Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The descendants of Judah by their clans were: through Shelah, the Shelanite clan; through Perez, the Perezite clan; through Zerah, the Zerahite clan. New Living Translation These were the clans descended from Judah’s surviving sons: The Shelanite clan, named after their ancestor Shelah. The Perezite clan, named after their ancestor Perez. The Zerahite clan, named after their ancestor Zerah. English Standard Version And the sons of Judah according to their clans were: of Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites; of Perez, the clan of the Perezites; of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites. Berean Standard Bible These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah. King James Bible 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. New King James Version And the sons of Judah according to their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Parzites; of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites. New American Standard Bible The sons of Judah by their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. NASB 1995 The sons of Judah according to their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. NASB 1977 And the sons of Judah according to their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. Legacy Standard Bible And the sons of Judah according to their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. Amplified Bible The sons of Judah according to their families: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. Christian Standard Bible Judah’s descendants by their clans: the Shelanite clan from Shelah; the Perezite clan from Perez; the Zerahite clan from Zerah. Holman Christian Standard Bible Judah’s descendants by their clans: the Shelanite clan from Shelah; the Perezite clan from Perez; the Zerahite clan from Zerah. American Standard Version And the sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. English Revised Version And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Perez, the family of the Perezites: of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. GOD'S WORD® Translation The families descended from [Judah] were the family of Shelah, the family of Perez, and the family of Zerah. International Standard Version The descendants of Judah, listed according to their families, included: From Shelah, the family of the descendants of Shelah; from Perez, the family of the descendants of Perez; and from Zerah, the family of the descendants of Zerah. NET Bible And the Judahites by their families were: from Shelah, the family of the Shelahites; from Perez, the family of the Perezites; and from Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. New Heart English Bible The descendants of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. Webster's Bible Translation And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharezites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThese were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah. World English Bible The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd sons of Judah by their families are: of Shelah the family of the Shelanite; of Perez the family of the Perezite; of Zerah the family of the Zerahite; Young's Literal Translation And sons of Judah, by their families, are: of Shelah the family of the Shelanite; of Pharez the family of the Pharzite; of Zerah the family of the Zarhite; Smith's Literal Translation And the sons of Judah will be according to their families: to Shelah, the families of the Shelahites; to Pharez, the families of the Pharezites; to Zerah, the families of the Zerahites. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the sons of Juda by their kindreds were: Sela, of whom is the family of the Selaites: Phares, of whom is the family of the Pharesites: Zare, of whom is the family of the Zarites. Catholic Public Domain Version And these were the sons of Judah, by their kinships: Shelah, from whom is the family of the Shelahites; Perez, from whom is the family of the Perezites; Zerah, from whom is the family of the Zerahites. New American Bible The descendants of Judah by their clans were: through Shelah, the clan of the Shelahites; through Perez, the clan of the Perezites; through Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites. New Revised Standard Version The descendants of Judah by their clans were: of Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites; of Perez, the clan of the Perezites; of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd 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. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the sons of Yehuda by their tribes were Shela, the family of Shela, Pharets, the family of Pharets, Zerakh, the family of Zerakh. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. Brenton Septuagint Translation And these were the sons of Juda, according to their families: to Selom belonged the family of the Selonites; to Phares, the family of the Pharesites; to Zara, the family of the Zaraites. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Tribe of Judah19The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan. 20These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah. 21And these were the descendants of Perez: the Hezronite clan from Hezron and the Hamulite clan from Hamul.… Cross References Genesis 46:12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. 1 Chronicles 2:3-5 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death. / Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all. / The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. Ruth 4:18-22 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, / Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, / Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon, ... Matthew 1:3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. Luke 3:33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, Genesis 38:29-30 But when he pulled his hand back and his brother came out, she said, “You have broken out first!” So he was named Perez. / Then his brother came out with the scarlet thread around his wrist, and he was named Zerah. Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. Exodus 1:2-5 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; / Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; / Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. ... 1 Chronicles 4:1 The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. Genesis 29:35 And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children. Genesis 35:23 The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Genesis 37:26-27 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? / Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed. Genesis 44:18 Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself. Genesis 49:8-12 Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you. / Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? / The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. ... Deuteronomy 33:7 And concerning Judah he said: “O LORD, hear the cry of Judah and bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause, but may You be a help against his foes.” Treasury of Scripture 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. Jump to Previous Clan Clans Descendants Judah Perez Pharez Shelah Zarhite Zarhites Zerah Zerahite Zerahites Zer'ahitesJump to Next Clan Clans Descendants Judah Perez Pharez Shelah Zarhite Zarhites Zerah Zerahite Zerahites Zer'ahitesNumbers 26 1. The sum of all Israel is taken in the plains of Moab52. The law of dividing among them the inheritance of the land 57. The families and number of the Levites 63. None but Caleb and Joshua was left of those who were numbered at Sinai These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The tribe of Judah holds significant importance in biblical history, being one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, is a central figure in the lineage of the Israelites. The division into clans reflects the organization and structure of the Israelite community, which was essential for maintaining order and identity among the tribes. This tribal structure is crucial for understanding the distribution of land and responsibilities among the Israelites, as seen in the book of Joshua. The Shelanite clan from Shelah: The Perezite clan from Perez: And the Zerahite clan from Zerah: Persons / Places / Events 1. JudahOne of the twelve sons of Jacob, whose descendants formed one of the tribes of Israel. Judah is significant as the tribe from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ descended. 2. Shelah A son of Judah, representing the Shelanite clan. His lineage is noted for its continuity within the tribe of Judah. 3. Perez Another son of Judah, whose descendants formed the Perezite clan. Perez is an ancestor of King David, highlighting the Messianic line. 4. Zerah A son of Judah, representing the Zerahite clan. His lineage is part of the broader account of Judah's descendants. 5. The Census This event in Numbers 26 is a census of the Israelite community, taken to organize the tribes for the conquest of Canaan and to allocate land inheritance. Teaching Points The Importance of LineageUnderstanding the genealogies in the Bible helps us see God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises through specific family lines, particularly the line of Judah leading to Christ. God's Sovereignty in History The census and genealogies remind us that God is sovereign over history, orchestrating events and people to accomplish His divine purposes. Faithfulness in the Mundane The detailed records of clans and families encourage us to be faithful in our own lives, trusting that God uses even the ordinary aspects of life for His glory. Identity and Inheritance Just as the Israelites were identified by their clans and received their inheritance, believers today find their identity in Christ and are promised an eternal inheritance. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 26:20?2. How does Numbers 26:20 demonstrate God's faithfulness to the tribe of Judah? 3. What can we learn about God's promises from the descendants listed in Numbers 26:20? 4. How does Numbers 26:20 connect to God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17? 5. How can we apply the faithfulness seen in Numbers 26:20 to our lives? 6. What does Numbers 26:20 teach us about God's plan for His people? 7. What is the significance of Numbers 26:20 in the context of Israel's tribal lineage? 8. How does Numbers 26:20 reflect God's promise to Abraham regarding his descendants? 9. What archaeological evidence supports the historical accuracy of Numbers 26:20? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 26? 11. Who was Perez in the Bible? 12. Deuteronomy 3:26 indicates Moses was forbidden to enter the land--how does this affect the credibility of his supposed firsthand account? 13. 1 Chronicles 7:6-11 - Why do these tribal tallies for Benjamin differ from similar counts in Numbers and other books? 14. 1 Chronicles 7:20-29 - Are there historical or archaeological records supporting Ephraim's vast numbers and territorial claims listed here? What Does Numbers 26:20 Mean context in Numbers 26The second census recorded in Numbers 26 takes place on the plains of Moab shortly before Israel crosses the Jordan. The previous generation has died in the wilderness (Numbers 26:63–65), so God commands a new count to confirm who will enter the land He promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21). Verse 20 falls inside the Judah section of that census, reminding us that God’s promises and people are tracked with pinpoint accuracy, just as earlier in Numbers 1:26-27. Judah’s place in Israel’s story Judah, Jacob’s fourth son (Genesis 35:23), had been prophesied to carry royal authority: “The scepter will not depart from Judah” (Genesis 49:10). In every marching order (Numbers 2:3-4) and offering schedule (Numbers 7:12), Judah leads first. When the census pauses to list his clans, it underlines that leadership role. The reliability of God’s word is on display—what He predicted about Judah’s prominence is already unfolding and will culminate in King David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) and ultimately in Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-3). Shelah and the Shelanites • Shelah was Judah’s third son by the daughter of Shua (Genesis 38:5). • Despite the painful back-story with Tamar (Genesis 38:11-14), Shelah’s descendants survive and are counted: “The Shelanite clan from Shelah” (Numbers 26:20). • 1 Chronicles 4:21 traces skilled craftsmen from this line, showing that God assigns meaningful work to every family. Cross-reference: Isaiah 64:8—our Potter shapes each vessel for His purposes. Perez and the Perezites • Perez, whose name means “breaking out,” was the firstborn of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38:29). • His clan becomes the largest in Judah, fulfilling the blessing of Ruth 4:12 that Perez’s house would be “like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” • The royal line runs through Perez to Boaz, David, and ultimately Jesus (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:3). God’s covenant faithfulness is transparent: what begins in scandal is redeemed for salvation. Zerah and the Zerahites • Zerah, the twin of Perez (Genesis 38:30), fathers a clan that includes “Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah” (Joshua 7:1). • Although Achan’s sin brings temporary judgment, the clan itself is still reckoned in God’s census—proof that grace coexists with discipline. • 1 Chronicles 9:6 notes 690 Zerahites returning from exile, witnessing generational preservation. spiritual insights from the clans • God counts people, not just numbers (Psalm 147:4; Luke 12:7). • Each name connects to a story of promise, failure, and redemption—reminding us that no family history is beyond God’s reach (Romans 8:28). • The census anticipates the final registry: “only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27). summary Numbers 26:20 simply lists three Judahite clans, yet it quietly shouts God’s covenant faithfulness. Shelah’s line shows ordinary faithfulness, Perez’s line carries messianic royalty, and Zerah’s line demonstrates both warning and mercy. Together they confirm that the Lord knows every family, fulfills every promise, and weaves every life into His redemptive plan. Verse 20. - The sons of Judah after their families. The Beni-Judah, or "men of Judah," according to their sub-tribal divisions, are clearly distinguished from the "sons of Judah" as individuals, two of whom are mentioned in the previous verse. Of the families of Judah, three were named after sons, two after grandsons. As the Pharzites remained a distinct family apart from the Hamulites and Hezronites, it may he supposed that Pharez had other sons not mentioned here, or in Genesis 46:12, or in 1 Chronicles 2:3, 4, 5.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew These wereוַיִּהְי֣וּ (way·yih·yū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be the descendants בְנֵי־ (ḇə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son of Judah יְהוּדָה֮ (yə·hū·ḏāh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites by their clans: לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם֒ (lə·miš·pə·ḥō·ṯām) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people The Shelanite הַשֵּׁ֣לָנִ֔י (haš·šê·lā·nî) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 8024: Shelanites -- a Shelanite clan מִשְׁפַּ֙חַת֙ (miš·pa·ḥaṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people from Shelah, לְשֵׁלָ֗ה (lə·šê·lāh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7956: Shelah -- a son of Judah the Perezite הַפַּרְצִ֑י (hap·par·ṣî) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6558: Perezites -- descendant of Perez clan מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת (miš·pa·ḥaṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people from Perez, לְפֶ֕רֶץ (lə·p̄e·reṣ) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 6557: Perez -- son of Judah and Tamar the Zerahite הַזַּרְחִֽי׃ (haz·zar·ḥî) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 2227: Zerahites -- descendant of Zerah clan מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת (miš·pa·ḥaṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people from Zerah. לְזֶ֕רַח (lə·ze·raḥ) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 2226: Zerah -- three Israelites, also an Edomite, also an Ethiopian Links Numbers 26:20 NIVNumbers 26:20 NLT Numbers 26:20 ESV Numbers 26:20 NASB Numbers 26:20 KJV Numbers 26:20 BibleApps.com Numbers 26:20 Biblia Paralela Numbers 26:20 Chinese Bible Numbers 26:20 French Bible Numbers 26:20 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 26:20 The sons of Judah after their families (Nu Num.) |
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