King James Version

What Does Numbers 26:20 Mean?

Numbers 26:20 in the King James Version says “And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the P...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 26 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Numbers 26:20 · KJV

Context

18

These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.

19

The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

20

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.

21

And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.

22

These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The sons of Judah after their families—Judah's census lists three main clans: Shelanites (from Shelah, Judah's third son by Bathshua), Pharzites (from Pharez, Judah's twin son by Tamar), and Zarhites (from Zerah, Pharez's twin). The prominence of Pharez's line is theologically significant—though born of the scandalous Tamar incident (Genesis 38), Pharez became the direct ancestor of David and Christ (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:3).

The Hebrew word mishpechōṯ (families/clans) organizes Judah's massive tribe into manageable kinship units. As the largest tribe (76,500 men), Judah's organization was crucial for both military deployment and land distribution. Jacob's blessing that 'the scepter shall not depart from Judah' (Genesis 49:10) begins fulfillment through this structured tribal dominance.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Judah absorbed Simeon's territory (Joshua 19:1) and became the southern kingdom's dominant tribe. The Pharzite clan produced Nahshon (Exodus 6:23), prince of Judah during the Exodus, and eventually King David (c. 1010 BC). This census captured Judah at peak strength before the conquest—later, Judah and Benjamin formed the southern kingdom after Solomon's death.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God's choice of Pharez's scandalous line to produce the Messiah teach about grace overcoming human sin and shame?
  2. How does Judah's tribal organization and numerical strength foreshadow its role as the messianic and royal tribe?
  3. In what ways does the inclusion of Tamar's sons (Pharez and Zerah) in the genealogy point forward to Christ's inclusion of sinners and Gentiles in His kingdom?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וַיִּֽהְי֣וּ1 of 13
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

בְנֵֽי2 of 13

“And the sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יְהוּדָה֮3 of 13

“of Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת4 of 13

“after their families”

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

לְשֵׁלָ֗ה5 of 13

“were of Shelah”

H7956

shelah, the name of a postdiluvian patriarch and of an israelite

מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת6 of 13

“after their families”

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

הַשֵּׁ֣לָנִ֔י7 of 13

“of the Shelanites”

H8024

a shelanite (collectively), or descendants of shelah

לְפֶ֕רֶץ8 of 13

“of Pharez”

H6557

perets, the name of two israelites

מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת9 of 13

“after their families”

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

הַפַּרְצִ֑י10 of 13

“of the Pharzites”

H6558

a partsite (collectively) or descendants of perets

לְזֶ֕רַח11 of 13

“of Zerah”

H2226

zerach, the name of three israelites, also of an idumaean and an ethiopian prince

מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת12 of 13

“after their families”

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

הַזַּרְחִֽי׃13 of 13

“of the Zarhites”

H2227

a zarchite or descendant of zerach

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 26:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Numbers 26:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Nehemiah 11:24Genesis 46:12Nehemiah 11:6Genesis 38:11Genesis 38:26-30Nehemiah 11:4

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