Genesis 46:16

Study note

Setting — The narrator records the names of Gad’s seven sons as Jacob’s household prepares to descend into Egypt. This enumeration follows the summary of Leah’s total offspring and precedes the listing of Asher’s descendants.

The words — The phrase וּ/בְנֵ֣י גָ֔ד (u./ve.Nei Gad) literally translates to “and the sons of Gad,” functioning as a standard genealogical heading. The name צִפְי֥וֹן (tzif.Yon) appears first in the sequence, marking the patriarch of the initial clan.

The thread — The text reappears in Numbers 26:15 as the basis for tribal clan divisions and is first introduced in Genesis 30:11 and Genesis 35:26 as a son of Zilpah. These references anchor the names within a continuous lineage rather than isolated tradition.

Why it lands — The verse demands the reader acknowledge the preservation of specific family lines during a period of displacement. It requires acceptance that tribal identity is maintained through recorded names rather than abstract covenantal language.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.