The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just a dry list of names; it's a snapshot of legacy. Notice how the text meticulously records the sons of Gad, even mentioning variations in their names in later biblical accounts. This emphasis reveals how God cherishes and preserves the lineage of His people, ensuring each name, and the life it represents, is not forgotten.
The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jacob and his entire family are journeying to Egypt following God's reassurance to him that he would become a great nation there. This passage lists the descendants of Jacob's son Gad, detailing the specific individuals who made up this part of his growing family as they prepared to settle in Egypt.
Why does God introduce Himself to Jacob not just as 'God,' but as 'the God of your father'?
When God speaks to Jacob in a vision, He doesn't just say, 'I am God.' He says, 'I am God, the God of your father' (Genesis 46:3). This isn't just a casual greeting. It's a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and covenant. Jacob is leaving the land promised to Abraham and Isaac, a land they knew and experienced God in. He's moving to Egypt, a foreign place. God reassures him by connecting Himself to the legacy of faith Jacob already knows. He’s not a new God; He's the same God who walked with Abraham and Isaac, the God who made promises and kept them. This anchors Jacob's faith in the midst of uncertainty, reminding him that God's relationship with his family is continuous and unbreakable.
Why list out all these names? What's the significance of these seemingly forgotten sons of Gad?
Genesis 46:16 simply lists the seven sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. On the surface, it might seem like just a genealogy, a historical record. But these names represent more than just individuals; they represent generations and the unfolding of God's plan. Each name, though obscure to us now, carried significance in its time. The fact that they are listed here, as part of Jacob's lineage moving into Egypt, signifies that God sees and remembers every person, even those not prominently featured in the grand narrative. This list assures us that God’s people are not just an abstract nation, but a collection of families, each with their own story, all woven into His larger redemptive work. Even as they enter a new, uncertain chapter in Egypt, God is aware of and includes every single descendant.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
ben · Hebrew Noun
A term used to denote male offspring in a family line; in the context of genealogies, it signifies the continuation of the covenantal family of Israel.
This verse lists the descendants of Gad, one of Jacob's sons. These names are part of the larger census of Jacob's family as they migrate to Egypt, an event that sets the stage for their eventual enslavement and the Exodus.
c. 1870 BC— this verse
Jacob's Family Moves to Egypt
Jacob, with his entire family, moves from Canaan to Egypt due to a severe famine. They settle in the land of Goshen.
c. 1870 BC
Joseph Reunited with Family
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and father, Jacob. This reunion brings immense joy and relief to the entire family.
c. 1870 BC
Jacob's Family is Registered
The heads of each family line descended from Jacob are listed as they enter Egypt, totaling seventy souls according to Genesis.
c. 1870 BC
Settlement in Goshen
Joseph advises his family to identify themselves as shepherds to Pharaoh, securing their settlement in the fertile region of Goshen, separate from the Egyptians.
This passage provides a parallel list of Gad's descendants, confirming the names and lineage even with slight variations, highlighting the importance of maintaining these family lines.
1 Chronicles 5:11-15This passage further records the descendants of Gad, focusing on their strength and prominence as warriors, showing how this lineage continued to be significant long after their migration to Egypt.
Genesis 30:10-11This earlier mention of Gad's birth explains his mother Zilpah's actions and desire for a son, providing context for his place within Jacob's large family and the significance of his lineage.
Genesis 49:19Jacob's prophecy about Gad reveals his character and future role, portraying him as a valiant leader who would be attacked but ultimately prevail, adding a layer of prophetic meaning to his descendants.
calvinGenesis 46:1-34: "And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac."
- Et dixit Deus ad Israel in visi onibus noctis, dixit inquam, Jahacob Jahacob. Ille respondit, Ecce, adsum.
3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
- Et dixit, Ego sum Deus, Deus patris tui: ne timeas descendere in Aegyptum: quia in gentem magnam ponam to ibi…
pooleGenesis 46:16: "And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli."
No text from Poole on this verse.
This verse isn't just a dry list of names; it's a snapshot of legacy. Notice how the text meticulously records the sons of Gad, even mentioning variations in their names in later biblical accounts. This emphasis reveals how God cherishes and preserves the lineage of His people, ensuring each name, and the life it represents, is not forgotten.
Jacob and his entire family are journeying to Egypt following God's reassurance to him that he would become a great nation there. This passage lists the descendants of Jacob's son Gad, detailing the specific individuals who made up this part of his growing family as they prepared to settle in Egypt.
Jacob and his entire family are journeying to Egypt following God's reassurance to him that he would become a great nation there. This passage lists the descendants of Jacob's son Gad, detailing the specific individuals who made up this part of his growing family as they prepared to settle in Egypt.
"The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli." — This verse isn't just a dry list of names; it's a snapshot of legacy. Notice how the text meticulously records the sons of Gad, even mentioning variations in their names in later biblical accounts. T…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026