Genesis 46 16

Genesis 46:16 kjv

And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.

Genesis 46:16 nkjv

The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

Genesis 46:16 niv

The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli.

Genesis 46:16 esv

The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

Genesis 46:16 nlt

The sons of Gad were Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

Genesis 46 verses

Genesis 46 16 meaning

Genesis 46:16 meticulously lists the seven direct sons of Gad who journeyed with Jacob's household into Egypt. This verse is a crucial part of the detailed genealogy chronicling the foundation of the nascent nation of Israel. It specifically records the specific familial lines of Gad, ensuring a complete and accurate count of the "seventy souls" who initiated Israel's sojourn and multiplication in Egypt, setting the stage for the fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Jacob.

Genesis 46 16 Context

Genesis chapter 46 recounts Jacob's obedient journey to Egypt with his entire household in response to God's instruction and the persistent famine. The preceding verses (Gen 46:1-7) detail Jacob's altar building and God's promise at Beer-sheba that He would go down to Egypt with him and make him a great nation there. Following this, verses 8-27 provide a meticulous roster of all the individuals comprising Jacob's family—his sons, grandsons, and a daughter—who came to Egypt. Genesis 46:16 is an integral part of this enumeration, specifically listing the seven recorded sons of Gad. This detailed account highlights God's faithfulness in preserving and preparing the chosen lineage for their designated role in His redemptive plan, setting the stage for their multiplication and eventual exodus as a distinct nation. Genealogies were critically important in the ancient Near East, not just for lineage but for identity, land rights, tribal organization, and substantiating claims to divine promises. This listing stands against contemporary mythological origin stories, presenting a historically verifiable, divinely appointed lineage.

Genesis 46 16 Word analysis

• The sons of Gad (בְּנֵי גָ֖ד, Benê Gāḏ): "Sons" emphasizes the direct, patrilineal descent, forming distinct family branches or clans within the tribe. "Gad" (גָּד), meaning "fortune" or "troop," refers to Jacob's seventh son, born to Zilpah, Leah's maidservant (Gen 30:11). The naming by Leah highlights a sense of auspiciousness.
• Ziphion (צִפְיוֹן, Ṣip̄yōwn): Meaning "outlook" or "expectation." This name emphasizes a watchful or anticipatory quality. In Num 26:15, he is referred to as Zephon (Ṣəp̄ōwn), a common variant spelling demonstrating the flexibility in ancient transliteration of names or suggesting an alternate appellation for the same individual.
• Haggi (חַגִּי, Ḥaggî): Meaning "festive" or "my feast." This name implies a connection to joy or a celebration, perhaps indicating birth during a festival. It remains consistent in biblical lists.
• Shuni (שׁוּנִי, Šûnî): Meaning "resting" or "quiet." This name suggests tranquility or stability. It also remains consistent in subsequent biblical mentions.
• Ezbon (אֶצְבֹּון, ’Eṣbôn): Meaning "hasty" or potentially related to "my finger." In Num 26:16, he is listed as Ozni (’Oznî). This variation, like Zephon/Ziphion, is a phonetic or orthographic difference, common in genealogical records across ancient texts, possibly reflecting dialectal pronunciations or alternative short forms.
• Eri (עֵרִי, ‘Ērî): Meaning "my watcher" or "awake." This name evokes a sense of vigilance and alertness. It is consistently maintained in the records.
• Arodi (אֲרוֹדִי, ’Ărôḏî): This form is derived from Arod (’Ărôḏ) in Num 26:17, meaning "wild ass" or "roaming." This name's robust imagery reflects independence and a spirited nature, aligning with Jacob's blessing on Gad concerning a "troop" (Gen 49:19).
• Areli (אַרְאֵלִי, ’Ar’ēlî): A powerful name, often interpreted as "hero," "lion of God," or "altar hearth of God." This name denotes strength, bravery, or sacred significance, suitable for a founding patriarch of a clan. It is consistent across records.
• Word-group analysis: "The sons of Gad": This phrasing highlights the specific branch of Jacob's family tree. The meticulous enumeration of Gad's seven sons confirms their collective inclusion in the foundation of the burgeoning Israelite nation. Each name listed is not just an individual but represents a potential sub-clan that would later contribute to the overall tribal structure of Gad, illustrating the divine precision in fulfilling the promise of a vast offspring. The distinct meanings embedded in each name—from vigilance to festivity, rest, quickness, watchfulness, robustness, and heroism—subtly foreshadow the varied character and roles within the tribe of Gad.

Genesis 46 16 Bonus section

• Significance of Detail: The highly detailed enumeration in Genesis 46, including these sons of Gad, serves a vital purpose: it verifies the historicity and direct lineage of God's covenant people. Unlike mythological founders of other nations, Israel's beginnings are meticulously documented, grounding their unique identity and their special relationship with God in verifiable historical fact.
• Name Variations and Accuracy: The slight differences in certain names between Genesis 46:16 and the census in Numbers 26 (e.g., Ziphion/Zephon, Ezbon/Ozni, Arodi/Arod) are common phenomena in ancient textual transmission. They do not undermine accuracy but often reflect phonetic spellings, alternative names for the same person, or the use of patronymic forms. These variations highlight the living nature of genealogies as they were maintained and passed down.
• Counting for Covenant: This counting of souls, which Genesis emphasizes culminates in "seventy persons" entering Egypt, symbolizes the completeness of God's chosen family at that crucial point. It signals not just their present numbers but also God's active superintendence over their multiplication into the "great nation" foretold, thus linking individual lives directly to the unfolding of God's broader redemptive plan.

Genesis 46 16 Commentary

Genesis 46:16, a single verse filled with a list of names, is far more than a dry genealogical record. It testifies to God's precise and deliberate preservation of His covenant people. By listing each son of Gad, God underscores the historical reality of the initial members of Israel, countering any idea that the nation's origin was mythical. These individuals, distinct in their identities, represent the seed from which a formidable tribe, often characterized by strength and military prowess (1 Chr 5:18), would emerge. The inclusion of sons from Zilpah, a concubine, emphasizes God's comprehensive embrace of all Jacob's legitimate offspring, demonstrating that His covenant encompassed all who descended from the patriarch. This seemingly mundane listing is a concrete demonstration of God's faithfulness to His promise to Jacob—to make him a "great nation" (Gen 46:3), laying the vital foundation for the dramatic growth of Israel in Egypt before their eventual Exodus and national formation.