Who are the 12 tribes of Israel and their mothers?

Six sons were born to Leah (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun), two to Bilhah — Rachel's maidservant (Dan, Naphtali), two to Zilpah — Leah's maidservant (Gad, Asher), and two to Rachel (Joseph, Benjamin). Joseph's portion was split between his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, giving Israel thirteen tribal portions though traditionally counted as twelve.

Which tribe of Israel did Jesus come from?

Jesus (Yeshua) came from the tribe of Judah through the royal line of David. Matthew 1:1–17 traces this lineage. Revelation 5:5 calls him 'the Lion of the tribe of Judah.' Genesis 49:10 prophesied that the scepter would not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes.

Which tribe of Israel is missing from Revelation 7?

Dan is missing from the 144,000 sealed in Revelation 7:4–8, replaced by Manasseh. Dan was the first tribe to institutionalize idol worship (Judges 18:30), and that association followed the tribe in later tradition.

The 12 Sons of Jacob Became 12 Nations — Tribes of Israel Lineage, Territory & Descendants

I

Leah — Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun

לֵאָה · Jacob's first wife, daughter of Laban · Genesis 29:16–30:21

6 sons

Reuben — Firstborn of Jacob and Leah, Tribe of Reuben, Son of Israel

רְאוּבֵןReuben · 1st BornGen 29:32

Firstborn of Jacob and Leah. Forfeited his birthright after lying with Bilhah (Gen 35:22). His tribe settled the Moabite plateau east of the Jordan.

References Gen 29:32 · 35:22 · 37:21 · 46:9 · 49:3–4 · Num 1:21 · 26:7 · Deut 33:6 · Rev 7:5

Simeon — Second Son of Jacob and Leah, Tribe of Simeon, Son of Israel

שִׁמְעוֹןSimeon · 2nd BornGen 29:33

Co-led the Shechem massacre with Levi (Gen 34). Jacob prophesied he would be scattered — the tribe declined steeply and was absorbed into Judah.

References Gen 29:33 · 34:25–31 · 42:24 · 46:10 · 49:5–7 · Num 1:23 · 26:14 · Josh 19:1–9

Levi — Third Son of Jacob and Leah, Tribe of Levi, Son of Israel

לֵוִיLevi · 3rd BornGen 29:34

No tribal land — scattered in 48 priestly cities. From Levi came Moses, Aaron, all the priests of Israel, and the Maccabees.

References Gen 29:34 · 34:25 · 46:11 · 49:5–7 · Exod 6:16 · Num 3:6 · 35:1–8 · Deut 18:1 · Mal 3:3

Judah — Fourth Son of Jacob and Leah, Tribe of Judah, Lion of Judah, Son of Israel

יְהוּדָהJudah · 4th BornGen 29:35

The royal tribe. From Judah came David, Solomon, and Yeshua the Messiah. The scepter shall not depart from Judah (Gen 49:10).

References Gen 29:35 · 38 · 44:33 · 46:12 · 49:8–12 · Ruth 4 · 1 Sam 16:1 · Matt 1:2 · Rev 5:5

Issachar — Fifth Son of Leah, Tribe of Issachar, Son of Israel

יִשָּׂשכָרIssachar · 9th BornGen 30:18

Tribe of the Jezreel Valley. Men of Issachar had "understanding of the times" (1 Chr 12:32). Tola judged Israel from here for 23 years.

References Gen 30:18 · 46:13 · 49:14–15 · Num 1:29 · 26:25 · Judg 10:1 · 1 Chr 12:32 · Rev 7:7

Zebulun — Sixth Son of Leah, Tribe of Zebulun, Son of Israel

זְבוּלֻןZebulun · 10th BornGen 30:20

Lower Galilee. Elon the judge. Isaiah 9:1 named Zebulun alongside Naphtali as the land where the great light would dawn — fulfilled in Jesus's ministry (Matt 4:13).

References Gen 30:20 · 46:14 · 49:13 · Num 1:31 · Judg 12:11 · Isa 9:1 · Matt 4:13–16 · Rev 7:8

II

Bilhah — Dan, Naphtali

בִּלְהָה · Rachel's maidservant, given to Jacob by Rachel · Genesis 30:3–8

2 sons

Dan — First Son of Bilhah, Tribe of Dan, Son of Israel

דָּןDan · 5th BornGen 30:6

Samson's tribe. Unable to hold their coastal territory, Dan migrated north and conquered Laish. First tribe to institutionalize idol worship (Judg 18). Absent from Revelation 7's 144,000.

References Gen 30:6 · 46:23 · 49:16–17 · Num 1:39 · Josh 19:40 · Judg 13:2 · 18:30 · 1 Kgs 12:29 · Rev 7:4–8

Naphtali — Second Son of Bilhah, Tribe of Naphtali, Son of Israel

נַפְתָּלִיNaphtali · 6th BornGen 30:8

Upper Galilee and the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Barak's tribe (Judg 4). Tobit was from Naphtali. Isaiah 9:1 — fulfilled by Jesus's Galilean ministry.

References Gen 30:8 · 46:24 · 49:21 · Num 1:43 · Judg 4:6 · Isa 9:1 · Matt 4:13–16 · Tob 1:1 · Rev 7:6

III

Zilpah — Gad, Asher

זִלְפָּה · Leah's maidservant, given to Jacob by Leah · Genesis 30:9–13

2 sons

Gad — First Son of Zilpah, Tribe of Gad, Son of Israel

גָּדGad · 7th BornGen 30:11

Settled Gilead east of the Jordan. Fierce warriors "with faces like lions" (1 Chr 12:8). Elijah the Tishbite was likely from this territory (1 Kgs 17:1).

References Gen 30:11 · 46:16 · 49:19 · Num 1:25 · 32:1 · Josh 13:24 · Judg 11:1 · 1 Kgs 17:1 · 1 Chr 12:8 · Rev 7:5

Asher — Second Son of Zilpah, Tribe of Asher, Son of Israel

אָשֵׁרAsher · 8th BornGen 30:13

Northern Phoenician coast — olive oil and "royal dainties" (Gen 49:20). Anna the prophetess, age 84 at the Temple when Jesus was presented, was from Asher (Luke 2:36).

References Gen 30:13 · 46:17 · 49:20 · Num 1:41 · Josh 19:24 · Judg 1:31 · Luke 2:36 · Rev 7:6

IV

Rachel — Joseph, Benjamin

רָחֵל · Jacob's beloved wife, daughter of Laban · Genesis 30:22–24; 35:16–18

2 sons

Joseph — Eleventh Son of Jacob, First Son of Rachel, Tribe of Joseph, Son of Israel

יוֹסֵףJoseph · 11th BornGen 30:24

Viceroy of Egypt, savior from famine. His double portion through Ephraim and Manasseh gave Israel its largest tribal territory. Joshua and Gideon descended from him.

References Gen 30:24 · 37 · 39–50 · 46:19 · 49:22–26 · Exod 13:19 · Num 26:28 · Josh 16–17 · Rev 7:8

Benjamin — Twelfth Son of Jacob, Second Son of Rachel, Tribe of Benjamin, Son of Israel

בִּנְיָמִיןBenjamin · 12th BornGen 35:18

Born as Rachel died — named Ben-Oni by her, Benjamin by Jacob. King Saul, Mordecai, Esther, and the Apostle Paul were all Benjaminites. The tribe stayed with Judah after the kingdom split.

References Gen 35:18 · 42:4 · 46:21 · 49:27 · 1 Sam 9:1 · Esth 2:5 · Phil 3:5 · Rom 11:1 · Rev 7:8

12 Tribes of Israel