Genesis 46:23 kjv

And the sons of Dan; Hushim.

Genesis 46:23 nkjv

The son of Dan was Hushim.

Genesis 46:23 niv

The son of Dan: Hushim.

Genesis 46:23 esv

The son of Dan: Hushim.

Genesis 46:23 nlt

The son of Dan was Hushim.

Genesis 46 verses

Genesis 46 23 Meaning

Genesis 46:23 states the specific lineage of the tribal patriarch Dan upon the family's migration to Egypt. It explicitly names Hushim as the "sons of Dan," which is noteworthy as only one "son" is mentioned, despite the plural grammatical form of "Hushim" in the Hebrew. This verse serves as a crucial detail within the comprehensive census of Jacob's household (totaling seventy persons) that journeyed to Egypt, underscoring the nascent formation of the future nation of Israel. It affirms God's faithfulness in beginning the fulfillment of His covenantal promise to Jacob regarding his numerous descendants.

Genesis 46 23 Context

Genesis chapter 46 recounts Jacob's journey to Egypt to reunite with his son Joseph and escape the severe famine in Canaan. God, in a night vision at Beer-sheba, reaffirms His covenant promises to Jacob (Israel), assuring him of His presence, a safe return for his descendants, and their growth into a great nation in Egypt (Gen 46:1-4). Following this divine assurance, the chapter meticulously lists all seventy "persons" (including Jacob himself and Joseph's already-born sons) who journeyed with Jacob to Egypt (Gen 46:8-27). This detailed genealogical record serves to underscore the literal fulfillment of God's promise to multiply Abraham's seed into a nation, transforming a family unit into the embryonic Israelite nation that would later dramatically expand in Egypt. Genesis 46:23, specifically listing "Hushim" as Dan's son, is part of this crucial enumeration, contributing to the complete count and delineating the early family structure of the tribe of Dan.

Genesis 46 23 Word analysis

• And (וְ – ve): A simple conjunctive prefix in Hebrew, connecting this verse to the preceding list of tribal lineages, indicating continuity within the genealogical enumeration.
• the sons of (בְּנֵי – bᵊnê): A common Hebrew term for "sons" or "descendants." In patriarchal contexts, "sons of" often denotes the progenitors of a clan or tribal sub-group. It emphasizes the patrilineal succession critical for maintaining lineage identity.
• Dan (דָּן – Dan): One of the twelve sons of Jacob, born to Bilhah, Rachel's servant. His name, given by Rachel in Genesis 30:6, means "He judged" or "Judge," signifying her perception that God had judged her situation and granted her a son. Dan founded one of the twelve tribes of Israel, known later for its large population and for producing Samson, as well as its later northern relocation and establishment of idolatry.
• Hushim (חוּשִׁים – Ḥūšîm): The sole 'son' listed for Dan in this specific census within Genesis 46. The Hebrew name "Hushim" is peculiar as it has a masculine plural ending (-im), which is uncommon for a singular individual's name. This grammatical feature has led to several interpretations by scholars:
  • Collective Name: It may signify a collective group or small clan, perhaps indicating that Dan's initial progeny was smaller or recognized primarily through this one established sub-group, rather than numerous immediate direct sons, differing from some of his brothers.
  • Singular Proper Name with Plural Form: Alternatively, it could be a proper name for a single individual that grammatically, for unique reasons, takes a plural form (a linguistic phenomenon found in other Hebrew proper nouns, such as "Elohim" for God).
  • Variant Name/Progenitor: Scholars also consider the possibility that "Hushim" is an early or alternative name for "Shuham," who is listed as Dan's son and the founder of the Shuhamites in Numbers 26:42 and 1 Chronicles 7:12. In this view, Hushim could be either Shuham himself or the foundational figure from whom the later recognized "Shuhamites" sprang, consolidating the lineage.
  • Significance of the Singularity: The listing of only one 'son' for Dan (in contrast to some brothers having multiple) may subtly hint at the distinctive, sometimes isolated, trajectory of the Danite tribe in later Israelite history, including its migration and religious aberrations. This detail underscores the fluid and representational nature of some biblical genealogical entries.

Genesis 46 23 Bonus section

The complete list of 70 souls in Genesis 46 who enter Egypt holds profound symbolic and historical weight. This number "70" (seven multiplied by ten) often symbolizes completeness or universality in biblical numerology. Here, it marks the formation of a 'complete' patriarchal family that God intends to transform into a great nation, distinct from the other seventy nations listed in Genesis chapter 10. The concise recording of each 'son' or clan-head emphasizes that every component of what would become the twelve tribes of Israel was present and accounted for at the nation's embryonic stage. This detail ensures that Israel's identity and future divine election are rooted in a specific, known lineage chosen and brought together by God, serving as a powerful counter-narrative to the formation myths of surrounding nations.

Genesis 46 23 Commentary

Genesis 46:23, though seemingly a dry list of names, is far from incidental. It encapsulates a crucial moment in salvation history, confirming the unfolding of God's covenant with Jacob, now designated Israel. The precise enumeration of Jacob's descendants moving into Egypt signifies not just a family migration, but the divine hand orchestrating the formation of a distinct "nation" as promised.

The mention of "Hushim" for Dan, specifically with its grammatical peculiarities (a singular plural), highlights the detailed yet sometimes interpretively nuanced nature of biblical genealogies. It speaks to how ancient records identified foundational lineage figures, sometimes consolidating various offspring under a primary representative name or clan identity. This verse sets the initial demographic baseline for the tribe of Dan, who would later emerge as a numerically strong tribe in the wilderness, notably providing a significant figure like Samson, yet tragically falling into idolatry. The simple statement, "And the sons of Dan: Hushim," anchors the origin of the Danite tribe within God's meticulously planned covenant narrative, ensuring that every part of Israel's tribal structure has its documented genesis under divine purview, beginning with this move to Egypt.