Genesis 35:24

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

Complete Jewish Bible:

The sons of Rachel were Yosef and Binyamin.

Berean Standard Bible:

The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

American Standard Version:

the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

The sons{H1121} of Rachel{H7354}; Joseph{H3130}, and Benjamin{H1144}:

Cross-References (KJV):

Genesis 30:22

  • And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

Genesis 30:24

  • And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

Genesis 46:19

  • The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin.

Genesis 46:22

  • These [are] the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls [were] fourteen.

Genesis 35:16

  • ¶ And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

Genesis 35:18

  • And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

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Commentary for Genesis 35:24

Genesis 35:24 is a verse from the Old Testament that lists the sons of Rachel, who was one of the wives of the patriarch Jacob (also known as Israel). The two sons mentioned are Joseph and Benjamin. This verse is part of a larger narrative that includes the story of Jacob's family and the development of the twelve tribes of Israel.

**Themes:**
1. **Family Dynamics:** The verse reflects the complex family structure within the household of Jacob, which includes four matriarchs (Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah) and their children. The listing of Rachel's sons emphasizes her significant role and the favoritism Jacob showed towards Rachel and her children, particularly Joseph, which created tension within the family.

2. **Divine Promises:** The lineage of Jacob's sons is important as it represents the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs. The twelve tribes of Israel, which would become the nation of Israel, are descended from Jacob's sons, including Joseph and Benjamin.

3. **Birthright and Blessing:** The narrative surrounding Joseph, one of Rachel's sons, deals extensively with themes of birthright and divine blessing. Joseph's experiences, including his dreams of leadership, his enslavement in Egypt, and his eventual rise to power, are central to the story and theological messages of Genesis.

**Historical Context:**
- **Patriarchal Era:** The verse is set in the patriarchal period, which is characterized by nomadic lifestyles, clan-based societies, and the worship of a single deity, Yahweh, by the ancestors of the Israelites.

- **Covenantal Relationship:** Jacob and his family are part of a covenantal relationship with God, which includes promises of land, numerous descendants, and blessings that would extend to all nations through them.

- **Egyptian Sojourn:** The mention of Joseph foreshadows the family's subsequent move to Egypt due to a famine, which sets the stage for the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt as described in the book of Exodus.

- **Tribal Foundations:** The listing of Rachel's sons is part of the foundational narrative that establishes the ancestry of the tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) and Benjamin. These tribes play a significant role in the historical and prophetic literature of the Bible.

In summary, Genesis 35:24 is a verse that encapsulates the themes of familial relationships, divine promises, and the establishment of the twelve tribes of Israel, set against the backdrop of the patriarchal era and the covenantal history of the Israelite people.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
  2. Strong's Number: H7354
    There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָחֵל
    Transliteration: Râchêl
    Pronunciation: raw-khale'
    Description: the same as רָחֵל; Rachel, a wife of Jacob; Rachel.
  3. Strong's Number: H3130
    There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹסֵף
    Transliteration: Yôwçêph
    Pronunciation: yo-safe'
    Description: future of יָסַף; let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites; Joseph. Compare יְהוֹסֵף.
  4. Strong's Number: H1144
    There are 156 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בִּנְיָמִין
    Transliteration: Binyâmîyn
    Pronunciation: bin-yaw-mene'
    Description: from בֵּן and יָמִין; son of (the) right hand; Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Benjamin.