Genesis 46

Genesis 46 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Going to Egypt

Yahweh allowed Israel to go to Egypt. He was to trust in Yahweh and his covenant faithfulness. God continued to bless them in Egypt. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#trust and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenantfaith and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless)

Shepherds

Because of the regular flooding of the Nile River, Egypt's economy revolved around farming more than raising animals. Therefore, the Egyptians despised the nomadic lifestyle of shepherds. Joseph's instructions permitted the Hebrew people to live separately from the Egyptians.

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Genesis 46:1

went to Beersheba

"came to Beersheba"

Genesis 46:2

Here I am

"Yes, I am listening"

Genesis 46:3

to go down to Egypt

It was common to use the phrase "go down" when speaking of traveling from Canaan to Egypt.

I will make you a great nation

The "you" is singular and refers to Jacob. Here Jacob refers to his descendants that will become a large nation. Alternate translation: "I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-you and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 46:4

into Egypt

"to Egypt"

I will surely bring you up again

The promise was made to Jacob, but the promise would be fulfilled to all of Israel's descendants. Alternate translation: "I will surely bring your descendants out of Egypt again" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-you and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

bring you up again

It was common to use the word "up" when speaking about traveling from Egypt to Canaan.

Joseph will close your eyes with his own hand

The phrase "close you eyes with his own hand" is a way of saying that Joseph will be present when Israel dies and it will be Joseph who will close Jacob's eyelids at the time of his death. Alternate translation: "Joseph will even be present with you at the time of your death" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

will close your eyes

It was a custom to pull down the eyelids when a person died with their eyes open. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 46:5

rose up from

"set out from"

in the carts

"Carts" are wagons with two or four wheels. Animals pull the carts. See how you translated "carts" in Genesis 45:19.

Genesis 46:6

they had accumulated

"they had acquired" or "they had gained"

Genesis 46:7

He brought with him

"Jacob brought with him"

his sons' sons

"his grandsons"

his sons' daughters

"his granddaughters"

Genesis 46:8

These are the names

This refers to the names of the people that the author is about to list.

Genesis 46:9

Hanok, Pallu, Hezron, and Karmi

These are all names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:10

Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul

These are all names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:11

Gershon, Kohath, and Merari

These are all names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:12

Er, Onan, Shelah

These were the sons of Judah by his wife, Shua. See how you translated these names in Genesis 38:3-5.

Perez, and Zerah

These were the sons of Judah by his daughter-in-law, Tamar. See how you translated these names in Genesis 38:29-30.

Hezron ... Hamul

These are all names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:13

Tola, Puah, Jashub ... Shimron

These are all names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names). "Jashub" is spelled as "Lob" or "Iob" in some verions.

Genesis 46:14

Sered, Elon ... Jahleel

These are all names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:15

Dinah

This is the name of Leah's daughter. See how you translated this name in Genesis 30:21. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

His sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three

Here "sons" and "daughters" refer to Jacob's sons, daughters, and grandchildren related to Leah. Alternate translation: "Altogether he had 33 sons, daughters, and grandchildren" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 46:16

Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi ... Areli

These are the names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:17

Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi ... Beriah ... Heber ... Malkiel

These are the names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Serah

This is the name of a woman. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:18

Zilpah

This is the name of Leah's female servant. See how you translated this name in Genesis 29:24. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

These sons she bore to Jacob—sixteen in all

This refers to 16 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that were related to Zilpah. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 46:19

General Information:

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Genesis 46:20

Asenath

a woman's name. See how you translated this in Genesis 41:45. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Potiphera

a man's name. See how you translated this in Genesis 41:45. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

priest of On

On is a city, also called Heliopolis, which was "the City of the Sun" and the center of worship of the sun god Ra. See how you translated this in Genesis 41:45. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:21

Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard

These are names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:22

fourteen in all

This refers to the 14 sons and grandsons related to Rachel. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 46:23

Hushim

This is the name of a man. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:24

Jahziel, Guni, Jezer ... Shillem

These are the names of men. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 46:25

Bilhah

This is the name of Rachel's female servant. See how you translated this name in Genesis 29:29. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

seven in all

This refers to the 7 children and grandchildren related to Bilhah. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 46:26

direct descendants

A person's "direct descendants" are natural sons, daughters, and grandchildren, not those who have become part of the family by marrying a direct descendant.

sixty-six

"66" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 46:27

seventy

"70" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 46:28

to show the way before him to Goshen

"to show them the way to Goshen"

Genesis 46:29

Joseph prepared his chariot and went up

Here "Joseph" stands for his servants. Alternate translation: "Joseph's servants prepared his chariot and Joseph went up" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

went up to meet Israel

The phrase "went up" is used because Joseph is traveling to a higher elevation to meet his father. Alternate translation: "went to meet Israel"

hugged his neck, and wept on his neck a long time

"put his arms around his father, and wept for a long time"

Genesis 46:30

Now let me die

"Now I am ready to die" or "Now I will die happy"

since I have seen your face, that you are still alive

Here "face" stands for the entire person. Jacob was expressing joy at seeing Joseph. Alternate translation: "since I have seen you alive again" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

Genesis 46:31

Connecting Statement:

This is the beginning of a two-level quotation.

his father's house

Here "house" stands for his family. Alternate translation: "his father's family" or "his father's household" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

I will go up and tell Pharaoh

It was common to use the phrase "go up" when referring to someone going to speak with someone with greater authority. Alternate translation: "I will go tell Pharaoh"

Genesis 46:32

Connecting Statement:

The two-level quotation that began in verse 31 ends here.

The men are shepherds ... all that they have

The two-level quotation that began with the words "I will go up" in verse 31 ends here. This is a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "I will go up and tell Pharaoh and say that my brothers and my father's house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. I will tell him that the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and that they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)

Genesis 46:33

Connecting Statement:

This is the beginning of a two-level quotation.

It will come about

This phrase is used here to mark an important event that is about to happen in the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.

Genesis 46:34

Connecting Statement:

The two-level quotation that began in verse 33 ends here.

you should say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth until now, both we, and our forefathers.'

The two-level quotation that began with the words "when Pharaoh ... asks" in verse 33 ends here. This is a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. "when Pharaoh ... asks what your occupation is, that you should say that you have been keepers of livestock from your youth until now, both you and your forefathers. Do this" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)

Your servants

Joseph's family are to refer to themselves as "your servants" when they speak to Pharaoh. This is a formal way of speaking to someone with greater authority. It can be stated in the first person. Alternate translation: "We, your servants" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-123person)

every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians

The abstract noun "abomination" can be translated with the adjective "disgusting." Alternate translation: "Egyptians think shepherds are disgusting" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)