Numbers 26:21 (KJV)

What does Numbers 26:21 mean?

Numbers 26:21 lists two families descended from Pharez: the Hezronites, from Hezron, and the Hamulites, from Hamul. This verse is part of a census, identifying the clans within the tribe of Judah by naming their founders and the family groups that came from them.

In this part of Numbers, Moses is recording the results of a census of the Israelites in the wilderness, specifically naming the descendants of Judah through Pharez. The verse helps organize the people by their ancestral lines, which was important for inheritance and tribal identity in ancient Israel.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 26:21

• פֶּרֶץ (Peretz / Pharez): This is the name of Judah’s son, whose descendants formed a major branch of the tribe of Judah. The verse highlights the importance of tracing lineage through specific ancestors.
• חֶצְרוֹן (Chetzron / Hezron) and חָמוּל (Chamol / Hamul): These are the sons of Pharez, each becoming the head of a distinct family group. Naming these founders shows how the tribe was divided into subgroups.
• מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah / family): This word refers to a clan or extended family group. The verse uses it to show the official recognition of each subgroup within the tribe.

Why Numbers 26:21 matters

• Numbers 26:21 clarifies the structure of the tribe of Judah by showing exactly which family lines were counted, which is important for understanding later references to these groups.
• The verse connects to the larger census in Numbers 26, which was crucial for dividing the land among the tribes and families after entering Canaan.
• By naming these families, the verse preserves the memory and identity of specific ancestral lines, which played a key role in Israelite society and later biblical history.