Genesis 35 24

Genesis 35:24 kjv

The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

Genesis 35:24 nkjv

the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin;

Genesis 35:24 niv

The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

Genesis 35:24 esv

The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

Genesis 35:24 nlt

The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

Genesis 35 24 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 29:31"When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren."Rachel's barrenness highlights God's sovereignty.
Gen 30:23-24"And she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” So she called his name Joseph..."Rachel names Joseph, expecting more sons.
Gen 35:16-18"...Rachel was in childbirth, and she had hard labor... she named him Ben-Oni, but his father called him Benjamin."Birth of Benjamin and Rachel's death.
Gen 37:2"These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old..."Introduction to Joseph's narrative prominence.
Gen 42:4"But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers..."Jacob's protectiveness over Benjamin.
Gen 45:14"Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept..."Joseph reunites with Benjamin.
Gen 49:22-26"Joseph is a fruitful bough... May the blessings of your father be on the head of Joseph..."Jacob's prophetic blessing for Joseph.
Gen 49:27"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf..."Jacob's prophetic blessing for Benjamin.
Exod 1:1-5"These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob... Joseph was already in Egypt."List of Jacob's sons entering Egypt.
Num 1:32-37"...For the sons of Joseph: of Ephraim and Manasseh... The sons of Benjamin..."Listing of descendants for census.
Deut 33:12"Of Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety by him..."Moses' blessing for the tribe of Benjamin.
Deut 33:13-17"And of Joseph he said, “Blessed by the Lord be his land... these are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and these are the thousands of Manasseh.”"Moses' blessing for the tribe of Joseph.
Judg 20:46-48"So all who fell that day of Benjamin were 25,000 men..."Historical reference to Benjamin's tribe.
Ps 80:2"Stir up your might before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh..."Invocation of Northern tribes including Joseph's descendants and Benjamin.
Jer 31:15"Thus says the Lord: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children...”"Rachel's maternal grief, often applied spiritually.
Matt 2:18"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children..."Quoting Jer 31:15 in context of Herod's slaughter.
Rom 9:13"As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”"Context for God's choice in lineage (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob).
Rom 11:1"I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin."Apostle Paul identifies as a Benjaminite.
Phil 3:5"...circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews..."Paul further confirms his Benjaminite heritage.
Heb 11:22"By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones."Joseph's enduring faith and prophecy.
Rev 7:8"of the tribe of Benjamin 12,000, of the tribe of Joseph 12,000..."Benjamin and Joseph listed among the 12 tribes of Israel.
Rev 21:12"It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and on the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed..."Names of tribes, foundational to new Jerusalem.

Genesis 35 verses

Genesis 35 24 Meaning

Genesis 35:24 simply and directly states the identity of Rachel’s two sons: Joseph and Benjamin. This verse is part of a comprehensive list of Jacob's twelve sons, serving as a foundational record of the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. It specifically highlights the children of Rachel, Jacob's deeply loved wife, emphasizing their unique position within the patriarchal lineage, particularly given Rachel's past struggles with barrenness.

Genesis 35 24 Context

Genesis 35:24 is situated within a significant transitional period for Jacob's family as they return to Canaan following their stay with Laban. This chapter records Jacob's pilgrimage from Bethel, where God renewed His covenant with him, to Ephrath (Bethlehem) where Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin, and then to Mamre where Jacob’s father Isaac resides. The listing of Jacob's sons in verses 23-26, categorized by their mothers, serves to formally establish the twelve progenitors of the tribes of Israel, completing the family unit before the narratives transition more fully into the story of Joseph. Specifically, Rachel's two sons are highlighted here, reflecting her singular status as Jacob's cherished wife, despite her later physical passing. The concise enumeration of Joseph and Benjamin solidifies their place in the unfolding saga of God’s covenant people.

Genesis 35 24 Word analysis

  • The sons of (בְּנֵי - bənê): This phrase denotes direct offspring, emphasizing genealogical lineage and heritage. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a man's legacy and standing were largely defined by the number and quality of his male descendants. This highlights the continuity of the covenant promises through Jacob's progeny.
  • Rachel (רָחֵל - Rāḥēl): Rachel was Jacob’s most beloved wife, who suffered from infertility for many years before God opened her womb. Her name means "ewe." The two sons mentioned in this verse were the only children she bore, making them especially significant due to her initial barrenness (Gen 29:31) and the dramatic circumstances surrounding their births. Her role as a matriarch is pivotal to the foundation of Israel.
  • Joseph (יוֹסֵף - Yôwśēf): His name means "He adds" or "May he add," reflecting Rachel's hope for more children (Gen 30:24). Joseph is the firstborn of Rachel and Jacob's favored son. He plays a central and providential role in the unfolding narrative of Genesis, leading to the preservation of Jacob’s family and their descent into Egypt. His story establishes him as a critical bridge between the patriarchal period and the exodus.
  • and Benjamin (וּבִנְיָמִן - ūḇin-yāmîn): Born as Jacob moved towards Bethlehem, his birth was immediately preceded by Rachel’s death. Rachel named him Ben-Oni ("son of my sorrow") in her dying moments, reflecting her distress. Jacob, however, renamed him Benjamin ("son of the right hand," implying strength, prosperity, and favor) (Gen 35:18). Benjamin is the youngest of Jacob’s sons, symbolizing a "beloved youngest brother" figure in later narratives, pivotal in Joseph's tests of his brothers.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "The sons of Rachel": This phrase specifically delineates the offspring of Jacob’s primary beloved wife. It separates her children from those of Leah and the handmaids, underscoring the narrative focus on the twelve direct male descendants who form the future tribes. The unique status of Rachel, initially barren but eventually bearing these two crucial sons, emphasizes divine intervention in the formation of the covenant family.
  • "Joseph and Benjamin": This pairing directly names the two individuals, who are historically and narratively significant. Joseph becomes the deliverer of his family and a significant leader in Egypt, while Benjamin is the cherished youngest, whose existence binds the brothers and father together, especially after Joseph's perceived loss. Their relationship is a microcosm of brotherly love, jealousy, and eventual reconciliation that defines parts of the Genesis narrative.

Genesis 35 24 Bonus section

The order of sons presented in Genesis 35:23-26 (Leah's sons, then Rachel's sons, then Bilhah's sons, then Zilpah's sons) reflects a hierarchy often observed in patriarchal families, with children of primary wives listed first, followed by secondary wives or concubines. Despite Rachel’s precedence in Jacob’s heart, Leah's sons appear first due to their seniority. The special mention of Joseph and Benjamin as "the sons of Rachel" emphasizes their direct descent from Jacob's favored wife, establishing them as prominent figures. Furthermore, the two sons of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) later received full tribal status, essentially bringing the number of prominent tribes in Israel to thirteen or twelve if Levi is excluded, or twelve in varying configurations. This illustrates the particular importance attributed to Joseph's line within the larger tapestry of Israel's twelve tribes.

Genesis 35 24 Commentary

Genesis 35:24, while a simple listing, is deeply significant. It meticulously records the children of Rachel, Jacob's dearly loved wife, underscoring the completion of the patriarchal family unit before critical events like Isaac's death and Joseph's narrative prominence. Joseph, being the recipient of the special coat and Jacob’s particular affection, foreshadows his future leadership, while Benjamin, born of sorrow but named for strength, becomes the protective focal point for Jacob after Joseph’s disappearance. This concise verse reinforces God’s faithfulness in providing heirs to Jacob, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant through the offspring of each matriarch, thereby solidifying the tribal identity of future Israel. The specificity here establishes their foundational place in the unfolding history of the chosen nation, ultimately leading to Christ's lineage.