Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל
Yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
A name given by God to Jacob signifying his status as one who has struggled with God and with men and has prevailed; it designates the people of the covenant.
firstbornבְּכוֹר
bekor · Hebrew Noun
The eldest male child, who traditionally held a position of honor, authority, and a double portion of the inheritance within the patriarchal family structure.
Canaanite womanכְּנַעֲנִית
Kena'anit · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A term describing the native inhabitants of the land of Canaan, often associated with idolatry and opposition to the covenant community in the biblical narrative.
sonsבֵּן
ben · Hebrew Noun
A designation for male descendants, often used to establish lineage, inheritance rights, and covenant identity within the nation of Israel. It emphasizes the continuity of God's promises through generations.
Canaanכְּנַעַן
Kena'an · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting the territory promised by God to Abraham and his descendants as a perpetual possession. It is the geographic center of the covenant history in the Old Testament.
Leahלֵאָה
Le'ah · Hebrew Noun
The first wife of Jacob, daughter of Laban. She represents the fulfillment of Jacob's initial marriage and the mother of six of the tribes of Israel, serving as a key figure in the lineage of the nation.
Jacobיַעֲקֹב
Ya'aqov · Hebrew Noun
The patriarch formerly known as Jacob, whose name was changed by God to signify his new role as the father of the nation of Israel. He is the third of the major patriarchs through whom the covenantal promises were passed down.
Paddan-aramפַּדַּן אֲרָם
Paddan-Aram · Hebrew Noun
A region in Mesopotamia, specifically the plains of Aram, where Jacob lived, worked for Laban, and fathered most of his children. It serves as the place of origin for the patriarch's family before their return to Canaan.
Dinahדִּינָה
Dinah · Hebrew Noun
The only daughter of Jacob and Leah mentioned in the patriarchal narrative. Her presence highlights the inclusion of female offspring in the familial and national counting of Israel.
sonsבֵּן
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.
sisterאָחוֹת
achoth · Hebrew Noun
A feminine noun denoting a female child in relation to her parents; in biblical genealogies, the inclusion of a sister often highlights the complete family unit or provides context for later tribal history.
Jacobיַעֲקֹב
Ya'aqov · Hebrew Proper Noun
The patriarch who was renamed Israel by God; he is the grandson of Abraham and the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, central to the promise of the covenant.
Rachelרָחֵל
Rachel · Hebrew Proper Noun
The mother of Joseph and Benjamin, beloved wife of Jacob, and a central matriarch in the history of the Israelites.
Josephיוֹסֵף
Yoseph · Hebrew Proper Noun
The son of Jacob through whom God providentially preserved the family during the famine; he occupies a unique place in history as a type of Christ and an instrument of God's saving grace.
wifeאִשָּׁה
ishshah · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew word for wife, designating a woman joined to a man in a covenantal marriage relationship, a fundamental institution established by God.
Egyptמִצְרַיִם
Mitsrayim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The historical and geographic location where the Israelites were eventually enslaved but also where God demonstrated His power through the Exodus; it often serves as a symbol of the world or bondage in later biblical theology.
priestכֹּהֵן
kohen · Hebrew Noun
A person who mediates between God and the people, performing sacrifices and maintaining the holiness of sacred spaces; in the ancient world, this office often carried significant political and religious authority.
sonsבֵּן
ben · Hebrew Noun
In a genealogical context, this refers to male descendants, often highlighting the continuation of the family line, covenant promise, and tribal identity. It denotes those who carry the father's name and inheritance.
bornיָלַד
yalad · Hebrew Verb
The practice of passing down lineage, identifying heads of households, and maintaining the history of the covenant people of God. Genealogies serve to anchor theological promises in historical reality and confirm the fulfillment of God’s word.
personsנֶפֶשׁ
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
A noun used to quantify a group of individuals; in this context, it emphasizes the specific count of the covenant community as they migrated, demonstrating God's faithfulness in multiplying the seed of Abraham.
sonsבֵּן
ben · Hebrew Noun
Referring to the descendants of a patriarch, often used to signify the tribal clan or the progeny resulting from a specific union within the context of the patriarch's household.
daughterבַּת
bath · Hebrew Noun
A noun identifying a daughter, used here to trace familial relationships and ancestral lines. Daughters played a vital role in the expansion of households and the fulfillment of family legacies.
Jacobיַעֲקֹב
Ya‘aqov · Hebrew Proper Noun
A personal name meaning 'he grasps the heel' or 'supplanter,' later changed by God to Israel. It refers to the patriarch himself and, by extension, the covenant people descended from him.
houseבַּיִת
bayith · Hebrew Noun
A title for the head of a family, clan, or tribe. In a theological context, it refers to the extended family unit or the corporate entity of God's covenant people.
Josephיוֹסֵף
Yoseph · Hebrew Proper Noun
A prominent son of Jacob, used here as the primary figure representing the branch of the family established in Egypt. His life illustrates God's providence in using suffering for the ultimate salvation of his people.
