People in Genesis
This history, origins, and contents of Genesis are examined.
Introduction
Unlike the other books of law, Genesis covers a wide span of time and thus focuses on several different historical figures. Since there are so many, I created a separate post to list them so that it would not clutter the Genesis Overview. Some of the Bible's most famous people are introduced in Genesis. From Adam to Noah, and from Abraham to Jacob, Genesis sets up the foundation of nations and peoples. Conflicts between those nations usually stem from something that happened between the people mentioned below. I'm working on detailed posts for the major players, but in the mean time, I've pieced together small snippets about each person.Top
Prominent Individuals
Abel
Abel one of Adam and Eve's sons, he is killed by his brother Cain.Abraham/Abram
Abraham, born Abram, is the father of many nations, specific the father of the Israelites. He is given a great covenant from God. He has two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, who make great nations along with other less pivotal sons.Adam
Adam is the first man created by God, the husband of eve, and the father of all mankind.Asher
Asher is born to Jacob and Zilpah. He is the youngest of her two sons, and the eighth son of Jacob.Benjamin
The youngest of Jacob's children, Benjamin is the second and final child of Rachel's.Cain
Cain was the son of Adam and Eve's, brother of Seth and Abel, and the first murderer.Dan
Dan is the fifth son of Jacob. His mother is Bilhah and he is her eldest son.Enoch
There are two Enoch's mention in Genesis: one is the son of Cain, the other is a descendant of Seth. Enoch, the descendant of Seth, was taken to Heaven to be with God and is one of the few to escape the first death. The name Enoch means dedication[1]Eve
Eve is the first woman created by God, the wife of Adam, and the mother of all living.Gad
Gad is Zilpah's oldest son and Jacob's seventh son.Hagar
Hagar is the maidservant of Sarah who is given to Abraham as a second wife. She gives birth to Abraham's first son, Ishmael.Ham
Ham is the youngest of Noah's son and thought to be the father of the African people.Isaac
Isaac is the promised son of Abraham and Sarah who inherits the covenant Abraham makes with God. He marries Rebekah and fathers Jacob and Esau.Ishmael
Ishmael is the son of Abraham and Hagar. Though he does not inherits the covenant Abraham makes with God, he is promised to be the father of a great nation as well. He is prophesied to be violent.Issachar
Issachar is the fifth son of Leah and the ninth son of Jacob.Jacob/Israel
Jacob is the youngest son of Isaac and Rebekah. His twin brother is Esau, whom he shares a bitter rivalry with during his youth. God eventually changes Jacob's name to Israel and it is his sons who father the 12 tribes of Israel.Japheth
One of Noah's three sons, it is disputed as to whether Japheth is the eldest or middle son. He is thought to be the progenitor of the European people (and some Asian people).Joseph
Coming Soon!Judah
Judah is the fourth son of both Jacob and Leah.Judah comes to be the most trustworthy in Jacob's eyesight and eventually becomes "leader" of the brothers. Jesus a descendant from line of Judah.Lamech
There are two Lamech's in the Bible. One is a descendent of Cain, the other is a descendant of Seth.Leah
Leah is the sister of Rachel, daughter of Laban, and the first wife of Jacob. She has 6 sons and 1 daughter. It is through her descendants that both King David, and Jesus are born.Levi
Levi is the third son of both Jacob and Leah. His descendants will become the priestly lineage. Levi assists Simeon when they rampage the city in an act of revenge for the rape of their sister.Naphtali
Naphtali is the sixth son of Jacob. His mother is Bilhah and he is her youngest son.Noah
Noah is a descendant of Seth and the builder of the ark. He and his family are the only ones to survive the flood.Rachel
Rachel is the love of Jacob's life and his second wife. She is the daughter of Laban and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She dies in child birth and is buried near Bethlehem (visitors still go to the site of her grave).Reuben
Reuben is the eldest son of Jacob. He spares Joseph's life and convinces the other brothers not to kill him. On the flip side, Reuben defiles his father's bed buy sleeping with Bilhah, one of Jacob's wives. For this reason, he is not given much of a blessing from his father.Sarah/Sarai
Originally named Sarai, God changes her name to Sarah. She is the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. Miraculously, she gives birth to him when she is 90 years old.Seth
Seth is the third named son of Adam and Eve, and the younger brother of Cain and Abel. The name Seth is a wordplay on the Hebrew word shath, which means appointed[1].Shem
One of Noah's three sons, it is disputed as to whether Shem is the eldest or middle son. It is through Shem's line that Abraham is born and thus the Hebrew nation. The word Semitic stems from the name Shem.Simeon
Simeon is the second born son, both to Jacob and Leah. Simeon conspires with his brother Levi and then slaughters the entire city after someone wrongs his sister. This effects his blessings from Jacob as well.Zebulun
Zebulun is the tenth son of Jacob and the sixth child of Leah.Minor People
More information on the significance of these people can be found on the People page.- Abimelech
- Adah
- Anamim
- Bashemath
- Bilhah
- Cainan
- Caphtorim
- Casluhim
- Haran
- Irad
- Jared
- Jabal
- Jubal
- Judith
- Laban
- Lehabim
- Ludim
- Mahalaleel
- Mahalath
- Mehujael
- Melchizedek
- Methusael
- Methuselah
- Milcah
- Mizraim
- Naamah
- Nahor
- Naphtuhim
- Nebajoth
- Pathrusim
- Philistim
- Tamar
- Terah
- Tubal-cain
- Zillah
- Zilpah
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