Numbers 26:6 (KJV)

What does Numbers 26:6 mean?

Numbers 26:6 lists two family groups within the tribe of Reuben: the Hezronites, descended from Hezron, and the Carmites, descended from Carmi. This verse is part of a census, naming the main clans that came from Reuben’s sons.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, recording the families for inheritance and organization. Numbers 26 as a whole is a detailed count of each tribe’s families, showing the continuity of the people after years in the wilderness and clarifying which descendants are recognized as part of Israel’s community.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 26:6

• חֶצְרוֹן (ḥet͡sron, "Hezron"): This is the personal name of one of Reuben’s sons, marking the ancestor of the Hezronite clan.
• מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah, "family" or "clan"): This word refers to a large extended family group, larger than a household but smaller than a whole tribe, showing the structure of Israelite society.
• חֶצְרוֹנִי (ḥet͡sroni, "Hezronite"): This form means a member of Hezron’s family line, indicating descent and group identity.
• כַּרְמִי (karmi, "Carmi") and כַּרְמִי (karmi, "Carmite"): These parallel the Hezronite terms, showing the same pattern for Carmi’s descendants.

Why Numbers 26:6 matters

• Numbers 26:6 helps clarify the structure of Israel’s tribal organization, showing that inheritance and identity were traced through specific family lines.
• By listing these clans, the verse connects the present generation to their ancestors, reinforcing the continuity of God’s promises to the patriarchs.
• This detail matters for later passages about land division and leadership, since only recognized clans received portions in the Promised Land.