Genesis 46:14 kjv
And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.
Genesis 46:14 nkjv
The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
Genesis 46:14 niv
The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon and Jahleel.
Genesis 46:14 esv
The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
Genesis 46:14 nlt
The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
Genesis 46 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2 | "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you..." | God's promise of nationhood begins with Abraham. |
| Gen 30:20 | Leah said, "God has presented me with a good gift; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons." | Naming of Zebulun by Leah. |
| Gen 35:11 | "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed a company of nations, shall come from you..." | God reiterates the promise of fruitfulness. |
| Gen 46:3 | God said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation." | God's specific promise for the journey to Egypt. |
| Num 1:30 | From the sons of Zebulun, those recorded... | Zebulun's descendants counted in the first census. |
| Num 26:26 | The sons of Zebulun by their clans: of Sered, the Seredite clan; of Elon, the Elonite clan; of Jahleel, the Jahleelite clan. | Later census confirming the same three clans. |
| Deut 33:18-19 | Of Zebulun he said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents..." | Moses' blessing predicting Zebulun's prosperity. |
| Josh 19:10-16 | The third lot came up for Zebulun, clan by clan... | Allotment of land to the tribe of Zebulun. |
| Judg 4:10 | Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh... | Zebulun's participation in Deborah's army. |
| Judg 5:18 | "Zebulun is a people who exposed their lives to death; Naphtali also, on the heights of the field." | Commendation for Zebulun's bravery. |
| Judg 12:11-12 | After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel... | Elon (a common name) as a judge from Zebulun. |
| 1 Chr 7:9 | All these were mighty men of valor... counted by their genealogies for service in the army. | Emphasis on careful genealogical records. |
| Neh 7:6-7 | These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity... | Importance of preserved genealogies post-exile. |
| Isa 9:1-2 | "Nevertheless, the gloom will not be like that when distress came upon the land... the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali..." | Prophecy associating Zebulun with future light. |
| Matt 4:15-16 | "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali... Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light..." | Fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy in Jesus' ministry. |
| Lk 2:3 | "And all went to be taxed, everyone to his own city." | Ancestral registration for historical accuracy. |
| Acts 17:26 | "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth..." | All humanity traced to a common origin (God). |
| Rom 9:7-8 | "...Neither, because they are Abraham's descendants, are they all children. But, 'In Isaac your offspring shall be called.'" | Emphasizes election within family lines. |
| Heb 11:8-9 | "By faith Abraham obeyed... he lived as an alien in the promised land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob..." | Patriarchy as foundation of the covenant people. |
| Rev 7:8 | "...of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand..." | Zebulun symbolically represented in end times. |
Genesis 46 verses
Genesis 46 14 Meaning
Genesis 46:14 records three specific individuals, Sered, Elon, and Jahleel, as the direct sons of Zebulun. These names represent the foundational patriarchal figures of the family clans that would subsequently form the tribe of Zebulun within the emerging nation of Israel. Their inclusion in this census underscores God's meticulous fulfillment of His promise to Jacob—to multiply his descendants and build them into a numerous people before they entered Egypt.
Genesis 46 14 Context
Genesis chapter 46 recounts Jacob's departure from Canaan with his entire household to join Joseph in Egypt, as invited by Pharaoh and orchestrated by divine providence. This chapter lists seventy individuals, collectively forming the nucleus of what would become the nation of Israel. Each named person, including the sons of Zebulun, contributes to the immediate family tree of Jacob, emphasizing the precise accounting of the founding members of the burgeoning nation. This detailed genealogical record provides crucial validation for their lineage and future claims to the promised land and divine covenant. Historically, in the ancient Near East, genealogies were paramount for establishing identity, inheritance rights, tribal affiliations, and religious continuity, signifying that God was actively overseeing and nurturing His chosen people from a single family into a multitude.
Genesis 46 14 Word analysis
And the sons of Zebulun: This phrase, u-v'nei Zevulun (וּבְנֵי זְבוּלֻן), consistently appears in genealogical lists within the Bible. "Sons" (בְּנֵי, b'nei) here refers not only to immediate offspring but also to the patriarchal heads of subsequent family units or clans, signifying their collective identity and future tribal subdivisions. Zebulun (זְבוּלֻן, Zevulun), meaning "dwelling" or "honor," was Jacob's tenth son, born to Leah (Gen 30:20). His name and the record of his descendants foreshadow God's provision of a permanent dwelling for His people.
Sered: סֶרֶד (Sered). The name likely means "dread" or "flight." He is listed as the first son and later appears as a tribal head (Num 26:26), giving rise to the clan of the Seredites. His specific story is not elaborated, typical of these genealogical listings where the focus is on lineage and group formation.
and Elon: וְאֵילֹון (v'Eilon). Elon's name means "oak" or "terebinth," possibly signifying strength, resilience, or a sacred place (as such trees were sometimes cultic markers). He also founded a major clan within the tribe (Num 26:26, the Elonite clan). Later, a Judge of Israel from Zebulun also bore the name Elon (Judg 12:11), though not necessarily this direct individual.
and Jahleel: וְיַחְלְאֵל (v'Yachl'el). The name Jahleel carries theological significance, meaning "God waits," "God acts slowly," or "hope of God." The element 'El' points directly to God. He established the third major clan of Zebulun (Num 26:26, the Jahleelite clan). This name could subtly prefigure the long wait of the Israelites in Egypt before their deliverance and entry into the Promised Land, reflecting God's sovereign timing.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the sons of Zebulun: Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.": This precise enumeration of Zebulun's sons is not a mere dry list but a divinely attested record of the nascent families that would grow into the Tribe of Zebulun. It testifies to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding their offspring (Gen 12:2, 46:3). Each name represents a unique branch of the expanding tree of Israel, highlighting that even in large numbers, each life is known and purposed by God. The consistent pattern across Gen 46, listing the sons of each patriarchal head, meticulously maps out the genealogical blueprint of God's chosen nation before their long sojourn in Egypt.
Genesis 46 14 Bonus section
The consistent listing of these genealogies throughout the Old Testament (e.g., in Numbers 26 or 1 Chronicles 7) underscores their fundamental importance beyond mere historical records. These lists serve as theological declarations that God maintains His covenant lineage with unwavering precision. They stand in stark contrast to mythological origin stories prevalent in the ancient Near East, providing a verifiable, divinely-ordered foundation for a unique nation with a monotheistic heritage. The precise numbering of individuals also prefigures God's knowledge of all His people (Psa 147:4, Lk 12:7), affirming His personal investment in each life that constitutes His chosen assembly. The names themselves, particularly "Jahleel" ("God waits"), might implicitly reflect the divine patience with the Israelites during their prolonged stay in Egypt before the Exodus, highlighting God's sovereign timing in His redemptive plan.
Genesis 46 14 Commentary
Genesis 46:14, though brief, carries significant theological weight as part of the detailed census of Jacob's family entering Egypt. It is a testimony to God's meticulous care and faithfulness in keeping His covenant promises. The very act of naming each son of Zebulun — Sered, Elon, and Jahleel — reinforces the historicity and foundational reality of the Hebrew people. This enumeration demonstrates that the growth of Israel into a nation was not a haphazard event but a divinely orchestrated plan, where each family and individual played a part. The names listed here would become the patriarchs of the subclans, laying the groundwork for the future tribal divisions, land distribution, and identity of the twelve tribes. This verse exemplifies God’s attention to detail, showing that even amidst great numbers, He knows each part of His people and is intentionally building His covenant community.