Genesis 46:23

KJV

And the sons of Dan; Hushim.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the sons {H1121} of Dan {H1835}; Hushim {H2366}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The sons of Dan: Hushim.

Berean Standard Bible

The son of Dan: Hushim.

American Standard Version

And the sons of Dan: Hushim.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 46:23 concisely records Hushim as the sole "son" of Dan among Jacob's descendants who journeyed into Egypt. This brief entry is part of a detailed census enumerating the seventy souls of Israel's nascent nation, highlighting God's meticulous preservation of His covenant people and the foundational lineage from which the twelve tribes would emerge, ensuring the continuity of His redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a comprehensive genealogical record found in [Genesis 46:8-27](/genesis/46-8-27 "The List of Jacob's Descendants Entering Egypt"), which meticulously details every member of Jacob's household who accompanied him to Egypt. This crucial migration, orchestrated by divine providence through Joseph, was essential for the preservation and future growth of the fledgling nation of Israel. The list serves as a foundational demographic snapshot, marking the transition of Jacob's family from a nomadic clan to a people poised to become a great nation, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham. Each name, including [Hushim](/genesis/46-23 "Hushim, Son of Dan"), contributes to the meticulous account of the tribal origins from which the future nation would spring, underscoring the divine oversight of Israel's earliest formation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, genealogies were far more than mere lists of names; they served vital legal, social, and theological functions. They established tribal identity, land rights, inheritance, and validated claims to leadership or priestly roles. For Israel, these genealogies also affirmed their unique identity as God's chosen people, tracing their lineage back to the patriarchs and, ultimately, to God's covenant promises. The migration to Egypt was a pivotal moment, a necessary step to escape famine in Canaan and to allow the family to grow into a numerous people, as foretold in [God's covenant with Abraham](/genesis/15-13-16 "God's Covenant with Abraham Regarding His Descendants"). The precise enumeration of "seventy souls" (a symbolic number representing completeness) in [Genesis 46:27](/genesis/46-27 "The Seventy Souls of Jacob's Household") emphasizes the divine hand in preserving every member of this foundational group.
* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme in [Genesis 46](/genesis/46 "Jacob's Journey to Egypt and His Descendants") is **Divine Providence and Faithfulness**. God orchestrates circumstances (like the famine and Joseph's rise to power) to preserve His covenant people, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His promises. The meticulous listing of names, even seemingly minor ones like Hushim, highlights the theme of **God's Meticulous Care for His People**, emphasizing that every individual plays a role in His grand redemptive plan. Furthermore, the passage underscores the theme of **National Formation from Humble Beginnings**, showing how God can build a mighty nation from a relatively small family unit, fulfilling the promise of numerous descendants given to Abraham in [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's Promise to Abraham to Make a Great Nation").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sons (Hebrew, _bên_):** This word (H1121) derives from a root meaning "to build," signifying a son as a builder or perpetuator of the family name. In its widest sense, it can refer to a literal son, grandson, or even a descendant, subject, or member of a nation or group. Its usage here, particularly in conjunction with the unique nature of "Hushim," invites deeper consideration of whether it refers to a direct biological son or a broader familial unit.
* **Dan (Hebrew, _Dân_):** This name (H1835) means "judge," derived from the verb "to judge." Dan was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, born to Bilhah, Rachel's servant. He is the progenitor of the tribe of Dan, which would later play a significant role in Israel's history, though sometimes marked by apostasy and migration, as seen in [Judges 18](/judges/18 "The Migration of the Tribe of Dan").
* **Hushim (Hebrew, _Chûwshîym_):** This name (H2366) is plural in form, meaning "hasters" or "those who hasten." Its plural nature for a seemingly singular individual is highly significant. While presented as a "son" of Dan, its grammatical structure strongly suggests it represents a clan, a family group, or the collective descendants of Dan's immediate household who entered Egypt, rather than a single direct biological son. This interpretation is supported by later genealogies, such as in [Numbers 26:42](/numbers/26-42 "The Descendants of Dan in Numbers"), where Dan's son is listed as "Shuham," suggesting Hushim may refer to Shuham's descendants or a broader family unit associated with Dan.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the sons of Dan;":** This introductory phrase sets the stage for listing Dan's immediate progeny. The use of "sons" (plural) initially suggests multiple offspring, aligning with the pattern for most other patriarchs in this chapter. However, the subsequent singular name "Hushim" immediately creates a textual tension that prompts deeper inquiry into the nature of Dan's household.
* **"Hushim.":** This single word completes the verse and is the focal point of its interpretive challenge. As noted, "Hushim" is a plural Hebrew noun. This linguistic detail is crucial, leading scholars to conclude that it likely refers to a collective entity—a clan or family group—that represented Dan's initial household as they entered Egypt, rather than a single individual. This explanation reconciles the plural "sons" with the singular "Hushim," indicating that Dan's contribution to the nascent nation was through this specific, perhaps small, family unit.

#### Literary Devices
The brevity of [Genesis 46:23](/genesis/46-23 "The Son of Dan") is itself a significant **literary device**, highlighting the unique situation of Dan's lineage compared to other patriarchs who are listed with multiple direct sons. This **conciseness** draws attention to the name "Hushim." The use of a **plural noun for a singular entity** (Hushim) is a notable linguistic feature, functioning perhaps as a form of **synecdoche** or **metonymy**, where a part (the clan or family unit) represents the whole (Dan's immediate descendants). This choice emphasizes the foundational units of the emerging tribes, even when a direct "son" might not be explicitly named in this specific census. The entire passage also exemplifies the **genealogical style** prevalent in ancient Near Eastern literature, which serves to establish legitimacy, continuity, and divine oversight of the lineage.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The meticulous listing of each family member, even those briefly mentioned like Hushim, underscores God's meticulous oversight in preserving and growing the family of Jacob into a great nation, demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises despite seemingly small or humble beginnings. This passage affirms that every individual, no matter how briefly mentioned in the biblical narrative, is significant in God's overarching plan and contributes to the larger story of salvation history. Genealogies were fundamental in ancient Israel for establishing tribal identity, inheritance rights, and a sense of continuity with the covenant promises. This verse solidifies the lineage of the tribe of Dan within the larger tapestry of Israel's twelve tribes, showing God's hand in building a mighty nation from humble, individual family units.

* [Numbers 1:38-39](/numbers/1-38-39 "The Census of Dan")
* [Deuteronomy 29:18-21](/deuteronomy/29-18-21 "The Curse on Those Who Turn Away")
* [Genesis 15:13-16](/genesis/15-13-16 "God's Covenant with Abraham Regarding His Descendants")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Even a concise genealogical entry like [Genesis 46:23](/genesis/46-23 "The Significance of Hushim") offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God's meticulous attention extends to every individual, affirming our personal significance within His grand redemptive narrative. Just as God built a powerful tribe from Dan's seemingly small beginning, we are encouraged not to despise humble origins in our own lives or ministries, trusting that God can accomplish great things through seemingly insignificant starts. This verse also speaks to the importance of every "small" part in God's larger plan; no contribution is too minor for His purposes. Furthermore, understanding our spiritual heritage within God's family story provides a vital sense of belonging, purpose, and continuity with His eternal plan, reminding us that we are part of a lineage that God has faithfully guided through history.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of biblical genealogies, even seemingly minor ones, affirm God's personal care for individuals within His grand plan?**
* **In what ways might we be tempted to despise "small beginnings" in our own lives or ministries, and how does this verse encourage us to trust in God's ability to bring about great things from humble starts?**
* **How does understanding our place within God's historical and spiritual lineage provide a sense of identity and purpose in our faith journey?**

### FAQ
**Why is only one "son" listed for Dan, and what does "Hushim" mean?**

Answer: The listing of only one "son," Hushim, for Dan in [Genesis 46:23](/genesis/46-23 "Hushim's Uniqueness") is unique among Jacob's sons in this census, as most others have multiple direct offspring named. The name "Hushim" (חֻשִׁים) is a plural form in Hebrew, meaning "hasters." This linguistic detail strongly suggests that "Hushim" refers not to a single direct individual but rather to a clan or family group representing Dan's immediate household as they entered Egypt. This interpretation helps reconcile the plural "sons" with the singular "Hushim," indicating that this family unit constituted Dan's contribution to the nascent nation. Later genealogies, such as [Numbers 26:42](/numbers/26-42 "Shuham, Son of Dan"), list Dan's son as "Shuham," further suggesting that "Hushim" in Genesis 46:23 likely refers to the collective descendants or the primary family unit associated with Shuham, highlighting the biblical record's focus on the foundational units of the tribes.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous recording of each individual, including Hushim, in the lineage of Israel, underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, which ultimately find their fulfillment in Christ. The preservation of this specific family line, from Abraham through Jacob's sons, was essential for the eventual advent of the Messiah. Every name in this genealogy, no matter how brief, contributes to the unfolding tapestry of salvation history, demonstrating God's sovereign hand guiding His people towards the coming of the Seed who would bless all nations, as promised in [Genesis 22:18](/genesis/22-18 "All Nations Blessed Through Abraham's Seed"). Christ, as the ultimate Son of David and the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, embodies the culmination of God's precise and providentially guided plan for humanity, ensuring that the promise made to Abraham, and meticulously preserved through generations like Dan's, would be realized in His person and work. His coming, prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New, as seen in passages like [Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "The Seed is Christ"), validates the divine purpose behind every seemingly minor detail of Israel's history, pointing to the one through whom all of God's promises are "Yes" and "Amen" in [2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "All God's Promises are Yes in Christ").

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 49:16

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

Genesis 49:17

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

1 Chronicles 7:12

Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of Ir, [and] Hushim, the sons of Aher.

Numbers 1:12

Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

Genesis 30:6

And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

1 Chronicles 12:35

And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.

Deuteronomy 33:22

¶ And of Dan he said, Dan [is] a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.