Lexical Summary Echi: Echi Original Word: אֵחִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ehi Probably the same as 'Achiy; Echi, an Israelite -- Ehi. see HEBREW 'Achiy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a son of Benjamin NASB Translation Ehi (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֵחִי proper name, masculine a son of Benjamin Genesis 46:21 (P) (perhaps corruption of אֲחִירָם Numbers 26:38 (P); so also אַחֲרַח 1 Chronicles 8:1 compare אַחֵר 1 Chronicles 7:12 & comm.) אחל (existence & meaning dubious) Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence and Immediate Context Genesis 46:21 lists Ehi among the ten sons of Benjamin who migrated with Jacob to Egypt: “The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard”. The mention comes at the climactic moment when the household of Israel is counted just before settling in Goshen, the place where the chosen family would grow into a nation (Genesis 47:27). Ehi therefore belongs to the foundational generation that bridged the patriarchal era and the Exodus community. Placement in the Benjaminite Genealogies 1. Numbers 26:38–39 recounts the families of Benjamin in the second wilderness census. The same clan appears there under the variant name Ahiram, a reminder that ancient Hebrew clan names could be rendered slightly differently in later records while still referring to the same root family. The appearance of one clan under three related spellings across Scripture underscores the continuity and accuracy of the biblical record despite centuries of transmission. Historical Significance Ehi represents a head of house present at the beginning of Israel’s sojourn in Egypt. Every name in Genesis 46 secures the historical claim that exactly seventy persons went down to Egypt (Genesis 46:27). When the book of Exodus opens, that small company has multiplied abundantly (Exodus 1:7). Thus, Ehi’s inclusion testifies to the covenant faithfulness of God, who had promised Abraham that his descendants would be “as numerous as the stars of the sky” (Genesis 15:5). Intertextual Harmony The shift from “Ehi” (Genesis) to “Ahiram” (Numbers) and “Aharah” (Chronicles) exemplifies how later biblical writers, guided by the Holy Spirit, preserved the essential identity of a clan while adapting orthography to their own generations. This harmony refutes claims of contradiction; instead, it showcases complementary perspectives that together form a unified testimony. Genealogies in Scripture are neither accidental nor filler material but serve to anchor redemptive history in verifiable lineage. Theological Reflections 1. Covenant Identity: Ehi’s single appearance reminds readers that every individual name is recorded before God. Just as Ehi’s clan contributed to the full headcount in Genesis 46, every believer today is counted among the “assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23). Ministry and Practical Applications • Value Every Believer: Ehi’s brief mention encourages pastors and teachers to affirm that no member is insignificant. Small groups, unseen intercessors, and quiet servants remain essential to the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:22–24). Summary Though appearing only once, Ehi stands as a vital link in the chain that connects the patriarchs to the nation, the Exodus, and ultimately to the Messiah who sprang from Israel. His inclusion in inspired Scripture assures believers that the Lord knows every name, preserves every promise, and weaves every life into the tapestry of redemption. Forms and Transliterations אֵחִ֣י אחי ’ê·ḥî ’êḥî eChiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 46:21 HEB: גֵּרָ֥א וְנַעֲמָ֖ן אֵחִ֣י וָרֹ֑אשׁ מֻפִּ֥ים NAS: Gera and Naaman, Ehi and Rosh, Muppim KJV: and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, INT: Gera and Naaman Ehi and Rosh Muppim |
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