Genesis 35 26

Genesis 35:26 kjv

And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid: Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

Genesis 35:26 nkjv

and the sons of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.

Genesis 35:26 niv

The sons of Leah's servant Zilpah: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.

Genesis 35:26 esv

The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

Genesis 35:26 nlt

The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant, were Gad and Asher. These are the names of the sons who were born to Jacob at Paddan-aram.

Genesis 35 verses

Genesis 35 26 meaning

Genesis 35:26 explicitly concludes the enumeration of Jacob's sons, stating that all twelve were born to him while he resided in Padanaram. This verse underscores the completion of Jacob's direct progeny who would become the patriarchal heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. It marks a foundational point in the formation of God's chosen nation, emphasizing the divine orchestration of this family's growth even during Jacob's exile and labor away from the Promised Land.

Genesis 35 26 Context

Genesis chapter 35 details a crucial phase in Jacob's life after his encounter with Esau. It opens with God commanding Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar there (Gen 35:1). This signifies a spiritual re-dedication and purification for Jacob and his household, as they put away foreign gods. God then reaffirms His covenant promises to Jacob, re-names him "Israel," and reiterates the blessing of fruitfulness, multiplication, and nationhood (Gen 35:9-12). The chapter continues with significant events: the tragic death of Rachel after bearing Benjamin (Gen 35:16-19), the brief mention of Reuben's sin (Gen 35:22), and Jacob's arrival at Mamre where Isaac, his father, still lived (Gen 35:27). Within this narrative of return, purification, covenant renewal, and familial changes, Genesis 35:26 stands as a culminating statement regarding Jacob's direct offspring. It effectively closes the register of his sons, who had been introduced piecemeal through chapters 29-30 and 35. The statement confirms that the foundation of the promised nation, the complete roster of Jacob's sons, was established during his long stay in Padanaram, setting the stage for their future as the "children of Israel."

Genesis 35 26 Word analysis

• And the sons of Jacob, which were born:

  • "And" (וַיְה֖וּ wayhiyû): Connective "and" often signals a continuation or conclusion in narrative. Here, it marks the completion of the preceding enumeration.
  • "the sons" (בְּנֵ֣י b'nei): From ben, meaning "son" or "descendant." Emphasizes direct lineage and male progeny who would carry on the family name and heritage. Crucial for establishing the foundation of a nation.
  • "Jacob" (יַעֲקֹב Ya’aqov): Although renamed "Israel" just verses prior (Gen 35:10), the text often refers to him by his birth name in the context of his direct family lineage. This underscores his personal identity as the patriarch from whom this foundational family stemmed.
  • "were born" (יֻלַּד yullad): Passive form of yalad ("to bear," "give birth"). Highlights that these individuals were brought into existence through divine providence working through natural means. It confirms their legitimate lineage as Jacob's biological children.

• to him in Padanaram, were twelve:

  • "to him" (ל֔וֹ lô): Clearly designates Jacob as the father, establishing paternity unequivocally for the lineage.
  • "in Padanaram" (בְּפַדַּ֣ן אֲרָ֔ם b'paddan 'aram): "Field of Aram" or "Plain of Aram," often equated with Paddan, an area in Mesopotamia. This specifies the geographic origin of all Jacob's children. Jacob spent 20 years there (Gen 31:41), marrying Leah and Rachel, and their servants Bilhah and Zilpah. It signifies the place of Jacob's formation of family and wealth outside the promised land, yet divinely directed. It emphasizes that this foundational stage occurred while Jacob was laboring under Laban, showcasing God's faithfulness even in Jacob's challenges.
  • "were twelve" (שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר sh'neim 'asar): The cardinal number "twelve." In biblical numerology, "twelve" is highly significant, frequently symbolizing completeness, divine government, and established order. It points to the foundational unity of God's chosen nation. The explicit mention of "twelve" indicates the full complement of the patriarchal lines of Israel.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And the sons of Jacob, which were born to him": This phrase underlines the biological and covenantal connection of these individuals to Jacob. It grounds the future nation of Israel directly in Jacob's household, a fulfillment of God's promise of descendants to Abraham and Isaac. This familial continuity is key to understanding the lineage of God's chosen people.
  • "in Padanaram, were twelve": This highlights the paradoxical setting where the nascent nation was formed. Away from the promised land, under hardship, God completed Jacob's family unit of twelve sons. It demonstrates divine sovereignty over circumstances and geographical locations in fulfilling promises. The "twelve" emphasizes a divinely ordained, complete number that would subsequently form the basis for Israel's identity and organizational structure. This completed unit, though born away from the covenant land, was prepared to inherit it.

Genesis 35 26 Bonus section

• The enumeration of all twelve sons being born in Padanaram reinforces the idea of God's comprehensive control over Jacob's life path. While Judah (whose descendants lead the royal line and include the Messiah) and Joseph (whose descendants receive the double portion and prominence) are among these twelve, their birth outside the Promised Land signifies that God's plan is not limited by geography but guided by His will.
• The emphasis on "twelve" provides a consistent numerical theme throughout the Bible that signifies governmental and spiritual completion (e.g., twelve tribes, twelve apostles, twelve foundations of New Jerusalem). This single verse lays the groundwork for understanding the structure and identity of Israel for millennia.
• Although Reuben is mentioned in Genesis 35:22 as having committed a severe sin, Genesis 35:23-26 proceeds to list him first among Jacob's sons and includes him in the count of "twelve," emphasizing that God's choice of Israel as His people, represented by the twelve tribes, remained steadfast despite individual failures within the family. This foreshadows God's faithfulness to Israel despite their later disobedience.

Genesis 35 26 Commentary

Genesis 35:26 is a precise, concluding statement that solidifies the foundation of the twelve tribes of Israel. It serves as an emphatic capstone to Jacob's period in Padanaram, marking the completion of the family unit destined to become God's chosen nation. The listing of all twelve sons here, emphasizing their birth in Padanaram, highlights God's sovereignty over Jacob's two-decade sojourn with Laban. Even in what might have seemed like an exile or a period of servitude, God was actively at work, faithfully multiplying Jacob's seed just as He had promised Abraham and Isaac. The specific number "twelve" is critical, not just as a count, but as a symbolic representation of divine order and completeness, setting the stage for the organizational structure of Israel from the Exodus to the division of the land. This verse shows that even the most arduous and complicated seasons of life (like Jacob's time with Laban and his complex family dynamics) are instruments in God's hands for bringing about His long-term covenant plans. It teaches that faithfulness, even in tribulation, can lead to the fruition of God's promises, culminating in the foundational pillars of His redemptive history.