Genesis 46:17

And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.

And the sons {H1121} of Asher {H836}; Jimnah {H3232}, and Ishuah {H3438}, and Isui {H3440}, and Beriah {H1283}, and Serah {H8294} their sister {H269}: and the sons {H1121} of Beriah {H1283}; Heber {H2268}, and Malchiel {H4439}.

The children of Asher: Yimnah, Yishvah, Yishvi, B'ri'ah, and their sister Serach. The sons of B'ri'ah were Hever and Malki'el.

The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.

And the sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel.

Commentary

Genesis 46:17 KJV meticulously lists the descendants of Asher, one of Jacob's sons, who journeyed with the patriarch's household into Egypt. This verse is part of a larger genealogical record that highlights the growth and preservation of God's chosen family.

Context

This verse is found within Genesis chapter 46, which chronicles Jacob's (Israel's) migration to Egypt with his entire family. This move was orchestrated by divine providence to escape a severe famine, initiated by Joseph's earlier arrival and rise to power in Egypt. The detailed listing of each family member, including sons and daughters, underscores the fulfillment of God's promise to make Jacob a great nation, even as they entered a foreign land. The inclusion of Serah, Asher's daughter, and the further listing of Beriah's sons (Heber and Malchiel) emphasizes the meticulous nature of the biblical record and the importance of each lineage within the emerging twelve tribes of Israel.

Key Themes

  • Genealogical Significance: The detailed enumeration of names like Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah their sister, is not merely a dry list but a vital record. It affirms the identity and lineage of the nation of Israel, establishing their heritage and demonstrating God's faithfulness in preserving His people through distinct family lines.
  • God's Faithfulness and Promise: The very act of listing these individuals underscores God's commitment to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Despite famine and potential scattering, God ensures the family grows and remains intact, preparing them for their future as a great nation as promised in Genesis 12:2.
  • The Foundation of the Tribes: These individuals are the progenitors of the future twelve tribes of Israel. Each name represents a foundational stone in the building of a nation that would play a central role in salvation history.

Linguistic Insights

While Genesis 46:17 primarily lists names, the significance lies in the cultural practice of ancient genealogies. In Hebrew culture, names often carried meaning, reflecting hopes, circumstances of birth, or characteristics. The meticulous detail in these lists served to establish legal rights, inheritance, and tribal identity. The repetition of "sons of" (Hebrew: benei) clearly defines the patriarchal lineage, emphasizing the hierarchical and familial structure crucial to the emerging nation of Israel.

Practical Application

  • Every Individual Matters: This detailed genealogy reminds us that God sees and values every individual. Even names that seem obscure in a long list are important to God's grand design.
  • God's Plan Unfolds Steadily: The journey of Jacob's family into Egypt, including the listing of each person, demonstrates that God's plans unfold step by step, often through seemingly ordinary family events. His faithfulness in preserving His people through challenging times is a testament to His enduring love and purpose.
  • Trust in God's Preservation: Just as God preserved and multiplied Jacob's family in Egypt, He continues to preserve His people today. This passage can encourage believers to trust in God's sovereign care, even when circumstances seem dire, knowing He is working out His purposes for His kingdom and His people, as seen in Romans 8:28.
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Cross-References

  • Genesis 30:13 (3 votes)

    And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

  • Genesis 49:20 (3 votes)

    Out of Asher his bread [shall be] fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

  • Numbers 26:44 (2 votes)

    [Of] the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.

  • Numbers 26:46 (2 votes)

    And the name of the daughter of Asher [was] Sarah.

  • Numbers 1:40 (2 votes)

    Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

  • Numbers 1:41 (2 votes)

    Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Asher, [were] forty and one thousand and five hundred.

  • 1 Chronicles 2:2 (2 votes)

    Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.