Genesis 46:21

The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jacob receives this genealogical report from Joseph as the family prepares to relocate to Egypt. The list is delivered to confirm the complete count of Jacob’s household before the descent.

The words — The opening phrase וּבְנֵי בִנְיָמִן (u.Ve.Nei vin.ya.Min) literally means "and the sons of Benjamin." The first name, בֶּלַע (Be.la'), denotes Bela, anchoring the patriarchal record in specific tribal progenitors.

The thread — This lineage cross-references the tribal census in Numbers 1:11 and the condensed record in 1 Chronicles 7:6. The tribal identity documented here later grounds the metaphorical description of Benjamin in Genesis 49:27.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge each named individual as a necessary link in the covenant transmission. It demands precise attention to how Jacob’s family is numerically and personally preserved through the Egyptian period.

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.

The Hebrew words

וּבְנֵ֣יu./ve.Neiand/ [the] sons of בִנְיָמִ֗ןvin.ya.MinBenjamin בֶּ֤לַעBe.la'Bela וָבֶ֙כֶר֙va./Ve.kherand/ Beker וְאַשְׁבֵּ֔לve./'ash.Beland/ Ashbel גֵּרָ֥אge.Ra'Gera וְנַעֲמָ֖ןve./na.'a.Manand/ Naaman אֵחִ֣י'e.ChiEhi וָרֹ֑אשׁva./Roshand/ Rosh מֻפִּ֥יםmu.PimMuppim וְחֻפִּ֖יםve./chu.Pimand/ Huppim וָאָֽרְדְּ׃va./'A.redand/ Ard

King James Version

And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 7:6 The three sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael.
Genesis 49:27 Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”
Numbers 1:11 from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;
Numbers 1:36 From the sons of Benjamin, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,
Numbers 26:38 These were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans: The Belaite clan from Bela, the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel, the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram,
Deuteronomy 33:12 Concerning Benjamin he said: “May the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him; God shields him all day long, and upon His shoulders he rests.”
1 Chronicles 8:1 Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,

People named

BenjaminBelaBecherGeraAhiramAshbelHuppimMuppimNaamanRoshArd