Patriarch
|
Birth # |
Mother
|
Meaning of Name |
Reuben
|
1 |
Leah
|
Genesis 29:32 Reuben
sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my misery; the
name means see, a son. It
is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband
will love me now.” |
Simeon
|
2 |
Leah |
Genesis
29:33 Simeon probably means one who hears.
“Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this
one too.” So she named him Simeon. |
|
Levi
 |
3 |
Leah |
Genesis
29:34 Levi sounds like and may be derived from
the Hebrew for attached.
“Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because
I have borne him three sons.” |
|
Judah
 |
4 |
Leah |
Genesis
29:35 Judah sounds like and may be derived
from the Hebrew for praise.
“This time I will praise the LORD.” |
|
Dan
 |
5 |
Bilhah/Rachel |
Genesis
30:6 Dan here means he has vindicated.
“God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given
me a son.” |
|
Naphtali
 |
6 |
Bilhah/Rachel
|
Genesis
30:8 Naphtali means my struggle.
“I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have
won.” |
|
Gad
 |
7 |
Zilpah/Leah |
Genesis
30:11b Gad can mean good fortune or
a troop. “What good
fortune!” |
|
Asher
 |
8 |
Zilpah/Leah |
Genesis
30:13 Asher means happy.
“How happy I am! The women will
call me happy.” |
|
Issachar
 |
9 |
Leah |
Genesis
30:18 18 Issachar sounds like the Hebrew for
reward. “God has rewarded
me for giving my maidservant to my husband.” |
|
Zebulun
 |
10 |
Leah |
Genesis
30:20 Zebulun probably means honor.
“God has presented me with a
precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with
honor, because I have borne him six sons.” |
|
Dinah
 ? |
Female
|
Leah |
Justice |
Joseph
 |
11 |
Rachel |
Genesis
30:24 Joseph means may he add.
“God has taken away my disgrace.” |
Manasseh
|
Joseph’s Son
|
Genesis
41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived
from the Hebrew for forget.
“It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all
my father’s household.” |
Ephraim
 |
Joseph’s Son
|
Genesis
41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for
twice fruitful. “It is
because God has made me fruitful in the land of my
suffering.” |
Benjamin
 |
12 |
Rachel |
Genesis
35:18b 18 Benjamin means son of my right
hand. As she breathed her
last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni.(son
of my trouble) But his father
named him Benjamin. |