1 Chronicles 2:2 kjv
Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
1 Chronicles 2:2 nkjv
Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
1 Chronicles 2:2 niv
Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
1 Chronicles 2:2 esv
Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
1 Chronicles 2:2 nlt
Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
1 Chronicles 2 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 29:31-30:24 | Births of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin. | Origins of Jacob's sons/tribes. |
| Gen 32:28 | Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel... | Jacob receives the name "Israel." |
| Gen 35:23-26 | The sons of Leah: Reuben... Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph...Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah: Dan...Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah: Gad...Asher. | Comprehensive list of Jacob's sons. |
| Gen 46:8-27 | These are the names of the sons of Israel...who came into Egypt... | Jacob's sons who went to Egypt. |
| Gen 49:1-28 | Jacob blesses his twelve sons, prophesying about their future tribes. | Prophetic destiny of the tribes. |
| Ex 1:1-5 | These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt... | Initial census of Jacob's household in Egypt. |
| Num 1:5-15 | Names of tribal leaders at the first census. | Early organization by tribes. |
| Num 2:1-34 | Instructions for tribal camps and march order. | Divine order and tribal identity in camp. |
| Num 13:1-16 | The men sent to spy out Canaan, one from each tribe. | Representative nature of the tribes. |
| Num 26:5-51 | Second census by tribal lineage. | Continuity of tribal identity over generations. |
| Deut 27:12-13 | Listing tribes for blessings and curses on Gerizim and Ebal. | Covenant responsibilities tied to tribes. |
| Deut 33:1-29 | Moses blesses the tribes of Israel. | Final blessings and distinct tribal roles. |
| Josh 13-19 | Division of the land among the twelve tribes. | Fulfillment of promise through tribal inheritance. |
| Judg 1:1-36 | Tribal efforts in conquering Canaan. | Post-Joshua tribal actions. |
| Ezek 48:1-29 | Future tribal land division in Ezekiel's vision. | Prophetic restoration of tribal order. |
| Matt 10:2-4 | List of the twelve apostles, often seen as representing new Israel. | New Testament parallelism, apostles as foundational. |
| Matt 19:28 | "...you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." | Jesus' promise to apostles, referencing tribes. |
| Luke 2:36 | Anna, a prophetess of the tribe of Asher. | NT mention of a specific tribe's lineage. |
| Acts 7:8-9 | Stephen speaks of "the twelve patriarchs" in his discourse. | Apostolic teaching affirming patriarchal roots. |
| James 1:1 | To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. | Addressing believers as spiritual Israel. |
| Rev 7:4-8 | Listing 144,000 sealed from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. | Future vision with re-affirmed tribal identities. |
| Rev 21:12 | The twelve gates of New Jerusalem bear the names of the twelve tribes. | Eternal city symbolizing God's covenant people. |
1 Chronicles 2 verses
1 Chronicles 2 2 Meaning
This verse serves as the foundational opening of the genealogies in 1 Chronicles, specifically listing the twelve direct sons of Jacob, whose transformed name was Israel. It precisely identifies the progenitors from whom the twelve tribes of the nation Israel originated. This introduction immediately establishes the lineage of God's chosen people, emphasizing continuity and identity from their very inception.
1 Chronicles 2 2 Context
1 Chronicles begins with extensive genealogies, immediately after the listing of primal humanity through Adam in chapter 1. Chapter 2 transitions directly to the "sons of Israel" (Jacob), signifying the immediate focus on God's chosen people. This particular verse lays the groundwork by identifying the direct progenitors of the twelve tribes, emphasizing the origins and foundational unity of Israel before delving into the specific lineage of Judah (which leads to King David) that dominates much of Chronicles. Historically, the post-exilic audience of Chronicles would find deep significance in these genealogies, connecting them to their ancestral identity, land claims, priestly roles, and their covenant relationship with God, assuring them of divine continuity despite exile and loss.
1 Chronicles 2 2 Word analysis
- The sons of Israel: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, Benei Yisrael). This is a foundational designation for the nation of Israel.
- The sons of (Benei): Implies direct descent and collective identity. It highlights that the nation is one extended family originating from a single patriarch. This emphasizes familial unity and a shared heritage.
- Israel (Yisra'el): Refers to Jacob, whose name was divinely changed after wrestling with God (Gen 32:28). The name means "he contends with God" or "God contends." This signifies not just a personal name but the national identity—a people who are called to struggle in faith with God and are blessed by Him. Using "Israel" here, rather than "Jacob," reinforces the national and covenantal scope.
- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun: These are the six sons of Leah, Jacob's first wife. Their order largely follows their birth. The listing establishes Leah's progeny first, recognizing her role in populating Jacob's house. Judah's immediate presence here foreshadows his tribe's centrality to the Chronicler's narrative, leading to the Davidic dynasty.
- Dan: Son of Bilhah, Rachel's servant. Placed here as the first of the handmaids' children listed, differing from strict birth order which often groups all sons by mothers. This specific order in Chronicles sometimes varies from other biblical lists, suggesting a deliberate arrangement for the Chronicler's purposes, potentially reflecting a known traditional ordering.
- Joseph, Benjamin: These are the two sons of Rachel, Jacob's favored wife. Listed together as full brothers. Notably, "Joseph" is listed as a single progenitor, unlike other contexts where his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, are counted as separate tribes for land inheritance. This underscores the focus on the immediate, foundational sons (patriarchs) rather than later tribal representatives.
- Naphtali: Son of Bilhah, Rachel's servant. His placement after Rachel's sons (Joseph, Benjamin) and Dan is specific. This further shows the Chronicler's selected arrangement for this particular enumeration, which emphasizes a certain completeness of Jacob's immediate family.
- Gad, and Asher: Sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant. These complete the list of Jacob's twelve sons. Their presence rounds out the ancestral pool from which all twelve tribes would spring. The inclusion of all these sons ensures that every lineage contributing to the broader nation of Israel is recognized and accounted for from the very beginning.
1 Chronicles 2 2 Bonus section
The variation in the order and precise counting of the "twelve tribes" throughout the Bible (e.g., in tribal land allotments, Revelation 7 where Dan is omitted but Manasseh and Ephraim are listed differently, or Levi being a priestly tribe without land) highlights that "twelve tribes" is more than a simple numerical sum; it represents the complete, divinely established, and covenantal people of God. The Chronicler's choice here to list the literal "sons of Israel" (patriarchs) and the specific order reinforces a historical, foundational, and continuous identity for the community reading this scripture. This list specifically refers to the personal progenitors, which is distinct from tribal enumerations which often account for land inheritance (thus dividing Joseph into Ephraim and Manasseh) or a focus on a spiritual census.
1 Chronicles 2 2 Commentary
1 Chronicles 2:2, by meticulously listing Jacob's twelve sons, serves as a crucial theological statement about God's faithfulness to His covenant people. For a post-exilic audience, it was a reaffirmation of their unbroken heritage, establishing their identity directly from their divine patriarch, Israel. The Chronicler, by starting with Adam and moving immediately to Israel's sons, signals that this is not merely a record of names, but a foundation for the ongoing narrative of God's interaction with His chosen nation. It underscores the unity of Israel through its shared patriarchal descent and sets the stage for tracing the particular lineage of Judah, through whom the messianic hope would eventually arise. This focus on "root" emphasizes the divine purpose inherent in Israel's existence.