Lexical Summary Ro'sh: Head, chief, top, beginning, summit Original Word: רֹאשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Rosh Probably the same as ro'sh; Rosh, the name of an Israelite and of a foreign nation -- Rosh. see HEBREW ro'sh Brown-Driver-Briggs III. רֹאשׁ noun masculine son of Benjamin; — Genesis 46:21, Ρως. IV. רֹאשׁ proper name, of a people Rôsh (so ᵐ5. and most;> chief Ew Sm and others (ᵑ9 principem capitis mosoch); — only in phrase גּוֺג (אֶרֶץ מָגוֺג)נְשִׁיא ראֹשׁ מֶשֶׁךְ וְתֻכָ֑ל Ezekiel 38:2,3; Ezekiel 39:1, Ρως; not identified. I, II. רַב רֹב see רבב III. רב see רבב רִב see ריב Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Genesis 46:21 records: “The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard”. The appearance of רֹאשׁ (Rosh) in this verse constitutes its single attestation as a personal name in the Old Testament. Historical Setting The list belongs to the migration narrative of Jacob’s household to Egypt during the days of Joseph. By cataloging every male who entered Egypt, Moses preserves a census-like snapshot of the nascent nation around the turn of the second millennium BC. Each name anticipates a clan that will emerge four centuries later at the Exodus (Exodus 1:1–5). Place within Benjamin’s Lineage Benjamin is consistently presented as the youngest and dearly loved son of Jacob (Genesis 42:4). His ten sons in Genesis 46:21 later appear in modified forms—some absorbed, some renamed—in Numbers 26:38-41 and 1 Chronicles 7–8. Rosh is omitted in those later genealogies, leading many scholars to suggest that his descendants merged with or were subsumed under another Benjamite house (perhaps Rapha / Raphah or Ahiram). Yet the original record in Genesis affirms that Rosh existed as a distinct patriarchal head at the time of Israel’s entry into Egypt. Textual and Translation Notes Genesis 46:21 is the only place where Rosh is indisputably a proper noun. Elsewhere, English versions sometimes render the cognate רֹאשׁ (Strong’s 7218) as “chief” or transliterate it as “Rosh” in prophetic passages such as Ezekiel 38:2. Those uses are lexically separate and should not be confused with the Benjamite named here. Covenantal Implications Recording even the lesser-known figures in Israel’s early history underscores God’s comprehensive covenant care. The promise to make Jacob’s family “a great nation” (Genesis 46:3) embraced every tribe and sub-clan, including the house of Rosh. By the time Moses tallied Israel at Sinai, untold thousands traced their ancestry to men listed only once in Scripture. The precision of the record validates the faithfulness of God’s word and His attention to individuals who might otherwise fade from human memory. Ministerial Significance 1. The value of every believer. Rosh’s silent presence reminds the church that no member of Christ’s body is insignificant (1 Corinthians 12:22-24). Relationship to Later Benjamite History The tribe of Benjamin produced Israel’s first king, Saul (1 Samuel 9:1-2), and later the apostle Paul (Philippians 3:5). While specific links to Rosh cannot be traced, his inclusion in the founding generation contributes to the tribal lineage that God used for leadership, protection of Judah during the divided kingdom, and Gospel advance in the New Testament era. Lessons for the Contemporary Church • God’s redemptive plan includes both renowned and obscure persons. Summary Rosh, though appearing only once, serves as a testament to the meticulous faithfulness of God in preserving His people’s heritage. The brief mention in Genesis 46:21 weaves one more essential thread in the tapestry of Israel’s story, reminding readers that the Lord’s purposes often hinge on individuals whose accounts are hidden from human view but fully known to Him. Forms and Transliterations וָרֹ֑אשׁ וראש vaRosh wā·rōš wārōšLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 46:21 HEB: וְנַעֲמָ֖ן אֵחִ֣י וָרֹ֑אשׁ מֻפִּ֥ים וְחֻפִּ֖ים NAS: Ehi and Rosh, Muppim KJV: Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, INT: and Naaman Ehi and Rosh Muppim and Huppim |
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