How Many Sons Does Benjamin Have?

In Genesis 46:21 and Numbers 26:38-40, it states that Benjamin had 10 sons. In 1 Chronicles 7, it states he had 3 sons.

Genesis 46:21

"The sons of Benjamin: Bela and Becher and Ashbel, Gera and Naaman, Ehi and Rosh, Muppim and Huppim and Ard," (Genesis 46:21 NASB1995).

Numbers 26:38-40

"The sons of Benjamin according to their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites," (Numbers 26:38-40 NASB1995).

1 Chronicles 7:6

"The sons of Benjamin were three: Bela and Becher and Jediael," (1 Chronicles 7:6 NASB1995).

To answer this question, we need to realize that the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, not English. Thus, the Hebrew word can have a different meaning than the English. In this case, the word for "and the sons" is "וּבְנֵ֣י" which means "and the descendants". Even if we only take just the English, sons in English can refer to being a descendant. For example, if someone said, "I am a son of Abraham", they are likely not claiming to have lived thousands of years ago; instead, they just mean that they are Jewish. The same is so here.

Works Cited:

Image by Kevin Reyes

NASB 1995 Bible. United States, American Bible Society, 1995.