What does Genesis 46:17 mean?
This segment records the sons and grandsons of Jacob as the moment his family entered Egypt to survive a famine (Genesis 46:1–4). The previous verse listed the sons of Jacob's seventh son Gad. This one lists the sons of Jacob's eighth son Asher, who was born to Jacob's servant-wife Zilpah (Genesis 30:13). Asher's children include his sons Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and a sister named Serah. Beriah's sons, Asher's grandsons, include Heber and Malchiel.Imnah may mean "may God give him his portion." Beriah might mean "outstanding," and Serah could mean "cause to flourish." Heber and Malchiel mean "companion" and "my king is God."