Lexical Summary Eri: Erites Original Word: עֵרִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Erites Patronymically of Eriy; a Erite (collectively) or descendants of Eri -- Erites. see HEBREW Eriy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Eri Definition desc. of Eri NASB Translation Erites (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. עֵרִי adjective, of a people of I. עֵרִי, with article as substantive collective הָעֵרִי Numbers 26:16, Αδδει. Topical Lexicon Name and Significance Eri is the eponymous ancestor of the Erite clan within the tribe of Gad. His name carries the idea of vigilance or watchfulness, qualities often commended in Scripture (for example, Matthew 24:42). Although Eri receives only a brief mention, the inclusion of his household in Israel’s census underscores the theological truth that every family and individual is known and numbered before God. Biblical Record Numbers 26:16 records: “of Ozni, the Oznite clan; of Eri, the Erite clan.” This single verse appears in the second wilderness census, taken on the plains of Moab shortly before Israel crossed the Jordan. A corresponding genealogy of Gad’s sons had already been preserved in Genesis 46:16, where Eri is listed among the seven sons of Gad, indicating continuity between the patriarchal family and the later tribal structure. Tribal Context and Wilderness Experience Gad was a tribe of warriors (1 Chronicles 12:8) who would later settle east of the Jordan (Numbers 32:1-33). The census that mentions Eri counted men twenty years old and upward “everyone who could serve in Israel’s army” (Numbers 26:2). Thus, the Erites contributed fighting men to Israel’s mobilization, highlighting the clan’s role in the conquest to come and linking Eri’s lineage to the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises regarding the land. Inheritance East of the Jordan When the Transjordan territory was allotted, Gad received lands stretching from northern Moab to the region of Gilead (Joshua 13:24-28). The Erite clan would have shared in these allotments. Their location on Israel’s frontier required constant readiness against external threats, making the watchful sense of Eri’s name particularly apt for the daily life of his descendants. Spiritual Themes of Watchfulness Scripture frequently couples the call to vigilance with faithfulness. The very census that names Eri follows the judgment on the first generation’s unbelief and reminds Israel that disobedience forfeits blessing (Numbers 26:64-65). The Erites, counted in the new generation, illustrate the hope of renewal: God preserves a remnant prepared to watch and obey. New Testament exhortations echo the same principle: “So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). Lessons for Ministry 1. Individual Accountability: Even a clan mentioned only once is recorded for posterity, affirming that every believer’s place and service are significant (Hebrews 6:10). Christological and Eschatological Connections The watchfulness implicit in Eri’s name finds its ultimate focus in Jesus Christ, who commands, “What I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!” (Mark 13:37). Believers awaiting His return mirror the stance of the Erites—numbered, equipped, and vigilant on the borders of inheritance. The faithful fulfillment of tribal promises in the Old Testament thus anticipates the consummated kingdom where every clan and nation will stand accounted before the Lamb (Revelation 7:9-10). Forms and Transliterations הָעֵרִֽי׃ הערי׃ hā‘êrî hā·‘ê·rî haeRiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 26:16 HEB: לְעֵרִ֕י מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הָעֵרִֽי׃ NAS: of Eri, the family of the Erites; KJV: of Eri, the family of the Erites: INT: of Eri the family of the Erites 1 Occurrence |
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