Bible Strands
Genesis 46:8
Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the names of Jacob’s household as they prepare to descend into Egypt following the covenant promise. This moment bridges the patriarchal narratives and the Egyptian sojourn.
The words — The opening phrase וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת (ve’eleh shemot) translates literally to "and these are the names," functioning as a formal genealogical marker. The participle הַבָּאִים (ha-ba’im) means "who went," specifying the migrating group.
The thread — This structural formula opens the migration record and reappears in Exodus 1:1 to begin the Egyptian sojourn narrative. It parallels the tribal enumeration in 1 Chronicles 2:1 and the patriarchal blessing in Deuteronomy 33:6.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to track Jacob’s lineage as it transitions from a single family into a defined nation. It demands attention to the specific names that will later constitute the twelve tribes of Israel.
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
King James Version
And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
Cross-references
- Exodus 1:1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:
- Deuteronomy 33:6 Let Reuben live and not die, nor his men be few.”
- 1 Chronicles 2:1 These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
- Genesis 29:1 Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
- Genesis 29:32 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
- Genesis 35:22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
- Genesis 49:1 Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come:
- Exodus 6:14 These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
- Numbers 1:5 These are the names of the men who are to assist you: From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
- Numbers 1:20 From the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,