# twelve tribes of Israel, twelve tribes

## Definition:

The term “twelve tribes of Israel” refers to the twelve sons of Jacob and their descendants.

* These are the names of Jacob’s twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.
* There are several places in the Bible where the list of the twelve tribes is slightly different. Sometimes Levi, Joseph, or Dan is left out of the list and sometimes Joseph’s two sons Ephraim and Manasseh are included in the list.

(See also: [Reuben](../names/reuben.md), [Simeon](../names/simeon.md), [Levi](../names/levite.md), [Judah](../names/judah.md), [Dan](../names/dan.md), [Naphtali](../names/naphtali.md), [Gad](../names/gad.md), [Asher](../names/asher.md), [Issachar](../names/issachar.md), [Zebulun](../names/zebulun.md), [Joseph](../names/josephot.md), [Benjamin](../names/benjamin.md), [Ephraim](../names/ephraim.md), [Manasseh](../names/manasseh.md), [Israel](../kt/israel.md), [Jacob](../names/jacob.md), [tribe](../other/tribe.md))

## Bible References:

* [Acts 26:7](rc://en/tn/help/act/26/07)
* [Genesis 49:28](rc://en/tn/help/gen/49/28)
* [Luke 22:28-30](rc://en/tn/help/luk/22/28)
* [Matthew 19:28](rc://en/tn/help/mat/19/28)

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H3478, H7626, H8147, G14270, G24740, G54430
