Exodus 6:14
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The genealogy of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, begins with his sons and their family divisions.
Context
The narrative shifts from God's promises to Moses to a genealogical record of Israel's tribal structure. Reuben, as Jacob's firstborn, heads the list, yet his descendants' enumeration establishes the broader family structure of Israel. The naming of his sons—Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi—preserves the tribal memory and divisions within Reuben's family.
What Does Exodus 6:14 Mean?
The narrative shifts from God's promises to Moses to a genealogical record of Israel's tribal structure. Reuben, as Jacob's firstborn, heads the list, yet his descendants' enumeration establishes the broader family structure of Israel. The naming of his sons—Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi—preserves the tribal memory and divisions within Reuben's family.
This genealogy serves multiple purposes: it documents the people whom God promised to liberate, establishes the tribal identity of Israel during the Egyptian period, and creates continuity from the patriarchs to the present. The structured listing of 'families' within each tribe shows how a single man (Reuben) multiplied into a distinct nation worthy of liberation.