Israel increases in Egypt

The beginning of Exodus is the end of Genesis. Israel went into Egypt, Joseph was king of kings, and his family was fruitful and multiplied.

Exodus 1 and the “Day 6” pattern of fruitfulness

Exodus 1:1‑7 lists the eleven sons of Jacob whose households entered Egypt. Verse 7 then echoes Genesis 1:28, saying they “were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.”

Below are those names, their Hebrew meanings, and how each foreshadows the multiplying life that flows from Christ and His bride.

Tribe	Meaning (root idea)	How it pictures Christ’s fruitfulness
Reuben	“Behold a Son”	The first glimpse of the Son; fruitfulness begins when the Father reveals Jesus, the First‑born of many brothers.
Simeon	“He who hears” / “Heard”	Faith comes by hearing; those who hear the gospel become the Bride, multiplying disciples.
Levi	“Joined”	The cross joins heaven and earth; union with Christ produces spiritual offspring.
Judah	“Praise”	Praise is the “fruit of lips”; a people redeemed by the Lion of Judah cannot help but multiply praise.
Issachar	“Reward / wages”	Christ’s labor at Calvary wins the reward of a vast family; every new believer is His “wages.”
Zebulun	“Dwelling / exalted habitation”	The risen Christ dwells in His people; abiding life bears “much fruit.”
Benjamin	“Son of the right hand”	Ascended to the Father’s right hand, Jesus shares that position with us, multiplying “sons of glory.”
Dan	“Judge”	The cross satisfied judgment; now justified believers become a harvest of righteousness.
Naphtali	“My wrestling”	Christ’s agony (Gethsemane, cross) births resurrection life; struggle yields abundant seed.
Gad	“Fortune / troop”	From one grain comes a conquering troop—an ever‑growing army of saints.
Asher	“Happy / blessed”	The gospel’s fruit is blessed joy; happy children fill the house of God.

(Joseph is already in Egypt, and his name—“He will add” —underscores the same theme.)

The pattern fulfilled in Christ

Genesis Day 6 culminated in the command to “be fruitful and multiply.” Exodus opens by showing that this mandate is already at work in the family line that will bring forth Messiah. Each tribal name captures a facet of Jesus’ life‑giving mission—revelation of the Son, hearing faith, covenant union, praise, reward, dwelling, exaltation, righteous judgment, victorious struggle, conquering hosts, and blessed joy. Together they form a portrait of Christ who, joined to His Bride, fills the earth with multiplied life—the very pattern Genesis anticipated and Exodus celebrates.