Genesis 46:26

26 The total number of persons belonging to Jacob-his direct descendants,^[a] not including the wives of Jacob's sons-who came to Egypt: 66.

Genesis 46:26 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 46:26

All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt
These are in parcels before mentioned, but here they are brought to a sum total; and by this phrase are excluded those that died before, as Er and Onan, and those that were in Egypt before, as Joseph and his two sons; and I should think also all that were born in Egypt afterwards, even while Jacob was living: those reckoned are only such, which came out of his loins:
such as were his seed and offspring. This is observed for the sake of what follows, and to exclude them: besides Jacob's sons' wives;
these do not come into the account, because they did not spring from him: all the souls [were] threescore and six;
thirty two of Leah's, leaving out Er and Onan, sixteen of Zilpah's, fourteen of Rachel's, and seven of Bilhah's, make sixty nine; take out of them Joseph and his two sons, who were in Egypt before, and you have the exact number of sixty six.

Genesis 46:26 In-Context

24 Naphtali's sons: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

25 These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel. She bore to Jacob: seven persons.

26 The total number of persons belonging to Jacob-his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob's sons-who came to Egypt: 66.

27 And Joseph's sons who were born to him in Egypt: two persons. All those of Jacob's household who had come to Egypt: 70 persons.

28 Now Jacob had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to prepare for his arrival at Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen,

Footnotes

• [a] Lit Jacob who came out from his loins