Who was Arod in the Bible?

Arod was a son of Gad, who was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel). He is noted as the founder of the Arodite clan, one of the families within the tribe of Gad (Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:17).

What is the significance of Arod in the Bible?

Arod's significance lies in his role as a clan founder, which helped establish the tribal structure of Israel. His descendants, the Arodites, were counted during the census in the wilderness, showing his lineage's place in the nation's history (Numbers 26:17).

What key events in Arod's life are recorded?

The Bible does not record specific life events for Arod. His mention is primarily genealogical, listing him as a son of Gad who migrated to Egypt with Jacob's family and whose descendants became a recognized clan (Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:17).

Arod

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleSon

Arod, son of Gad, was the founder of the Arodite clan (Gen 46:16; Num 26:17).

Arod

Biography

Arod (also spelled Arodi in Genesis 46:16) was a son of Gad, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. He is named among the seventy descendants of Jacob who accompanied the patriarch to Egypt during the period of famine, as recorded in Genesis 46:16. In the wilderness census of Numbers 26:17, his name appears again in connection with the clan of the Arodites, the tribal subdivision of Gad that traced its descent through him. Gad was the seventh son of Jacob, born to Zilpah, Leah's maidservant (Genesis 30:10–11). Arod's clan, the Arodites, would have been counted among the tribe of Gad when Israel was organized for the journey through the wilderness and eventual settlement in Transjordan.

Significance

Arod represents the generational continuity of the Abrahamic covenant as it multiplied from promise to people. Jacob's descent into Egypt with seventy souls (Genesis 46) was itself a fulfillment of God's words to Abraham in Genesis 15:13, foreshadowing the sojourn and eventual exodus. As a clan founder, Arod contributed to the numerical growth of Israel that God had promised, a people as numerous as the stars. The tribe of Gad, including the Arodite clan, was later allotted territory east of the Jordan River (Numbers 32), and Gadite warriors were celebrated for their military valor (1 Chronicles 12:8), a legacy in which Arod's descendants participated as bearers of the tribal heritage.

Verse Appearances (2)

Genesis

Genesis 46:16

Numbers

Numbers 26:17

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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