And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.

GENESIS 46:12KJV
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Genesis 46:12 (KJV)

What does Genesis 46:12 mean?

Genesis 46:12 records Judah’s family line as Jacob’s family is being listed in connection with their journey to Egypt. The list reaches beyond Judah’s own sons to two grandsons through Pharez, while noting that two of Judah’s sons had already died in Canaan.

The narrator names five sons of Judah, then identifies Hezron and Hamul as sons of Pharez. That final detail places the two men one generation below Judah’s sons in the family record.

Why Genesis 46:12 matters

  • The family list includes people who did not make the journey to Egypt. Er and Onan are named among Judah’s sons, but the verse says they “died in the land of Canaan.”

  • The distinction between sons and grandsons helps readers follow the generations. Hezron and Hamul appear under Judah’s family because they are “the sons of Pharez,” Judah’s son.

  • The deaths have a place in an earlier family story. Genesis 38 describes the deaths of Er and Onan and the birth of Pharez and Zerah, whom Tamar bore to Judah.

Where else these words appear

“Hamul” Hebrew H2538 · used in 3 verses

  • Numbers 26:21 And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:5 The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.

“Onan” Hebrew H209 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 38:4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
  • Genesis 38:8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
  • Numbers 26:19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

“Er” Hebrew H6147 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 38:3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
  • Genesis 38:7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:3 The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.

“Shelah” Hebrew H7956 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 38:5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
  • Genesis 38:14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
  • Numbers 26:20 And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.