Exodus 1:4 — Word Study
WLCדָּ֥ן וְנַפְתָּלִ֖י גָּ֥ד וְאָשֵֽׁר׃
BSADanDân [a son of Jacob, the founder of a tribe] and NaphtaliNaphtâlîy [born to Bilhah, Rachel's servant] GadGâd [the seventh son of Jacob] and AsherʼÂshêr [the eighth son, one of the twelve tribes]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| דָּ֥ן | Dan | Noun proper |
| וְנַפְתָּלִ֖י | and Naphtali | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| גָּ֥ד | Gad | Noun proper masculine |
| וְאָשֵֽׁר׃ | and Asher | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. |
| KJV | Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. |
| ASV | Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. |
| YLT | Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. |
| WEB | Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. |
| BBE | Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. |
All translations agree on the names listed in this verse.
The sentence is composed of two main clauses that list the names of the sons of Jacob.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Exodus 1:4
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Sons of Jacobgenerated
Exodus 1:4 lists the names of four sons of Jacob: Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. These sons are significant as they became the founders of the tribes of Israel. The context of this genealogy highlights the importance of lineage in Israel's history, as the descendants of Jacob multiplied and settled in Egypt, leading to the eventual Exodus. This verse is part of a larger narrative that sets the stage for the Israelite experience in Egypt, as seen in the verses surrounding it.
Cross References
The Key Word — דָּן, dangenerated
The name דָּן (Dan) means 'judge' and refers to the fifth son of Jacob and Bilhah. The tribe descended from him is noted for its skills in warfare and has historical significance in Israel's narrative.
Dan's inclusion in this list emphasizes the importance of tribal identity among the Israelites, as each tribe played a distinct role in the history and settlement of the land.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of this verse is straightforward, consisting of a series of noun phrases connected by conjunctions. The main clause lists the tribes, with each name serving as a noun phrase.
The use of conjunctions וְ (and) connects the names, indicating a collective identity among the tribes as descendants of Jacob.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, דָּן is rendered as δαν, maintaining the same identity and significance as in the Hebrew. This shows a direct correspondence in the naming of the tribes.
The consistency in naming across both texts highlights the importance of these tribes in the cultural and historical context of Israel.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 1:4 lists four of Jacob's sons: Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. Each of these sons became the founder of a tribe in Israel. This genealogy is important for understanding the lineage of the Israelites and their history.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Dan and Naphtali are sons of Jacob, founders of the tribes of Israel, with Dan meaning 'judge' and Naphtali meaning 'my wrestling'.
Gad and Asher are also sons of Jacob, representing two of the twelve tribes of Israel, with Gad meaning 'troop' and Asher meaning 'happy'.
These names are significant as they represent the tribes that formed the nation of Israel, each with its own identity and history.
This verse sets the stage for the Israelites' experience in Egypt, highlighting their lineage and the growth of their population.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What do the names of these tribes tell us about their characteristics and roles in Israel's history?
- How does understanding the lineage of Jacob's sons enhance our comprehension of the Israelite narrative?
- In what ways can we see the significance of tribal identity in our own communities today?
- How does the context of this verse inform our understanding of the events that follow in the book of Exodus?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 1:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. Who are last mentioned, being sons of the concubine wives.
Read John Gill on Exodus 1 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryReuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 1 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3-4) Reuben . . . —The sons of the legitimate wives are placed first, then those of the concubines. Leah has precedence over Rachel; Bilhah over Zilpah. The children of each wife and concubine are given in order of seniority. The omission of Joseph from the list is explained in the last clause of Exo 1:5.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 1 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1–7. Growth of the descendants of Jacob in Egypt, after Joseph’s death, into a great people.
Read Cambridge on Exodus 1 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleOF ISRAEL, Exodus 1:1-6. 1-5. These are the names — The heads of the tribes are recounted, and the statement of Gen 46:27 is repeated, that seventy souls went down into Egypt; the writer, from the
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 1 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Tyndale line
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Strictly literal
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
From the Latin
Dan, and Nephtali, Gad and Aser.
Simplified
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches the Hebrew names directly. The Samaritan Pentateuch also agrees word for word with the Masoretic Text here. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations, with certain words being restored by editors, but the core names remain consistent.
דָּ֥ן וְנַפְתָּלִ֖י גָּ֥ד וְאָשֵֽׁר׃
4 of the 4 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
דן ונפתלי גד ואשׁר
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[דן] [ונפתלי] [גד] [ואשר]
nothing on the leather here — 4 supplied entire by an editor.
דן ונפתלי גד [ואשר]
2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
[דן] [ונפתלי] [גד] [ואשר]
nothing on the leather here — 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 1:4
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
דָּן (Dan) means 'judge' and refers to the fifth son of Jacob and Bilhah. It encompasses the tribe descended from him and a city located in northern Israel, significant as a landmark in Palestine. The entries consistently highlight these aspects without notable disagreement.
דָּן n.pr.m. (judge)
son of Jacob and Bilhah
the tribe of Dan
a city on northern frontier of Israel at one of the sources of the Jordan
base
H1835 דָּן judge . son of Jacob and Bilhah
. the tribe of Dan
. a city on northern frontier of Israel at one of the sources of the Jordan
1835 Dan dawn
from 1777; judge; Dan, one of the sons of Jacob; also the
tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place
in Palestine colonized by them:--Dan.
see HEBREW for 01777
דָּן (dan) — Dan.
§ Dan = "a judge"
1) the territory of the tribe of Dan 2) a city in Dan, the most northern landmark of Palestine
דָּן (dan) — Dan.
A man of the tribe of Dan living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.6;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Bilhah (H1090A);
brother of: Naphtali (H5321);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Hushim (H2366B)
§ Dan = "a judge"
1) the 5th son of Jacob, the 1st of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid
2) the tribe descended from Dan, the son of Jacob
3) a city in Dan, the most northern landmark of Palestine
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
Dan
A judge. (1.) The fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s maid (Gen. 30:6, “God hath judged me”, Heb. dananni). The blessing pronounced on him by his father was, “Dan shall judge his people” (49:16), probably in allusion to the judgeship of Samson, who was of the tribe of Dan.
The tribe of Dan had their place in the march through the wilderness on the north side of the tabernacle (Num. 2:25, 31; 10:25). It was the last of the tribes to receive a portion in the Land of Promise. Its position and extent are described in Josh. 19:40-48.
The territory of Dan extended from the west of that of Ephraim and Benjamin to the sea. It was a small territory, but was very fertile. It included in it, among others, the…
(a judge). The fifth son of Jacob, and the first of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. (Genesis 30:6) (B.C. after 1753.) The origin of the name is given in the exclamation of Rachel. The records of Dan are unusually meagre. Only one son is attributed to him, (Genesis 46:23) but his tribe was, with the exception of Judah, the most numerous of all. In the division of the promised land Dan was the last of the tribes to receive his portion, which was the smallest of the twelve. (Joshua 19:48) But notwithstanding its smallness it had eminent natural advantages. On the north and east it was completely embraced by its two brother tribes Ephraim and Benjamin, while on the southeast and south it joined Judah, and was thus surrounded by the three…
A judge,
1. A son of Jacob by Bilhah, Ge 30:3 35:25. The tribe of Dan was second only to that of Judah in numbers before entering Canaan, Nu 1:39 26:43. A portion was assigned to Dan, extending southeast from the seacoast near Joppa. It bordered on the land of the Philistines, with whom the tribe of Dan had much to do, Jud 13:1-16:31. Their territory was fertile, but small, and the natives were powerful. A part of the tribe therefore sought and conquered another home, Jos 19:1-51 Jud 18:1-31
judgment; he that judges
נַפְתָּלִי (Naphtali) refers to a son of Jacob and the tribe that descended from him, as well as the territory assigned to that tribe. The name is derived from a root meaning 'my wrestling.' He is first mentioned in Genesis 30:8, and is noted to be the second son of Jacob by Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid.
נַפְתָּלִי 61 n.pr.m. et trib. Naphtali
base
H5321 נַפְתָּלִי Naphtali
5321 Naphtaliy naf-taw-lee'
from 6617; my wrestling; Naphtali, a son of Jacob, with the
tribe descended from him, and its territory:--Naphtali.
see HEBREW for 06617
נַפְתָּלִי (naph.ta.li) — Naphtali.
A man of the tribe of Naphtali living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.8;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Bilhah (H1090A);
brother of: Dan (H1835H);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Jahzeel (H3183), Guni (H1476), Jezer (H3337) and Shillem (H8006)
Also named: Nephthaleim (Νεφθαλείμ "Naphtali" G3508)
§ Naphtali = "wrestling"
1) the 5th son of Jacob and the 2nd by Bilhah the handmaid of Rachel
2) the tribe descended from Naphtali the son of Jacob
3) the territory assigned to the tribe of Naphtali
נַפְתָּלִי (naph.ta.li) — (Kedesh)-naphtali.
Combined with qe.desh (קֶ֫דֶשׁ "Kedesh" H6943)
§ Naphtali = "wrestling"
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
naf'-ta-li (naphtali; Nephthaleim):
I. THE PATRIARCH
1. Name
2. Circumstances of His Birth
3. Historical and Traditional Details
II. TRIBE OF NAPHTALI
1. Its Relative Position
2. Its Location in Palestine
3. Physical Features
4. Distinction of the Tribe
5. Sites and Inhabitants
6. Labors of Jesus in This District
I. The Patriarch.
1. Name:
The 5th son of Jacob, and the 2nd born to him by Rachel's handmaid, Bilhah. He was full brother of Da (Ge 30:7).
At his birth Rachel is said to have exclaimed, naphtule 'Elohim niphtalti, "wrestlings of God"--i.e. "mighty wrestlings"--"have I wrestled."
2. Circumstances of His Birth:
Her sister's fruitfulness was a sore trial to the barren Rachel. By her artifice she had obtained children, the offspring of her maid ranking as her own; and thus her reproach of childlessness was removed. The name Naphtali given to…
Naphtali
My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid (Gen. 30:8). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons (Gen. 46:24). Little is known of him as an individual.
(wrestling), the fifth son of Jacob; the second child name to him by Bilhah, Rachel’s slave. His birth and the bestowal of his name are recorded in (Genesis 30:8) When the census was taken at Mount Sinai the tribe of Naphtali numbered no less than 53,400 fighting men, (Numbers 1:43; 2:50) but when the borders of the promised land were reached, its numbers were reduced to, 45,400. (Numbers 26:48-50) During the march through the wilderness Naphtali occupied a position on the north of the sacred tent with Dan and Asher. (Numbers 2:25-31) In the apportionment of the land, the lot of Naphtali was enclosed on three sides by those of other tribes. On the west lay Asher, on the…
The sixth son of Jacob, by Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid, Ge 30:8. We know but few particulars of the lie of Naphtali. His sons were four, Ge 46:24. The patriarch Jacob, when he gave his blessing, said, as it is in the English Bible, "Naphtali is a hind let loose; he giveth goodly words," Ge 49:21. For an illustration of this passage, see HIND.
The tribe of Naphtali, called Nephtalim in Mt 4:15, were located in a rich and fertile portion of northern Palestine; having Asher on the west, the upper Jordan and part of the sea of Tiberias on the east; and running north into the Lebanon range, some lower offshoots of which prolonged to the south formed the "mountains of Naphtali,"…
גָּד (Gad) refers to a son of Jacob and Zilpah, as well as the tribe descended from him. The name means 'troop' and is associated with a prophet during David's time. Gad is first mentioned in Genesis 30:11 and is noted for his role in David's reign, including contributions to musical arrangements and involvement in census events.
גָּד 71 n.pr.m. (fortunatus?)
son of Jacob and Zilpah
a prophet in David's time
base
H1410 גָּד . son of Jacob and Zilpah
. a prophet in David's time
1410 Gad gawd
from 1464; Gad, a son of Jacob, including his tribe and its
territory; also a prophet:--Gad.
see HEBREW for 01464
גָּד (gad) — Gad.
A man of the tribe of Gad living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.11;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Zilpah (H2153);
brother of: Asher (H0836);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Ziphion (H6837), Haggi (H2291), Shuni (H7764), Ezbon (H0675), Eri (H6179), Arod (H0720) and Areli (H0692)
§ Gad = "troop"
1) seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, and full brother of Asher.
2) the tribe descended from Gad
3) a prophet during the time of David; appears to have joined David when in the hold; reappears in connection with the punishment for taking a census; also assisted in the arrangements for the musical service of the "house of God"
גָּד (gad) — Gad.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Gad
Fortune; luck. (1.) Jacob’s seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and the brother of Asher (Gen. 30:11-13; 46:16, 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, “A troop cometh: and she called,” etc., should rather be rendered, “In fortune [R.V., ‘Fortunate’]: and she called,” etc., or “Fortune cometh,” etc.
The tribe of Gad during the march through the wilderness had their place with Simeon and Reuben on the south side of the tabernacle (Num. 2:14). The tribes of Reuben and Gad continued all through their history to follow the pastoral pursuits of the patriarchs (Num. 32:1-5).
(a troop). Jacob’s seventh son, the first-born of Zilpah, Leah’s maid, and whole-brother to Asher. (Genesis 30;11-13; 46:16,18) (B.C. 1753-1740.) "The seer," or "the king’s seer," i.e. David’s (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 29:25) was a "prophet" who appears to have joined David when in the old. (1 Samuel 22:5) (B.C. 1061.) He reappears in connection with the punishment inflicted for the numbering of the people. (2 Samuel 24:11-19; 1 Chronicles 21:9-19) He wrote a book of the Acts of David, (1 Chronicles 29:29) and also assisted in the arrangements for the…
Prosperity, fortune,
1. Son of Jacob and Zilpah, Leah’s servant, Ge 30:11. Leah called him Gad, and said, "A troop cometh." Compare Ge 49:19; but many Hebrew scholars prefer the rendering, good fortune or prosperity cometh. The tribe of Gad came out of Egypt in number forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty, Ge 46:16 Nu 1:24. After the defeat of the kings Og and Sihon, Gad and Reuben desired to have their allotment east of Jordan, alleging their great number of cattle. Moses granted their request, on condition that they should accompany their brethren, and assist in conquering the land west of Jordan, Nu 32:1-42. The…
a band; a troop
אָשֵׁר (Asher) refers to a son of Jacob and Zilpah, as well as the tribe descended from him. The name means 'happy' and is also associated with a city east of Shechem. The entries note that Asher is linked to the Hebrew root for happiness, but there is a mention of potential translations related to wood in Ezekiel.
אָשֵׁר n.pr.m. Asher (happy one, Felix)
son of Jacob and Zilpah
the tribe
n.pr.loc. city E. of Shechem
base
H836 אָשֵׁר Asher
836 'Asher aw-share'
from 833, happy; Asher, a son of Jacob, and the tribe
descended from him, with its territory; also a place in
Palestine:--Asher
see HEBREW for 0833
אָשֵׁר (a.sher) — Asher.
A man of the tribe of Asher living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.13;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Zilpah (H2153);
brother of: Gad (H1410);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Imnah (H3232), Ishvah (H3438), Ishvi (H3440), Beriah (H1283) and Serah (H8294); also translated "pine" or "cypress wood" at Ezk.27.6(?); Ashurite at 2Sa.2.9(?);
§ Asher = "happy"
1) son of Jacob and Zilpah
2) the tribe descended from Asher
3) a city east of Shechem in Manasseh
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
Asher
Happy, Jacob’s eigth son; his mother was Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid (Gen. 30:13). Of the tribe founded by him nothing is recorded beyond its holding a place in the list of the tribes (35:26; 46:17; Ex. 1:4, etc.) It increased in numbers twenty-nine percent, during the thirty-eight years’ wanderings. The place of this tribe during the march through the desert was between Dan and Naphtali (Num. 2:27). The boundaries of the inheritance given to it, which contained some of the richest soil in Palestine, and the names of its towns, are recorded in Josh. 19:24-31; Judg. 1:31, 32. Asher and Simeon were the only tribes west of…
a place which formed one boundary of the tribe of Manasseh on the south. (Joshua 17:7) Mr. Porter suggests that Teyasir may be the Asher of Manasseh. Handbook , p.348.
The eighth son of Jacob and second of Zilpah, Ge 30:13 35:26. On entering Canaan his tribe was the fifth in order, numbering fifty-three thousand four hundred. The portion of Asher lay along the seaboard, having Levanon and Zidon on the north, Carmel and the tribe of Issachar on the south, and Zebulun and Naphtali on the east. It was fruitful in grain, wine, oil, and minerals, Ge 49:20 De 33:24,25. How much of the Phoenician coast was included is uncertain, Jos 19:25,28; but the Asherites were unable to expel the Canaanites, and dwelt in part among them, Jud 1:31,32. They are honorably mentioned in the history of…
happiness