What Does Genesis 46:9 Mean in the King James?

And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

Genesis 46:9 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Reuben’s name means “See, a son”, and this verse keeps seeing by naming each son.

THE MEANING

This verse keeps four people distinct within a family line by giving each one a name. Even the heading carries “see, a son,” presenting the lineage through persons made visible, not an abstract count.

THE ROOT

רְאוּבֵן

Re'uven

GROWS FROM

ראה

r-ʾ-h

To see, look, or perceive.

Reuben’s name echoes ⁨רְאוּ⁩ (re’u, “see!”) and ⁨בֵּן⁩ (ben, “son”). The English name can hide that seeing is already inside the family line: here, four sons are made visible by name.

ALSO GROWS

ra'ah: To see or look.

רָאָה

This is the seeing echoed in Reuben’s name and in the verse that names his sons.

mar'eh: Appearance or vision.

מַרְאֶה

The same root can name what is seen, connecting the act of seeing with what comes into view.

ro'eh: One who sees; a seer.

רֹאֶה

The root can describe a person who sees, reinforcing the verse’s movement from a name meaning “see a son” to four sons named in turn.

THE PATTERN

A name carries identity forward as a family line becomes visible one person at a time.

And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

Genesis 29:32 · KJVReuben’s name echoes the verse’s “looked,” joining seeing to the naming of a son.

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

Genesis 5:3 · KJVThe verse carries likeness forward through a son who receives a name.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:1 · KJVThe opening names a lineage through persons, carrying identity across generations.

THE THREAD

And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

Genesis 29:32 · KJV

Genesis 29:32 says the LORD “hath looked” (⁨רָאָה⁩, ra’ah) and names the child Reuben, echoing ⁨רְאוּ⁩ (re’u, “see!”) and ⁨בֵּן⁩ (ben, “son”). Genesis 46:9 opens with that same name, then makes the line visible by naming Reuben’s four sons.

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