת הָאֶ֗בֶן וְהַתּוֹרָה֙ וְהַמִּצְוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּתַ֖בְתִּי לְהוֹרֹתָֽם׃
And the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Come up to Me into the mount and be there; and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.’
וְאִם־מִזְבַּ֤ח אֲבָנִים֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֔י לֹֽא־תִבְנֶ֥ה אֶתְהֶ֖ן גָּזִ֑ית כִּ֧י חַרְבְּךָ֛ הֵנַ֥פְתָּ עָלֶ֖יהָ וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃
And if thou make Me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast profaned it.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן קַ֚ח צִנְצֶ֣נֶת אַחַ֔ת וְתֶן־שָׁ֥מָּה מְלֹֽא־הָעֹ֖מֶר מָ֑ן וְהַנַּ֤ח אֹתוֹ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְקוָ֔ק לְמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃
And Moses said unto Aaron: ‘Take a jar, and put an omerful of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept throughout your generations.’
Outside the Torah
Shortest skip 10, forward from Micah 6:5
עַמִּ֗י זְכָר־נָא֙ מַה־יָּעַ֗ץ בָּלָק֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מוֹאָ֔ב וּמֶה־עָנָ֥ה אֹת֖וֹ בִּלְעָ֣ם בֶּן־בְּע֑וֹר מִן־הַשִּׁטִּים֙ עַד־הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל לְמַ֕עַן דַּ֖עַת צִדְק֥וֹת יְקוָֽק׃
O My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him; From Shittim unto Gilgal, That ye may know the righteous acts of the LORD.
Middle skip 501, backward from Ezekiel 41:12
וְהַבִּנְיָ֡ן אֲשֶׁר֩ אֶל־פְּנֵ֨י הַגִּזְרָ֜ה פְּאַ֣ת דֶּֽרֶךְ־הַיָּ֗ם רֹ֚חַב שִׁבְעִ֣ים …
And the building that was before the separate place at the side toward the west was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about, and the length thereof ninety cubits.
וַיָּ֨מָד אֶת־אָרְכּ֜וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים אַמָּ֗ה וְרֹ֛חַב עֶשְׂרִ֥ים אַמָּ֖ה אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַֽהֵיכָ֑ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י זֶ֖ה קֹ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃
And he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits, and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple; and he said unto me: ‘This is the most holy place.’
וַיְדַבֵּ֖ר אֵלָ֑י זֹ֣ה הַלִּשְׁכָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר פָּנֶ֨יהָ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַדָּר֔וֹם לַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים שֹׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת הַבָּֽיִת׃
And he said unto me: ‘This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
ואילווְאֵילָ֗יו לֶֽחָצֵר֙ הַחִ֣יצוֹנָ֔ה וְתִמֹרִ֥ים אֶל־אילואֵילָ֖יו מִפּ֣וֹ וּמִפּ֑וֹ וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מַעֲל֖וֹת מעלומַעֲלָֽיו׃
And the posts thereof were toward the outer court; and palm-trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side; and the going up to it had eight steps.
וַיְבִיאֵ֛נִי אֶל־חָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִ֖י בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַדָּר֑וֹם וַיָּ֨מָד֙ אֶת־הַשַּׁ֣עַר הַדָּר֔וֹם כַּמִּדּ֖וֹת הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate; and he measured the south gate according to these measures;
By skip range, shuffled texts and book
| Skips, Torah | Found | Chance alone |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 10 | 1 | 0.7 |
| 11 to 100 | 7 | 7 |
| 101 to 1,000 | 71 | 69.2 |
| 1,001 to 5,000 | 307 | 297 |
| 5,001 to 76,212 | 2,503 | 2,575 |
Shuffled Torahs
The Torah's own count at skips 2 to 1,000 is 79. Each family below rebuilt the text 100 times (seed 5787). What each family keeps.
| Control family | Runs at or above 79 | Median run | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter shuffle | 42/100 | 76 | 56 to 97 |
| Words within each verse | 35/100 | 76 | 57 to 96 |
Where the sequences start
| Torah | Found | Chance alone |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis | 606 | 755 |
| Exodus | 661 | 615 |
| Leviticus | 593 | 433 |
| Numbers | 587 | 615 |
| Deuteronomy | 442 | 531 |
| Tanakh | Found | Chance alone |
|---|---|---|
| Torah | 12,536 | 13,887 |
| Prophets | 24,170 | 25,228 |
| Writings | 18,074 | 15,416 |
Run this search yourself
Change the skips, set זבולן beside another word, and run the controls on your own question.
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