King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The sons of Y'hudah who had descendants were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelani; of Peretz, the family of the Partzi; and of Zerach, the family of the Zarchi.
Berean Standard Bible:
These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.
American Standard Version:
And the sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the sons{H1121} of Judah{H3063} after their families{H4940} were; of Shelah{H7956}, the family{H4940} of the Shelanites{H8024}: of Pharez{H6557}, the family{H4940} of the Pharzites{H6558}: of Zerah{H2226}, the family{H4940} of the Zarhites{H2227}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Nehemiah 11:24
- And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, [was] at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.
Genesis 46:12
- And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.
Genesis 38:26
- And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
Genesis 38:30
- And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
Genesis 38:11
- Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren [did]. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
Genesis 38:14
- And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which [is] by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
Luke 3:33
- Which was [the son] of Aminadab, which was [the son] of Aram, which was [the son] of Esrom, which was [the son] of Phares, which was [the son] of Juda,
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 26:20
**Numbers 26:20** is part of a larger census passage in the book of Numbers, which lists the descendants of Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The historical context of this verse is set during the time when the Israelites were in the wilderness, after their exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land.
**Themes:**
1. **Genealogical Record:** The verse is concerned with documenting the lineage of the tribe of Judah, highlighting the importance of family heritage and tribal identity in ancient Israel. This genealogy would have been crucial for determining land allotments and maintaining legal and religious roles within the tribe.
2. **Divine Faithfulness:** The census reflects God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Despite the challenges faced in the wilderness, God's promise of a large nation is being fulfilled.
3. **Preparation for Conquest:** This census was conducted to prepare the Israelites for the conquest of Canaan. Knowing the number of men eligible for military service was essential for strategic planning and the allocation of land.
4. **Tribal Strength:** The detailed account of the families within the tribe of Judah emphasizes its strength and significance. Judah is often portrayed as a leading tribe, and this is reinforced by the detailed listing of its clans.
**Historical Context:**
The book of Numbers is set in the wilderness, where the Israelites spent 40 years wandering after their disobedience and lack of faith when initially faced with the prospect of entering Canaan. Numbers 26 occurs towards the end of this period, as a new generation prepares to inherit the land promised to their ancestors.
The specific mention of Shelah, Pharez, and Zerah, sons of Judah, reflects the complex family dynamics present in the patriarchal narratives. Pharez and Zerah were twin brothers born to Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38), and Shelah was their older brother. The families descending from these individuals—the Shelanites, Pharzites, and Zarhites—are noted as distinct clan groups within the tribe of Judah.
This verse is part of a larger narrative arc that underscores the fulfillment of God's promises and sets the stage for the tribal allotments and military campaigns that will follow in the book of Joshua. It also foreshadows the prominent role that the tribe of Judah will play in the future history of Israel, including the lineage of King David and ultimately, Jesus Christ.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- 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. - Strong's Number: H3063
There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהוּדָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah. - Strong's Number: H4940
There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁפָּחָה
Transliteration: mishpâchâh
Pronunciation: mish-paw-khaw'
Description: from שָׁפָה (compare שִׁפְחָה); a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people; family, kind(-red). - Strong's Number: H7956
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁלָה
Transliteration: Shêlâh
Pronunciation: shay-law'
Description: the same as שְׁאֵלָה (shortened); request; Shelah, the name of a postdiluvian patriarch and of an Israelite; Shelah. - Strong's Number: H8024
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁלָנִי
Transliteration: Shêlânîy
Pronunciation: shay-law-nee'
Description: from שֵׁלָה; a Shelanite (collectively), or descendants of Shelah; Shelanites. - Strong's Number: H6557
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּרֶץ
Transliteration: Perets
Pronunciation: peh'-rets
Description: the same as פֶּרֶץ; Perets, the name of two Israelites; Perez, Pharez. - Strong's Number: H6558
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פַּרְצִי
Transliteration: Partsîy
Pronunciation: par-tsee'
Description: patronymically from פֶּרֶץ; a Partsite (collectively) or descendants of Perets; Pharzites. - Strong's Number: H2226
There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זֶרַח
Transliteration: Zerach
Pronunciation: zeh'-rakh
Description: the same as זֶרַח; Zerach, the name of three Israelites, also of an Idumaean and an Ethiopian prince; Zarah, Zerah. - Strong's Number: H2227
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זַרְחִי
Transliteration: Zarchîy
Pronunciation: zar-khee'
Description: patronymically from זֶרַח; a Zarchite or descendant of Zerach; Zarchite.