Exodus 1:4
New International Version
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

New Living Translation
Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

English Standard Version
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Berean Standard Bible
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

Berean Literal Bible
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

King James Bible
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

New King James Version
Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

New American Standard Bible
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

NASB 1995
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

NASB 1977
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Legacy Standard Bible
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Amplified Bible
Dan and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Berean Annotated Bible
Dan (He has judged) and Naphtali (wrestling); Gad (troop) and Asher (happy).

Christian Standard Bible
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

American Standard Version
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

English Revised Version
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

Good News Translation
Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

International Standard Version
Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

NET Bible
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

New Heart English Bible
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Webster's Bible Translation
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

World English Bible
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Berean Literal Bible
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Young's Literal Translation
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Smith's Literal Translation
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Dan, and Nephtali, Gad and Aser.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

New American Bible
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

New Revised Standard Version
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Dan and Naphtali and Gad and Ashir.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Dan and Nephthalim, Gad and Aser.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Israelites Multiply in Egypt
3Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; 4Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. 5The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all, including Joseph, who was already in Egypt.…

Cross References
Dan and Naphtali;

Genesis 46:23-24
The son of Dan: Hushim. / The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

Genesis 35:25
The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.

Genesis 30:6-8
Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan. / And Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. / Then Rachel said, “In my great struggles, I have wrestled with my sister and won.” So she named him Naphtali.
Gad and Asher.

Genesis 46:16-18
The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. / The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. / These are the sons of Jacob born to Zilpah—whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah—sixteen in all.

Genesis 35:26
And the sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

Genesis 30:9-13
When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. / And Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. / Then Leah said, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad. …
Genesis 35:22-26
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons: / The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. / The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. …

Genesis 46:8-27
Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. / The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. / The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. …

Genesis 49:1-28
Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come: / Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel. / Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. …

Deuteronomy 33:6-25
Let Reuben live and not die, nor his men be few.” / 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.” / Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah. …

Numbers 1:20-43
From the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, / those registered to the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500. / From the sons of Simeon, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, …

Numbers 26:5-51
Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu, / the Hezronite clan from Hezron, and the Carmite clan from Carmi. / These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730. …

1 Chronicles 2:1-2
These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, / Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Acts 7:8-9
Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. / Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

Genesis 29:31-35
When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. / And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.” / Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon. …

Genesis 30:1-24
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. / Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?” / Then she said, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family.” …


Treasury of Scripture

Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Dan.

Genesis 35:25
And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

1 Chronicles 2:2
Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Asher.

Genesis 35:26
And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

Genesis 46:17
And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.

Jump to Previous
Asher Dan Gad Naphtali Naph'tali
Jump to Next
Asher Dan Gad Naphtali Naph'tali
Exodus 1
1. The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase.
8. The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply.
15. The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive.
22. Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river












Dan and Naphtali;
Dan and Naphtali were two of the twelve tribes of Israel, named after the sons of Jacob and Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. Dan, the fifth son of Jacob, is often associated with judgment, as his name means "judge." The tribe of Dan later settled in the northern part of Israel, near the Mediterranean Sea. This location made them vulnerable to idolatry, as seen in Judges 18, where they set up a carved image. Naphtali, the sixth son, is associated with freedom and swiftness, as his name means "my struggle" or "wrestling." The tribe of Naphtali settled in the fertile region of Galilee, which later became significant in the ministry of Jesus Christ, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 9:1-2) about a great light shining in Galilee.

Gad and Asher.
Gad and Asher were also sons of Jacob, born to Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. Gad, the seventh son, is linked to fortune or a troop, as his name means "good fortune" or "troop." The tribe of Gad settled east of the Jordan River, in a region known for its pastures, which suited their lifestyle as herdsmen. This area was often a frontline in battles, requiring the Gadites to be strong warriors, as noted in 1 Chronicles 12:8. Asher, the eighth son, means "happy" or "blessed." The tribe of Asher settled along the northern coast of Canaan, an area rich in olive oil production, which is reflected in Jacob's blessing in Genesis 49:20. The prosperity of Asher is seen as a type of the spiritual blessings found in Christ, who provides abundantly for His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Dan
Dan is one of the twelve tribes of Israel, named after Jacob's fifth son by Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. The tribe of Dan is known for its later struggles with idolatry and its relocation to the northern part of Israel.

2. Naphtali
Naphtali is another tribe of Israel, named after Jacob's sixth son by Bilhah. The tribe settled in the northern region of Canaan and is noted for its valor and swiftness in battle.

3. Gad
Gad is one of the tribes of Israel, named after Jacob's seventh son by Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. The tribe of Gad settled on the east side of the Jordan River and was known for its warriors.

4. Asher
Asher is a tribe of Israel, named after Jacob's eighth son by Zilpah. The tribe settled in the fertile region of Canaan and was blessed with prosperity and abundance.
Teaching Points
Understanding God's Sovereignty
The listing of the tribes reminds us of God's sovereign plan in forming a nation from Jacob's descendants. Each tribe had a unique role and purpose, reflecting God's intricate design for His people.

Family Dynamics and God's Purpose
The origins of these tribes stem from complex family relationships, yet God used these circumstances to fulfill His promises. This teaches us that God can work through our imperfect situations to accomplish His will.

Identity and Inheritance
Each tribe had a distinct identity and inheritance in the Promised Land. As believers, we are reminded of our identity in Christ and the spiritual inheritance we have as children of God.

Blessings and Responsibilities
The blessings given to each tribe came with responsibilities. Similarly, the blessings we receive from God come with the responsibility to live according to His will and purpose.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Exodus 1:4?

2. How does Exodus 1:4 connect with God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2?

3. What significance do the names in Exodus 1:4 hold for Israel's identity?

4. How can we trust God's faithfulness as seen in Exodus 1:4 today?

5. In what ways does Exodus 1:4 demonstrate God's sovereignty over family and nations?

6. How can Exodus 1:4 inspire us to remember God's promises in our lives?

7. How does Exodus 1:4 fit into the broader narrative of Israel's history in Egypt?

8. What is the significance of listing Jacob's sons in Exodus 1:4?

9. How does Exodus 1:4 contribute to understanding the tribes of Israel?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 1?

11. What is the identity of the Israelites?

12. Who are the Children of Israel?

13. Who are the Sons of Jacob?

14. Who were the 12 tribes of Israel?
What Does Exodus 1:4 Mean
Dan

– “Dan” is named first in this pairing of four brothers (Exodus 1:4).

Genesis 30:6 records Rachel saying, “God has vindicated me; indeed, He has heard my voice and given me a son.” That son is Dan, whose name means “judge.”

– His mention here shows that even the children born through Rachel’s maid Bilhah were fully counted among the covenant people (Genesis 46:23; Numbers 1:38-39).

– By listing Dan, Scripture underscores that every branch of Jacob’s family—whether born to the wives or the concubines—was present in Egypt, fulfilling God’s promise in Genesis 46:3-4 that He would make Jacob’s family into a great nation there.


Naphtali

– Naphtali follows immediately: “Dan and Naphtali” (Exodus 1:4).

Genesis 30:8 records Rachel declaring, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and prevailed,” and she named him Naphtali, meaning “my struggle.”

– His inclusion reinforces the completeness of the northern tribes descended from Bilhah (see also Genesis 49:21; Deuteronomy 33:23).

– Together, Dan and Naphtali show that personal struggles and imperfect family dynamics do not cancel God’s covenant faithfulness; He incorporates every son into the unfolding redemption narrative that will climax in the Exodus.


Gad

– After a semicolon the text continues, “Gad” (Exodus 1:4).

– Gad, firstborn of Zilpah, Leah’s maid, was so named because Leah exclaimed, “How fortunate!” (Genesis 30:11).

– His tribe would later settle east of the Jordan yet still fight for the land alongside their brothers (Numbers 32:16-33; Joshua 22:1-4), illustrating unity amid diversity within Israel.

– Mentioning Gad signals that the sons of Zilpah were equally heirs to the promises made to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-14) and prepares readers for God’s deliverance “with great possessions” (Exodus 12:35-36).


Asher

– Finally, “and Asher” completes the list (Exodus 1:4).

– Named when Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy” (Genesis 30:13), Asher means “happy” or “blessed.”

– Moses would later bless Asher, saying, “May he be favored by his brothers and dip his foot in oil” (Deuteronomy 33:24), hinting at future abundance.

– Asher’s placement rounds out the tally of Jacob’s lesser-known sons, stressing that none are forgotten as Exodus opens with the statement, “The Israelites were fruitful and increased greatly” (Exodus 1:7).


summary

Exodus 1:4 simply lists four sons of Jacob—Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher—but in doing so it confirms that every branch of the patriarch’s family had entered Egypt and now stood on the brink of God’s promised deliverance. The verse functions as a roll call of covenant heirs, assuring readers that from the least celebrated to the most prominent, each tribe is part of God’s unfolding plan that will soon move from bondage to redemption.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Dan
דָּ֥ן (dān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1835: Dan -- 'judge', a son of Jacob, also a place in Northern Israel

and Naphtali,
וְנַפְתָּלִ֖י (wə·nap̄·tā·lî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5321: Naphtali -- a son of Jacob, also his descendants and the district settled by them

Gad
גָּ֥ד (gāḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1410: Gad -- a son of Jacob, also his tribe and its territory, also a prophet

and Asher.
וְאָשֵֽׁר׃ (wə·’ā·šêr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 836: Asher -- 'happy one', a son of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, also perhaps a city in Palestine


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OT Law: Exodus 1:4 Dan and Naphtali Gad and Asher (Exo. Ex)
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