Genesis 46 13

Genesis 46:13 kjv

And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.

Genesis 46:13 nkjv

The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron.

Genesis 46:13 niv

The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.

Genesis 46:13 esv

The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron.

Genesis 46:13 nlt

The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.

Genesis 46 verses

Genesis 46 13 meaning

Genesis 46:13 lists the names of Issachar's four sons: Tola, Puah, Iob, and Shimron. This verse is part of the extensive genealogical record of Jacob's descendants who journeyed with him into Egypt. It signifies the foundational members of the tribe of Issachar, contributing to the fulfillment of God's promise to multiply Jacob's offspring into a great nation, providing a detailed accounting of those who would form the nascent nation of Israel during their descent into Egypt.

Genesis 46 13 Context

Genesis chapter 46 recounts Jacob's journey to Egypt with his family. Following Joseph's revelation and invitation, God assures Jacob in a vision that He will go with him to Egypt and make of him a great nation there. This chapter meticulously lists every soul who entered Egypt, establishing the nucleus of what would become the twelve tribes of Israel. Verse 13 specifically identifies the direct sons of Issachar, Jacob's ninth son, highlighting the continued development of his lineage. This detail is crucial for documenting the fulfillment of God's covenant promises of nationhood, demonstrating how a vast family grew from Abraham through detailed ancestral records. The family's move to Egypt, driven by famine but ordained by God, sets the stage for their growth and subsequent exodus.

Genesis 46 13 Word analysis

• וּבְנֵי (ū·ḇə·nê): "And the sons of". The conjunction 'וּ' (u) "and" connects this lineage to the previously listed sons of Jacob. The word 'בְּנֵי' (benei), a construct plural of 'בֵּן' (ben, "son"), signifies direct patrilineal descendants. This emphasis on male offspring reflects the ancient societal structure and the tracing of tribal lines, which were foundational to Israelite identity and land inheritance.
• יִשָּׂשכָר (Yiśśāḵār): "Issachar". The ninth son of Jacob by Leah. His name, given by Leah, means "there is reward" (Gen 30:18), referring to God giving her 'wages' for giving her servant to Jacob. He represents one of the twelve tribes of Israel, later known for its strong, agrarian, and wise characteristics (1 Chr 12:32). His inclusion in this specific listing details the inner structure of Jacob's extended family.
• תּוֹלָא (Tôlāʾ): "Tola". The firstborn son of Issachar. His name likely means "worm" or specifically "crimson worm" (tole'ah), which could be indicative of the valuable dye extracted from such worms, perhaps pointing to an early association with the textile or dyeing trade, or merely a common name. As a firstborn, Tola would head a significant family clan within the tribe, later explicitly mentioned in Numbers 26:23 and 1 Chronicles 7:2.
• וּפוּה (ū·Pūh): "And Puah". The second son of Issachar. The 'וּ' (u) again serves as "and". The name 'פּוּה' (Puah) might be related to a root meaning "to groan" or "to cry out," though its exact etymology is uncertain. In Numbers 26:23, his name is spelled פּוּוָה (Puvah), showcasing minor textual variations within the Masoretic Text, yet referring to the same individual, a clan founder.
• וְיוֹב (wə·Yōwḇ): "And Iob". The third son listed. This name, 'יוֹב' (Yov), appears uniquely in this verse in the Pentateuch's genealogies as 'Iob' for Issachar's son. However, in the parallel lists in Numbers 26:24 and 1 Chronicles 7:1, this same son is called 'יָשׁוּב' (Yashub), meaning "he will return" or "returning." This discrepancy highlights the fluid nature of ancient spelling or naming conventions and sometimes suggests alternative names or a scribal variation. It does not indicate different persons but likely variant spellings for the same individual, who would also be a founder of a major family branch.
• וְשִׁמְרוֹן (wə·Šimrôn): "And Shimron". The fourth son of Issachar. His name 'שִׁמְרוֹן' (Shimron) means "guarding" or "watchful," or could relate to a "thorn" or "bush." He, too, is foundational to a tribal clan, explicitly mentioned as "the Shimronites" in Numbers 26:24, indicating his descendants became a significant subdivision within the tribe of Issachar.

Words-group Analysis

• "And the sons of Issachar": This phrase immediately establishes the specific lineage being enumerated. It connects to the preceding list of Jacob's direct sons, focusing now on the generational depth within one son's family. It underscores the emphasis on family units as the building blocks of the future nation, showing the beginning of tribal segmentation even before entering Egypt.
• "Tola and Puah and Iob and Shimron": This listing of four specific names for Issachar's sons serves several purposes. It provides the specific individuals who would become patriarchs of subclans, confirming the immediate growth and proliferation of Jacob's family. The consistency of these names (with the notable Yob/Yashub variation) across different biblical genealogies (Genesis 46, Numbers 26, 1 Chronicles 7) affirms the historicity and integrity of these ancient records, despite minor differences that speak to the organic transmission of ancient texts. This meticulous detail demonstrates the divine and human record-keeping of the formative stages of the nation of Israel.

Genesis 46 13 Bonus section

• The Tribe of Issachar's Future Character: Though not explicitly in Gen 46:13, later biblical texts shed light on Issachar's tribe. They were prophesied by Jacob as a strong donkey, bearing burdens (Gen 49:14-15), possibly alluding to their agrarian strength and a willingness to labor or to settle peacefully under external pressures. Notably, 1 Chronicles 12:32 highlights "men of Issachar, who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do," indicating a reputation for wisdom, discernment, and leadership within the collective. This future characteristic gives deeper significance to the detailed enumeration of Issachar's foundational family.
• Significance of Genealogies in Ancient Near East: Genealogies in the ancient Near East, including those in the Bible, were not merely family trees. They served vital functions: establishing legitimacy for leadership and land claims, preserving identity and historical memory, and often conveying theological truth about a people's origin and destiny. The careful recording of these names, like those of Issachar's sons, validates the Israelite claim to be a distinct, divinely-chosen people.
• The Yob/Yashub Variance: The specific textual variation of 'Iob' (Gen 46:13) and 'Yashub' (Num 26:24; 1 Chr 7:1) for the same individual, while minor, offers insights into textual transmission. Such differences are common in ancient manuscripts and can arise from dialectal variations, alternative pronunciations, or scribal nuances, but they do not negate the historical identity of the person. This particular instance serves as an example for textual critics to understand the Bible's textual history without diminishing its divine inspiration.

Genesis 46 13 Commentary

Genesis 46:13, while seemingly a simple list of names, is deeply significant within the larger narrative of redemption and God's faithfulness. It meticulously records the embryonic structure of the nation of Israel, providing names that would become the foundational clans within the tribe of Issachar. This precision underscores the divine care over Jacob's lineage, fulfilling God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to make of their descendants a great nation (Gen 12:2; 46:3). The presence of four sons signifies immediate generational multiplication, essential for the small family's growth during their providentially guided sojourn in Egypt. Each name represents a family line, pointing towards the future organization and identification of the tribes, highlighting the order and purpose behind seemingly ordinary genealogies in Scripture.