The Twelve Tribes of Israel

Patriarch

Birth #

Mother

Meaning of Name

Reuben

1

Leah

Genesis 29:32 Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my misery; the name means see, a son. It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”

Simeon

2

Leah

Genesis 29:33 Simeon probably means one who hears. “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.
Levi

3

Leah

Genesis 29:34 Levi sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for attached. “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.”
Judah

4

Leah

Genesis 29:35 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise. “This time I will praise the LORD.”
Dan

5

Bilhah/Rachel

Genesis 30:6 Dan here means he has vindicated. “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.”
Naphtali

6

Bilhah/Rachel

Genesis 30:8 Naphtali means my struggle. “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.”
Gad

7

Zilpah/Leah

Genesis 30:11b Gad can mean good fortune or a troop.  “What good fortune!”
Asher

8

Zilpah/Leah

Genesis 30:13 Asher means happy.  “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.”
Issachar

9

Leah

Genesis 30:18 18 Issachar sounds like the Hebrew for reward. “God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband.”
Zebulun

10

Leah

Genesis 30:20 Zebulun probably means honor. “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons.”
Dinah
 ?

Female

Leah

Justice
Joseph

11

Rachel

Genesis 30:24 Joseph means may he add. “God has taken away my disgrace.”
     Manasseh[1]

Joseph’s Son

Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget. “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”
     Ephraim[2]

Joseph’s Son

Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful. “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
Benjamin

12

Rachel

Genesis 35:18b 18 Benjamin means son of my right hand. As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni.(son of my trouble) But his father named him Benjamin.

[1] Later Joseph’s son Manasseh replaced Joseph as Tribe # 11  

[2] Later Joseph’s son Ephraim replaced Levi as Tribe # 3