Genesis 46 24

Genesis 46:24 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.

Genesis 46:24 kjv

And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.

Genesis 46:24 nkjv

The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

Genesis 46:24 niv

The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem.

Genesis 46:24 esv

The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

Genesis 46:24 nlt

The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

Genesis 46 24 Cross References

Verse Text Reference
Gen 12:2-3 "...I will make you a great nation... I will bless those who bless you..." Promise of numerous descendants to Abraham, foundation for Jacob's family becoming a nation.
Gen 15:5 "...Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them..." God reiterates the promise of innumerable descendants to Abraham, echoed in the growing family.
Gen 30:8 Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed." So she named him Naphtali. Origin of Naphtali's name and his birth from Bilhah, connecting him to the familial narrative.
Gen 46:7 His sons, and his daughters, and all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt. Contextualizing the list as part of Jacob's entire family migrating to Egypt.
Gen 46:27 All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy. The summary verse confirming the total number of individuals in this important lineage.
Exod 1:1, 5 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt... all the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons... Direct re-statement confirming the significance of the 70 individuals for the Exodus narrative.
Num 1:42-43 Of the sons of Naphtali... those listed of the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400. Demonstrates the growth of Naphtali's lineage from these initial four sons into a numerous tribe.
Num 26:48-50 The sons of Naphtali according to their clans: of Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the clan of the Gunites... Reiteration of Naphtali's sons as heads of tribal clans during the second wilderness census, confirming lineage.
Deut 10:22 Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven. Recalling the small beginning of the nation in Egypt, contrasting it with God's fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise.
Deut 33:23 Of Naphtali he said: ā€œO Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD...ā€ Mosesā€™ blessing upon the tribe of Naphtali, showing its future status and blessing.
Judg 4:6, 10 Deborah sent and summoned Barak from Kedesh-Naphtali... So he went up with 10,000 men from Naphtali... Highlighting the tribe of Naphtali's role in the deliverance of Israel.
Isa 9:1-2 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish... Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light... Prophecy often linked to the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, foreshadowing Messiah's ministry there.
Mt 4:13-15 He went and lived in Capernaum, by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled... New Testament fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, connecting Naphtali's geographical region to Christ's earthly ministry.
1 Chr 7:13 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah. Direct parallel account from Chronicles, confirming the genealogy and the specific names.
Ezra 2:59, 62 Those who came from Tel-melah... could not prove their fathersā€™ houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel... they were excluded from the priesthood... Emphasizes the critical importance of genealogical records for Israel's identity and religious standing.
Neh 7:6 These are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar... had carried away... Underscores the continuity and significance of lineage post-exile, relying on precise lists.
Lk 3:23-38 ...Jesus... being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli... the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. New Testament genealogies highlight the meticulous divine preservation of lineage for the Messiah.
Rom 9:4-5 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs... The foundation of Israel's spiritual heritage rooted in their patriarchal lineage and divine promises.
Heb 11:12 From one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven... Affirmation of Abraham's extraordinary fruitfulness, connected to the beginnings described in Genesis 46.
Rev 7:6 Of the tribe of Naphtali 12,000 were sealed... Naphtali's lineage is still recognized and sealed by God in future prophetic events.

Genesis 46 verses

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Genesis 46 24 meaning

Genesis 46:24 details the names of Naphtaliā€™s four sons who descended into Egypt with Jacob. This verse is part of a comprehensive family register that documents the members of Jacobā€™s household embarking on their journey, marking the beginning of the nation of Israel's growth in a foreign land. It underscores the divine preservation and meticulous accounting of God's chosen family, vital for the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.

Genesis 46 24 Context

Genesis 46 marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, as Jacob and his entire familyā€”the burgeoning lineage promised by God to Abrahamā€”move from Canaan to Egypt to survive a severe famine. This migration occurs under divine instruction, facilitated by Joseph's position as second-in-command in Egypt. The chapter serves as a vital census, meticulously listing every member of Jacobā€™s household, emphasizing the careful accounting and preservation of the chosen family. It prepares the reader for their subsequent growth in Egypt, the eventual bondage, and the miraculous Exodus, all foretold in Godā€™s covenant with Abraham. This detailed list is crucial, highlighting that Godā€™s promises of nationhood are being realized through specific individuals, each generation faithfully recorded.

Genesis 46 24 Word analysis

  • וּבְנֵי (Uve'nei): "And the sons of". The initial "וּ" (u) acts as a conjunctive "and," connecting this listing to the previous family entries in the chapter. "בְּנֵי" (b'nei) denotes "sons of," indicating direct paternal lineage and thus the continuation of Jacob's family tree. This highlights the genealogical structure of the account, central to establishing tribal identity and covenantal continuity.
  • נַפְ×ŖÖøּל֓י (Naphtali): One of the twelve sons of Jacob, born to Bilhah, Rachelā€™s servant. His name, given by Rachel, means "my wrestling" (Gen 30:8), reflecting her struggle with Leah. He is a patriarchal head, his name representing one of the future tribes of Israel. The inclusion here signifies his personal descendants forming the nucleus of that tribe.
  • יַחְצְאֵל (Jahzeel/Yahzeel): This son's name translates to "God divides" or "God distributes." As one of the earliest descendants listed, his name implicitly suggests divine providence in dividing or allotting portions to his descendants, aligning with God's ongoing activity in Israel's history. It also appears as Jahziel in 1 Chronicles 7:13, illustrating textual consistency across different historical accounts.
  • וְגוּנ֓י (Ve-guni): "And Guni." The "וְ" (ve) connects the names in the list. Guniā€™s name means "my garden," suggesting a possible connection to fertility, growth, or a protected space, symbolically apt for a family that God promised to multiply.
  • וְיֵצֶ×Ø (Ve-ye-tzer): "And Jezer." This name means "form" or "purpose" or "formation." It can imply something carefully formed or designed. This subtly points to divine intentionality in shaping this lineage for a specific purpose within Godā€™s plan.
  • וְשׁ֓לֵּם (Ve-shi-lem): "And Shillem." The name means "recompense," "peace," or "repaid." This name resonates with themes of divine justice or ultimate peace and fulfillment. It appears as Shallum in 1 Chronicles 7:13, demonstrating variations in transliteration over time while retaining the underlying Hebrew.
  • Words-Group Analysis (Sons of Naphtali): The specific listing of Naphtaliā€™s sons serves a crucial function in the genealogical record. These names form the foundation of the future clans within the tribe of Naphtali, as later detailed in Numbers 26:48-50. Their inclusion ensures the precise tracking of the Abrahamic covenant's fulfillment, as the family of Jacob transitions into the nation of Israel. This detail emphasizes God's faithfulness to His promise to make Jacobā€™s descendants a great and numerous people, validating their identity and heritage. The very act of naming each individual within these patriarchal lists affirms the value God places on each member of His chosen people and the ordered unfolding of His divine plan.

Genesis 46 24 Bonus section

The act of cataloging individuals in this manner, consistent with ancient Near Eastern custom, served not only to preserve familial and national history but also to affirm legitimate claim to land and tribal identity. For the original Israelite audience, especially during periods like the wilderness wanderings or the return from exile (where genealogies in Ezra and Nehemiah were critical), these lists were foundational to knowing their heritage and their place within God's covenant. The names, even with their potential meanings ("God divides," "my garden," "form," "recompense"), indirectly speak of God's active involvement in the lives and destinies of these family heads, reinforcing His sovereignty over the formation and growth of His people. The enumeration of these four sons of Naphtali represents the initial seeds from which a massive tribal population would emerge, testifying to the miraculous fulfillment of Godā€™s promise to Abraham.

Genesis 46 24 Commentary

Genesis 46:24, while seemingly a simple genealogical listing, carries significant weight within the larger biblical narrative. It is a precise documentation, indicating Godā€™s meticulous oversight of the Abrahamic covenantā€™s fulfillment. Every name listed signifies a vital link in the chain of divine promise, illustrating how a promise of countless descendants began with identifiable, recorded individuals. The fact that the list enumerates those who "came into Egypt" underscores God's providential care in guiding His people to a place of preservation during famine, allowing them to multiply. The names of Naphtali's sonsā€”Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillemā€”will later form the foundational clans of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, solidifying their future identity and place within the divinely appointed nation. This verse serves as a quiet testament to God's faithfulness to His Word and His deliberate process in shaping history through human lineages for His ultimate purpose.