Original Word: אָזְנִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ozniy
Pronunciation: ohz-NEE
Phonetic Spelling: (oz-nee')
KJV: Ozni, Oznites
Word Origin: [from H241 (אוֹזֶן - ear)]

1. having (quick) ears
2. Ozni, an Israelite
3. (also) an Oznite
4. (collectively) his descendants

Ozni, Oznites

From 'ozen; having (quick) ears; Ozni, an Israelite; also an Oznite (collectively), his descendant -- Ozni, Oznites.

see HEBREW 'ozen

אָזְנִי proper name, masculine a son of Gad Numbers 26:16 (my hearing, or my ear ? Genesis 46:16 אֶצְבּוֺן q. v.)

אָזְנִי adjective, of a people from same, הָאָזְנִי Numbers 16:16.

Biblical Setting

“Ozni” (Strong’s Hebrew 244) appears in the census record taken on the plains of Moab shortly before Israel’s entry into Canaan: “These were the descendants of Gad by their clans: the Zephonite clan through Zephon, the Haggite clan through Haggi, the Shunite clan through Shuni, the Oznite clan through Ozni” (Numbers 26:16). The name is repeated in the same verse when the associated clan is identified, yielding the two textual occurrences.

Genealogical Connections

The clan originates with Ozni, a son in the line of Gad (compare Genesis 46:16, where the corresponding name appears as Ezbon). Both forms are preserved by the inspired text, reminding the reader that variant spellings do not signal contradiction but the richness of Israel’s oral and written transmission. The Oznites constitute one of seven Gadite sub-tribes, each receiving a share in the tribal allotment east of the Jordan (Joshua 13:24-28).

Historical Background

1. Second Wilderness Census: Numbers 26 replaces the first census of Numbers 1 after the faithless generation had perished. The continued mention of the Oznites testifies to God’s preservation of covenant families despite forty years of judgment.
2. Settlement East of the Jordan: When Gad and Reuben requested territory suitable for livestock (Numbers 32), the Oznites were included among those who vowed to cross the Jordan armed, fight for their brothers, and then return to the Transjordan. Their faithfulness secured land in the ancient kingdom of Sihon, a region later fortified by Mesha of Moab (as noted on the Mesha Stele) yet continuously tied to Israel’s heritage.

Tribal Legacy and Inheritance

Within Gad, individual clans determined the internal distribution of pasturelands and cities such as Ramoth-gilead, Jazer, and Aroer. The Oznites shared in Levitical cities of refuge and in annual worship at Shiloh and, later, in Jerusalem, illustrating how localized identity coexisted with national unity.

Ministry and Theological Reflections

• Covenant Continuity: The Oznite entry in the census highlights that no name is incidental to God. He counts peoples and preserves lineages in order to unfold redemption history.
• Faith and Obedience: By agreeing to fight west of the Jordan before settling east, the Gadite clans offer a pattern of servant leadership—placing communal duty above personal comfort.
• Divine Ownership: The meticulous record of clans anticipates Paul’s affirmation that believers are “fellow citizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19). Just as the Oznites were inseparable from Gad, so every Christian belongs to an inseverable body in Christ.

Lessons for Today

1. Spiritual Accountability: The census underscores that God numbers His people (Psalm 147:4). Personal faith is never hidden; every disciple is known and cherished.
2. Heritage of Faithfulness: Families, ministries, and churches receive callings analogous to the Oznites’ role within Gad—distinct yet interdependent. Honoring that calling advances the wider mission of God’s kingdom.
3. Hope in Preservation: The survival of the Oznites through wilderness judgment encourages believers that God sustains His own through seasons of discipline, ensuring their inheritance undefiled (1 Peter 1:4).

Conclusion

Though mentioned only within a census list, Ozni and the Oznites illustrate the precision of divine record-keeping, the endurance of covenant promises, and the collective responsibility of God’s people. Their brief appearance strengthens the believer’s confidence that every name, family, and service rendered to the Lord is both remembered and rewarded.

הָאָזְנִ֑י האזני לְאָזְנִ֕י לאזני hā’āzənî hā·’ā·zə·nî haazeNi lə’āzənî lə·’ā·zə·nî leazeNiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts