Genesis 46:18

KJV

These [are] the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, [even] sixteen souls.

KJV (with Strong's)

These are the sons {H1121} of Zilpah {H2153}, whom Laban {H3837} gave {H5414} to Leah {H3812} his daughter {H1323}, and these she bare {H3205} unto Jacob {H3290}, even sixteen {H6240}{H8337} souls {H5315}.

Complete Jewish Bible

These were the children of Zilpah, whom Lavan gave to Le'ah his daughter; she bore them to Ya'akov - sixteen people.

Berean Standard Bible

These are the sons of Jacob born to Zilpah—whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah—sixteen in all.

American Standard Version

These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 46:18 meticulously records the sixteen descendants of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, who accompanied Jacob to Egypt. This verse, an integral part of a comprehensive census of Jacob's household, underscores God's faithful preservation of the covenant lineage, ensuring the survival and future growth of the nascent nation of Israel amidst a severe famine, thereby setting the stage for their eventual multiplication and the fulfillment of divine promises.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within [Genesis chapter 46](/genesis/46 "Jacob's Journey to Egypt and the Census of His Family"), which serves as a detailed genealogical record of all the members of Jacob's household who migrated to Egypt. Specifically, [Genesis 46:18](/genesis/46-18 "The Sons of Zilpah") focuses on the descendants of Zilpah, a handmaid given by Laban to Leah, Jacob's wife. The chapter systematically lists the family members by their mothers (Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, Zilpah), ensuring a complete account of the "seventy souls" who entered Egypt. The preceding verses ([Genesis 46:16-17](/genesis/46-16-17 "The Descendants of Gad and Asher")) enumerate the specific children and grandchildren of Zilpah's sons, Gad and Asher, leading directly to the summary count in verse 18. This precise enumeration highlights the foundational importance of each family unit in the formation of the future nation of Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The migration to Egypt occurred during a severe famine that afflicted the entire region, as detailed in [Genesis 41](/genesis/41 "Joseph's Rise and the Famine"). Jacob's family was compelled to move to Egypt, where Joseph, Jacob's son, had risen to a position of power and could provide sustenance. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, detailed genealogies and censuses were crucial for establishing identity, inheritance rights, tribal affiliations, and historical legitimacy. The act of "giving" a handmaid (like Zilpah) was a common practice, especially in cases of barrenness or to increase the family's lineage, as seen with [Sarah and Hagar](/genesis/16-1-3 "Sarah and Hagar") or [Rachel and Bilhah](/genesis/30-3-8 "Rachel and Bilhah"). The listing of individuals by "souls" (Hebrew: *nephesh*) was a standard way of counting persons in a census, emphasizing each living individual.
* **Key Themes:** [Genesis 46](/genesis/46 "The Journey to Egypt") contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Genesis. The primary theme is **Divine Providence and Preservation**, as God orchestrates the entire move to Egypt to preserve Jacob's family, ensuring their survival and growth into a nation, despite the famine. This directly relates to the theme of **Covenant Faithfulness**, as God is actively fulfilling His promises made to Abraham regarding his numerous descendants ([Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's Promise to Abraham")) and to Jacob regarding making him a great nation in Egypt ([Genesis 46:3](/genesis/46-3 "God's Promise to Jacob at Beersheba")). The meticulous census also underscores the **Formation of a Nation**, showing the transition from a patriarchal family unit to the foundational elements of the twelve tribes of Israel, setting the stage for the Exodus and the establishment of the Mosaic covenant.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sons (Hebrew, _bên'_):** From the root meaning "to build," this term signifies a male descendant, emphasizing the role of sons in building and continuing the family name and lineage. In this context, it refers to the male offspring of Zilpah, who, along with their own children, contribute to the total count of "souls." The concept of "sons" is foundational to the patriarchal narrative, as the covenant promises are passed down through the male line.
* **bare (Hebrew, _yâlad'_):** This primitive root means "to bear young" or "to beget." Here, it highlights Zilpah's role as the biological mother of the individuals counted, emphasizing the act of giving birth. The verb underscores the natural process through which the lineage is expanded, yet within the divine plan of multiplying Jacob's descendants.
* **souls (Hebrew, _nephesh'_):** Properly, "a breathing creature" or "vitality," this term is used broadly to refer to a person, an individual, or a living being. In the context of a census, "souls" refers to the total number of distinct persons. It emphasizes the individual lives that comprise the family unit, each one precious and accounted for in God's meticulous record of His covenant people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"These [are] the sons of Zilpah":** This clause introduces the specific segment of Jacob's family being enumerated, identifying them as the direct male descendants of Zilpah. It signals a shift in the census to focus on the lineage stemming from Leah's handmaid.
* **"whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter":** This phrase provides crucial background, clarifying Zilpah's origin and her status as a handmaid. It reminds the reader of the circumstances surrounding Jacob's marriages in Haran and the customary practice of a father providing handmaids to his daughters upon marriage, establishing Zilpah's place within Jacob's extended household.
* **"and these she bare unto Jacob":** This part confirms that the children listed are indeed Zilpah's biological offspring, and Jacob is their father. It establishes their direct patriarchal lineage to Jacob, making them legitimate members of his household and, by extension, future members of the tribes of Israel.
* **"[even] sixteen souls":** This final phrase provides the precise numerical total for this particular branch of Jacob's family. "Sixteen souls" signifies sixteen individual persons, encompassing Zilpah's two sons (Gad and Asher) and their respective children and grandchildren who journeyed to Egypt, as detailed in the preceding verses. This exact count underscores the meticulous nature of the biblical record and God's attention to every individual in the unfolding of His redemptive plan.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in this verse and the surrounding chapter is **Enumeration** or **Cataloging**. The text meticulously lists individuals and their numbers, creating a comprehensive census of Jacob's family. This detailed listing serves not merely as a historical record but as a theological statement, emphasizing God's precise oversight and the literal fulfillment of His promises regarding the multiplication of Abraham's descendants. The use of **Repetition** in the structure of listing each matriarch's descendants reinforces the comprehensive nature of the census. Furthermore, the entire chapter functions as a **Genealogy**, a literary form crucial in ancient Israel for establishing lineage, identity, and the continuity of covenant promises, culminating in the tracing of the Messianic line.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 46:18, as part of the broader census, profoundly illustrates God's meticulous **Divine Providence and Preservation**. Every individual counted, including those from Zilpah's line, was essential to God's overarching plan to form a great nation from Abraham's descendants. This precision demonstrates God's active and intimate involvement in human history, orchestrating seemingly mundane family movements for His grand redemptive purposes. It is a tangible display of His unwavering **Covenant Faithfulness**, as He systematically brings about the numerical growth promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, even amidst challenging circumstances like famine. The journey to Egypt, meticulously documented by this census, was a critical, divinely ordained step in the **Foundation of a Nation**, transforming a patriarchal family into the multitude from whom the twelve tribes of Israel would emerge.

* [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's Promise to Abraham to Make Him a Great Nation")
* [Genesis 15:13-14](/genesis/15-13-14 "God's Prophecy to Abraham Regarding Egypt")
* [Exodus 1:7](/exodus/1-7 "The Multiplication of Israel in Egypt")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 46:18, though a seemingly simple genealogical record, offers a profound reminder of God's incredible attention to detail and His unwavering faithfulness to His promises, even in the midst of challenging circumstances like a severe famine. It teaches us that God orchestrates the movement of every individual necessary for His grand plan to unfold, demonstrating that His purposes are precise and purposeful, often unfolding through seemingly ordinary family events and migrations. This meticulous record encourages us to trust in God's providential care for our own lives, recognizing that He is intimately involved in every detail, and that even seemingly minor roles or events contribute to His larger redemptive narrative. Just as He preserved and multiplied Jacob's family, He faithfully works in our lives, ensuring His purposes are fulfilled, leading us towards His ultimate redemptive goal in Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this detailed record of family members strengthen your understanding of God's meticulous providence in your own life?**
* **In what ways does this verse, part of a larger census, highlight the importance of every individual within God's grand redemptive plan?**
* **How can recognizing God's faithfulness in preserving ancient lineages encourage your trust in His promises for the future?**

### FAQ
**Why does the Bible meticulously list genealogies and family members, as seen here?**

Answer: These detailed lists, including [Genesis 46:18](/genesis/46-18 "The Census of Zilpah's Descendants"), serve multiple crucial purposes. Firstly, they establish the historical accuracy and continuity of God's covenant promises, particularly the promise to Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation ([Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's Promise to Abraham")). Secondly, they meticulously trace the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come, demonstrating God's precise and purposeful work throughout history in preparing for the ultimate Redeemer. Thirdly, such lists underscore the value God places on every individual within His divine plan, ensuring no one is forgotten and that each person plays a part in the unfolding of His redemptive narrative.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous preservation of Jacob's lineage, including the specific accounting of Zilpah's descendants in [Genesis 46:18](/genesis/46-18 "Zilpah's Descendants in Jacob's Family"), finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. This detailed census highlights God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises, particularly the promise that through Abraham's seed, all nations would be blessed ([Genesis 22:18](/genesis/22-18 "Blessing for All Nations Through Abraham's Seed")). The very existence and preservation of this family, which would grow into the nation of Israel, was essential for the eventual birth of the Messiah. Christ, as the "seed" of Abraham ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "The Promise to Abraham's Seed")) and the "son" of David ([Matthew 1:1](/matthew/1-1 "The Genealogy of Jesus Christ")), is the culmination of these genealogies, the ultimate heir to the covenant promises, and the one through whom God's plan of salvation for all humanity is realized. He is the true Israel, the head of a new spiritual family, fulfilling the purpose for which these ancient lineages were so carefully preserved, drawing all believers into His family through faith ([Ephesians 2:19-20](/ephesians/2-19-20 "Fellow Citizens with the Saints")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 29:24

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid.

Genesis 30:9

When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

Genesis 30:13

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

Genesis 35:26

And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these [are] the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

Exodus 1:4

Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.