The Bible tells us that after the flood Noah brought his family out of the Ark.  Of those family members, Noah had three sons: Japheth, Ham and Shem.  His sons would eventually become three different tribes scattered throughout the earth, known as The Japhethites, The Hamites and the Semites (Genesis Chapter 10 – The Table of Nations).  Nevertheless, it is the descendants of Shem who eventually lead us to the 12 Sons of Jacob.

In Genesis Chapter 11, the Bible gives us the genealogy from Shem to Abram.  Two years after the flood, at the age of 100 years old, Shem became the father of Arphaxad.

Therefore, the genealogy is as follows:

Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah and Abram. Eventually God would give Abram the name, Abraham, meaning “Father of Many Nations.”  Abraham then became the father of Isaac.  Isaac became the father of Jacob.  And much like with Abram, God would eventually give Jacob the name, Israel.  And now, let us learn more about the 12 sons of Jacob in the Bible.

Below, you will find the names of Jacob’s 12 sons, along with the names of their mothers.

Leah, is the Mother of:

• Reuben
• Simeon
• Levi
• Judah
• Issachar
• Zebulun

Rachel, the Mother of:

• Joseph
• Benjamin

Zilpah, the Mother of:

• Gad
• Asher

Bilhah, the Mother of:

• Dan
• Naphtali

The Names of the 12 Tribes of Israel will be on the Gates of Pearl in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10-12)

Reuben: The 1st Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Behold! a Son!”
Reuben Tribe Symbol: Mandrake (Genesis 30:14)
Mother: Leah
The Sons of Reuben: Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi.  (Genesis 4:9)

Notable Facts:

• Reuben lay with his father’s concubine, Bilhah.  Because of this grievous sin against Jacob, Reuben lost his rank as the firstborn to Joseph and Judah.  Joseph received the double portion of land that goes to the firstborn, and Judah received the right to rule over the Israelites.

Simeon: The 2nd Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Heard”
Simeon Tribe Symbol: Sword Over Shechem (Genesis 34:25)
Mother: Leah
The Sons of Simeon:  Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. (Genesis 46:10)

Notable Facts:

• Simeon was one of the two brothers who slaughtered the men of Shechem while they were still in pain from having recently been circumcised.  This was because the Prince of Shechem had raped Dinah, the sister of the Twelve.

Levi: The 3rd Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Attached”
Mother: Leah
The Sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. (Genesis 46:11)

Notable Facts:

• Levi was one of the two brothers who slaughtered the men of Shechem while they were still in pain from having recently been circumcised.  This was because the Prince of Shechem had raped Dinah, the sister of the twelve.

Judah: The 4th Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Praise”
Judah Tribe Symbol: Lion (Genesis 49:9)
Mother: Leah
The Sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). (Genesis 46:12)
The sons of Perez:

• Hezron and Hamul.

Notable Facts:

• Judah begat twin sons by his daughter-in-law, Tamar. 
• For reasons unknown, Judah separated himself from his brothers.

Dan: The 5th Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Vindicated”
Dan Tribe Symbol: Serpent (Genesis 49:17)
Mother: Bilhah (Rachel’s Maidservant)
The Son of Dan: Hushim. (Genesis 46:23)

Naphtali: The 6th Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Struggle”
Naphtali Tribe Symbol: Doe (Genesis 49:21)
Mother: Bilhah (Rachel’s Maidservant)
The Sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem. (Genesis 46:24)

Gad: The 7th Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Good Fortune”
Gad Tribe Symbol: Horseman (Genesis 49:19)
Mother: Zilpah (Leah’s Maidservant)
The Sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli. (Genesis 46:16)

Asher: The 8th Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Happy”
Asher Tribe Symbol: An Olive Tree (Deuteronomy 33:24)
Mother: Zilpah (Leah’s Maidservant)
The Sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. (Genesis 46:17)

Issachar: The 9th Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Hired”
Issachar Tribe Symbol: Strong Donkey (Genesis 49:14)
Mother:
Leah The Sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron. (Genesis 46:13)

Zebulun: The 10th Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Habitation”
Zebulun Tribe Symbol: Ships (Genesis 49:13)
Mother: Leah
The Sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon and Jahleel. (Genesis 46:14)

Joseph: The 11th Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Add”
Joseph Tribal Symbol: A Fruitful Vine (Genesis 49:22)

• Son Ephraim: OX (Deuteronomy 33:17)
• Son Manasseh: Vine (Genesis 49:22)

Mother: Rachel

Notable Facts:

• Joseph was favored by his father, Jacob, over his other brothers; causing jealously from the other eleven.
• Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful “coat of many colors.” (Genesis 37:3)
• Joseph was thrown into a cistern (pit) by his eleven brothers.
• Joseph was sold to a group of Midianites (descendants of Keturah, Abraham’s second wife), who were closely associated with Ishmaelites.
• Joseph was then sold to Potiphar, Captain of the Guard for the Pharoah of Egypt.  Though imprisoned in Egypt, Joseph began interpreting the Pharoah’s dreams, and would eventually become the 2nd highest ranking ruler in Egypt.

Benjamin: The 12th Born Son of Jacob
Name Meaning: “Son of Right Hand”
Benjamin Tribe Symbol: A Ravenous Wolf (Genesis 49:27)
Mother: Rachel
The Sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard. (Genesis 46:21)

Notable Facts:

• Benjamin’s mother, Rachel, died while giving birth to him.  She named him Ben-Oni (Son of my trouble), but Jacob called him Benjamin (Son of my right hand).  The Right Hand was considered to bestow  greater blessing then the Left Hand.

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