Genesis 46:1-6

Joseph Brings His Family to Egypt

1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to 1Beersheba, and offered sacrifices 2to the God of his father Isaac.
2 And God spoke to Israel 3in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here am I."
3 Then he said, "I am God, 4the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will 5make you into a great nation.
4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also 6bring you up again, and 7Joseph's hand shall close your eyes."
5 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons 8that Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
6 They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and 9came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him,

Genesis 46:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 46

In this chapter we are told, that Jacob with all his family and substance took a journey to Egypt to see his son Joseph, as he determined, in which he was encouraged to proceed by a vision from God, Ge 46:1-7; and an account is given of all his sons, his sons' sons and daughters that went thither with him, Ge 46:8-27; when he came near to Egypt he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to acquaint him of his coming, who met him at Goshen, where there was a most affectionate interview between them, Ge 46:28-30; and when he gave directions and instructions what answers to give to Pharaoh's questions, when they should appear before him, to whom he proposed to go and inform him of their being come into Egypt, Ge 46:31-34.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Genesis 21:31, 33; Genesis 26:33; Genesis 28:10
  • 2. Genesis 26:24, 25; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 31:42
  • 3. Genesis 15:1; Job 33:14, 15
  • 4. Genesis 28:13
  • 5. Genesis 35:11; [Genesis 12:2; Exodus 1:7, 9; Deuteronomy 26:5]
  • 6. Genesis 15:16; Genesis 28:15; Genesis 48:21; Genesis 50:24; Exodus 3:8
  • 7. Genesis 50:1
  • 8. Genesis 45:19, 21, 27
  • 9. Joshua 24:4; Psalms 105:23; Isaiah 52:4; Acts 7:14, 15
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.