Genesis 46:12 kjv

And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.

Genesis 46:12 nkjv

The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

Genesis 46:12 niv

The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.

Genesis 46:12 esv

The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

Genesis 46:12 nlt

The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (though Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

Genesis 46 verses

Genesis 46 12 Meaning

Genesis 46:12 records part of the detailed roster of Jacob's household, specifically listing the sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Pharez, and Zerah. It provides a crucial clarification that Er and Onan had already died in the land of Canaan, meaning they did not accompany Jacob to Egypt. The verse further specifies the direct sons of Pharez as Hezron and Hamul, thereby confirming their inclusion in the seventy souls who entered Egypt. This listing underscores the continuity of the divinely chosen lineage through Judah, particularly through Pharez, which is significant for the future royal and messianic lines.

Genesis 46 12 Context

Genesis chapter 46 recounts Jacob's departure from Beersheba with all his family and possessions, journeying to Egypt at Joseph's invitation to survive a severe famine. The primary purpose of this chapter is to list, tribe by tribe, the individuals who constituted Jacob's direct descendants—the seventy souls—who would form the nucleus of the nation of Israel. This precise enumeration is significant, serving not only as a historical record but also emphasizing the divine preservation of the chosen seed as a precursor to the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Verse 12 is an integral part of this census, specifically detailing the members of Judah's lineage who are part of this critical migration. Historically, such genealogical records were crucial in ancient Near Eastern societies for establishing identity, tribal affiliation, and inheritance rights. The detailed mention of Er and Onan's deaths highlights a pivotal episode from Judah's past (Genesis 38) that shaped the subsequent structure of his immediate family before the move to Egypt, ensuring accuracy in the count and demonstrating divine judgment and sovereignty within the lineage.

Genesis 46 12 Word analysis

• And the sons of Judah:

  • וּבְנֵי (ūḇəne): "and sons of." Indicates lineage and belonging to a specific patriarch. "Sons" (בֵּן - ben) denotes descendants, not necessarily only immediate male children.
  • יְהוּדָה (Yehudah): "Judah." Meaning "praised." A key patriarchal figure, whose tribe was prophesied to hold the scepter (Gen 49:10), leading to the Davidic and ultimately Messianic lineage. His leadership role becomes increasingly prominent in later chapters.

• Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah:

  • עֵר (‘Ēr): "Er." Means "watcher" or "city." Judah's firstborn. His specific naming here links directly to his significant narrative in Gen 38, highlighting his wickedness.
  • אוֹנָן (’Ônān): "Onan." Possibly from a root meaning "pain" or "strength." Judah's second son. Like Er, his mention points to his disobedient actions and divine judgment in Gen 38.
  • שֵׁלָה (Šēlāh): "Shelah." Meaning "petition" or "peace." Judah's third son, who survived but was denied Tamar, illustrating Judah's failures and the complexities within the family.
  • פֶּרֶץ (Pereṣ): "Pharez." Meaning "breach" or "breaking out." Born dramatically as the first twin to "break forth" (Gen 38:29). This "breach" is prophetic, indicating his future importance as the direct ancestor of the Davidic royal line and the Messiah. His irregular birth highlights God's ability to work through unusual circumstances for His purposes.
  • זֶרַח (Zeraḥ): "Zerah." Meaning "rising of light" or "brightness." Pharez's twin brother. While less prominent in the royal lineage, he represents another significant branch of Judah.

• but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

  • מֵ֔תוּ (mêtū): "died." A clear statement of their demise. The past tense emphasizes their absence from the current migration.
  • בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן (bə’ereṣ Kəna‘an): "in the land of Canaan." This geographical detail is crucial. It clarifies they died before Jacob's family descended to Egypt, ensuring an accurate total for those going to Egypt and specifically recalling the events of Gen 38. It reinforces that their deaths were under God's judgment while the family was still dwelling in the promised land, before the period of sojourning in Egypt began.

• And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.

  • וַיְהִי (wa·yhî): "And there were." Connects this new generation of descendants to Pharez.
  • חֶצְרוֹן (Ḥeṣrôn): "Hezron." Meaning "enclosed" or "courtyard." He is a key link in the genealogies, leading directly to King David (Ruth 4:18-22, 1 Chr 2:3-5) and Jesus Christ (Matt 1:3, Luke 3:33).
  • חָמוּל (Ḥāmûl): "Hamul." Meaning "pitied" or "spared." Hezron's brother. Both Hezron and Hamul are foundational clan heads of the Pharezite lineage.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah": This initial enumeration establishes the immediate family of Judah, emphasizing the patriarchal structure and the beginning of tribal distinctives. It lays the groundwork for understanding the later complexities and prominence of Judah's lineage.
• "but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan": This parenthetical clause is more than a simple fact; it’s a theological statement and a narrative link. It serves as a reminder of divine judgment against unrighteousness (Gen 38) and precisely delimits the individuals who would not be part of the initial "seventy souls" entering Egypt, ensuring the historical and theological integrity of the census. Their demise in Canaan also subtly underscores God's control over the chosen line's purity.
• "And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul": This direct continuation through Pharez, despite the failures and losses (Er and Onan), highlights God's sovereignty in preserving His chosen line. Pharez’s unexpected birth was already a sign of a "breaching forth," and the continuity through Hezron and Hamul affirms God's commitment to fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant through Judah, specifically leading to the Messianic lineage.

Genesis 46 12 Bonus section

• The detail of Er and Onan dying "in the land of Canaan" underscores that the narrative of Genesis 38, involving Tamar, Er, Onan, and Judah's questionable actions, took place entirely within the land promised to Abraham, before the entire family's journey into Egypt began. This reinforces the purity and conditions under which the inheritance and covenant blessings were maintained even within the promised land.
• The Pharez ("breach") lineage is a profound example of God working through extraordinary and seemingly flawed circumstances (Judah's union with Tamar, her unconventional actions) to fulfill His redemptive purposes. This theme of divine sovereignty overcoming human fallibility is consistently woven throughout biblical genealogies.
• Genealogies in the Bible are not mere historical records; they are theological statements illustrating God's meticulous care, faithfulness, and the linear progression of His covenant plan towards the coming of the Messiah. Every name represents a link in God's redemptive history.

Genesis 46 12 Commentary

Genesis 46:12 serves as a pivotal genealogical marker, succinctly capturing the state of Judah's family line just before the descent into Egypt. While seemingly a dry list, it is rich with theological and narrative depth. The specific mention of Er and Onan's deaths acts as a critical cross-reference to Genesis 38, reminding the reader of the Lord's holy character and His judgment against sexual and covetous sin, even within the chosen family. It signifies that only the living and faithful (or at least those spared by God) are carried forward into the next phase of the covenantal journey. The focus then shifts to Pharez and his two sons, Hezron and Hamul. This focus is profoundly significant, as Pharez ("breach") became the progenitor of the Davidic line and, ultimately, the line of the Messiah. Thus, the verse implicitly points to God's faithfulness and providence in preserving and even elevating a branch of the family that emerged from unusual and challenging circumstances. It underscores that God's plan for a chosen nation and ultimately the Redeemer continues, not always through the firstborn or most conventional means, but through His sovereign direction and unexpected breakthroughs, leading His people to their designated future.