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1 Chronicles 2:1

These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,
1 Chronicles 2:1 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
  • BSB These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
  • NKJV These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
  • NASB These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
  • NLT The sons of Israel were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The genealogy now centers on Israel, listing the first six of Jacob's twelve sons, the fathers of the tribes.

Overview

Turning from the nations, the Chronicler names the sons of Israel, the twelve patriarchs of the nation (Genesis 35:23-26). This list marks the true focus of his work: God's chosen people and their tribal structure. From these sons, especially Judah, God will bring forth the line of David and ultimately the Messiah.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 13

  • Gen 32:28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
  • Rev 7:5–8Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
  • Gen 35:22–26And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
  • Gen 46:8–27And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
  • Gen 49:4–28Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
  • Gen 35:18And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
  • Exod 1:2–4Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
  • Gen 49:2Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
  • Num 13:4–15And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
  • Gen 29:32–35And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
  • Num 26:5–65Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:
  • Gen 30:5–24And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
  • Num 1:5–15And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 Chronicles videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 Chronicles 2:1YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 ChroniclesMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.

How 1 Chronicles 2:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.