Genesis 46:7 · Bible study
Genesis 46:7 Commentary: Study: Jacob's Whole Family Enters Egypt
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine the identity of Jacob's daughters in Genesis 46:7, the Hebrew terms, and what this migration means for the covenant story.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jacob brought his entire extended family into Egypt, leaving no one behind.
- Key words: zera‘ (seed, H2233), covenant term; bat (daughter, H1323), can include daughter-in-law or granddaughter.
- Main debate: Who are 'his daughters', only Dinah, or also daughters-in-law and granddaughters?
- Theological theme: The preservation of the covenant seed through a migration that leads to national growth.
- Best use: Preaching on God's faithfulness in transitions, family unity, and the importance of every member of God's people.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Jacob took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.
WEB World English Bible 2000
his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and he brought all his offspring with him into Egypt.
KJV King James Version 1769
His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, yea, all his seed he brought with him into Egypt.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
his sons and his sons' sons with him, his daughters and his sons' daughters and all his seed he brought with him to Egypt.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
His sons, and grandsons, daughters, and all his offspring together.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Sus hijos, y los hijos de sus hijos consigo; sus hijas, y las hijas de sus hijos, y á toda su simiente trajo consigo á Egipto.
Seus filhos, e os filhos de seus filhos consigo; suas filhas, e as filhas de seus filhos, e a toda sua descendência trouxe consigo ao Egito.
Il emmena avec lui en Égypte ses fils et les fils de ses fils, ses filles et les filles de ses fils, et toute sa famille.
seine Söhne und seine Kindessöhne mit ihm, seine Töchter und seine Kindestöchter und all sein Same; die brachte er mit sich nach Ägypten.
Zijn zonen, en de zonen zijner zonen met hem; zijn dochteren, en zijner zonen dochteren, en al zijn zaad bracht hij met zich in Egypte.
Egli condusse seco in Egitto i suoi figliuoli, le sue figliuole, le figliuole de’ suoi figliuoli, e tutta la sua famiglia.
Syny swe, i syny synów swych, córki swe i córki synów swych, i wszystko nasienie swoje prowadził z sobą do Egiptu.
Сынов своих и внуков своих с собою, дочерей своих и внучек своих и весь род свой привел он с собою в Египет.
雅各 把他的兒子、孫子、女兒、孫女，並 他的子子孫孫，一同 帶 到埃及。
His sons and his sons' sons, his daughters and his daughters' sons and all his family he took with him into Egypt.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Genesis 46:7
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The commentators agree on the central point: Jacob brought every member of his family into Egypt, sons, grandsons, daughters, granddaughters, leaving no one behind in Canaan. Gill observes that this included his eleven sons and their sons, as well as his own daughter Dinah and the wives of his sons (daughters-in-law). Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note that since Dinah is Jacob's only named daughter, the plural daughters likely refers to his daughters-in-law. Keil and Delitzsch see the list that follows in verses 8, 27 as a careful census that makes God's later multiplication of the family visible: from seventy souls to a great nation. Matthew Henry draws the pastoral point that the family stayed together and moved together, a picture of unity under the covenant. The verb he brought (Hiphil of בּוֹא) highlights Jacob as the active head leading his entire seed into Egypt, fulfilling God's promise to make him a great nation there.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Daughters-in-law view: Since Dinah is Jacob's only named daughter, the plural likely includes the wives of his sons, who traveled with him (supported by Gill and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown).
- Granddaughters view: The parallel phrase 'his sons' daughters' explicitly names granddaughters, and the lexical range of <em>bat</em> includes granddaughter, making this a natural reading.
- Both view: The plural may encompass both daughters-in-law and granddaughters, as the text deliberately uses two terms: 'his daughters' and 'his sons' daughters,' suggesting two groups.
What is clear: Jacob brought every member of his family—including women and children—into Egypt as the seed through whom God would fulfill the covenant.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of 'his daughters' | All commentators agree the verse includes female descendants and likely more than just Jacob's daughter Dinah. | Some see the plural as including daughters-in-law (Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Others emphasize granddaughters (like Sarah, daughter of Asher mentioned in v. 17). The Hebrew <em>bat</em> can mean daughter, granddaughter, or even daughter-in-law, so both interpretations are lexically possible. |
| Meaning of 'all his seed' | The phrase indicates Jacob brought every descendant living with him, not leaving any in Canaan. | Does the phrase include servants? Gill notes servants are not listed but probably came along. The main point is that no child of Jacob remained behind, which is agreed. |
| Significance of the genealogical list (vv. 8, 27) | The list documents the family that entered Egypt, forming the basis for the nation Israel. | The precise count of 70 souls (including Jacob and Joseph's family) has minor textual variations (LXX gives 75, including additional descendants). Most traditions accept 70 as the intended number. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Genesis 46 records the final migration of Jacob's family from Canaan to Egypt, a journey of about two hundred miles from Beersheba to the Nile Delta. This was no small relocation: multiple generations, livestock, and possessions traveled together (v. 5, 6). The ancient Near East often saw extended families move as a unit during famine, as known from Egyptian tomb paintings at Beni Hassan that depict Semitic nomads entering Egypt with their goods and animals. Jacob paused at Beersheba, the southern border of Canaan, to offer sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac (v. 1). There God appeared in a night vision, reassuring him: 'Don’t be afraid to go down into Egypt, for there I will make of you a great nation' (v. 3). This divine promise transforms a famine-driven migration into a step of obedient faith.
The word for offspring in verse 7 is zera‘ (זֶרַע, H2233), used throughout Genesis for the promised 'seed' of Abraham (e.g., Gen 12:7; 15:5). By applying this covenant term to the entire family, the narrator ties the journey to God's earlier pledge. The list of names that follows (vv. 8, 27) is one of the Bible's many genealogies, but it serves a distinct purpose here: it documents that the seed of Abraham entered Egypt intact, setting the stage for their multiplication into a nation and, eventually, the exodus. In a culture where genealogies established identity and inheritance, this list verified that every branch of the family, including daughters and granddaughters, was part of the covenant community.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Genesis 46:7 itself. The surrounding genealogical list in verses 8, 27 shows a well-known variation between the Hebrew Masoretic Text (70 persons) and the Greek Septuagint (75 persons), but this does not affect the wording of verse 7.
Reception History
Early Jewish tradition, as seen in the Book of Jubilees and Josephus, celebrated the migration as the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and as the start of Israel's sojourn in Egypt. The list of seventy souls became a symbol of the completeness of the nation. The early church, particularly in writers like Augustine, saw Jacob's descent as a type of the Church's pilgrimage through the world, with Egypt representing a place of testing and growth. The inclusion of daughters and granddaughters was noted as evidence that women shared equally in the covenant promises. In medieval and Reformation commentary, the verse was often cited to show God's care for the whole family and the importance of genealogical records for tracing the lineage of Christ.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Complete obedience in transition. Jacob left nothing behind. When God called him to go, he brought 'all his seed.' Faith obeys fully, not partially.
- God's promises are not tied to a place. Canaan was the land of promise, but God could fulfill His covenant even in Egypt. The family's integrity mattered more than geography.
- Every person counts in God's story. The listing of names, women, children, even the less prominent, shows God's attention to each individual who carries the covenant forward.
Five-point outline
- From promise to pilgrimage: Jacob's journey echoes Abraham's call; both leave familiar ground trusting God's word.
- God confirms the move: The vision at Beersheba (v. 2, 4) removes fear and assures divine presence.
- Family as the vehicle of blessing: The seventy souls (v. 27) are the seed through whom God will bless all nations.
- Inclusion of daughters: Highlighting daughters and granddaughters underscores that women are integral to the covenant community.
- A seed preserved for a greater purpose: The descent to Egypt is not a detour but part of God's plan to form a nation that would inherit Canaan and bring forth the Messiah.
Illustration hooks
- Moving day for an extended family: Think of a multi-generational household packing up for a new country, everyone's belongings, every child, every aunt and uncle. That's the scale and unity of Jacob's household.
- A difficult relocation for work: Many today face moving to a foreign city or country for a job opportunity, leaving behind the familiar. Jacob's step echoes that mix of hope and anxiety, grounded in a promise.
- Keeping the family together during crisis: When a family faces a major crisis (economic, health, war), the instinct to keep everyone close mirrors Jacob's determination to bring every member with him.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Bible list all these names? Isn't it just a boring genealogy?
- What happened to Dinah after her story in Genesis 34? Does she appear here?
- How does Jacob's move connect to the later slavery in Egypt? Was it a mistake to go down?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows Jacob leading his entire family into Egypt at God's direction. The detailed list that follows reminds us that every person in God's story matters. As you discuss, consider how God works through ordinary families and uncertain moves.
Discussion questions
- Read Genesis 46:1, 7. What stands out to you about how Jacob prepared for the journey? (Consider the sacrifices at Beersheba.)
- Why do you think the narrator emphasizes that Jacob brought 'all his seed', including daughters and granddaughters? What does that tell us about God's view of women and children in the covenant?
- The Hebrew word zera‘ (seed) is the same word used for Abraham's promised offspring. How does this verse tie back to the promises in Genesis 12 and 15?
- Look at the list of names in verses 8, 27. Why do you think the Bible records genealogies like this one? What purpose do they serve in the larger biblical story?
- Jacob was 130 years old when he moved (Gen 47:9). How does his willingness to relocate challenge or encourage you in seasons of transition?
- How does knowing that God went with Jacob into Egypt (v. 4) affect the way you think about moving into an unknown future?
- In what ways does this story prepare us for the exodus and ultimately for Jesus, who would come from this family line?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke provides precise chronological markers for Jacob's move to Egypt, noting he was 130 years old at the time. He connects this event to the promise made to Abraham 215 years earlier, embedding the journey within a carefully dated biblical timeline.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight the thorough enumeration of Jacob's family: sons, grandsons, daughters, granddaughters, and finally "all his seed." The commentator emphasizes that Jacob brought every single descendant with him into Egypt, leaving no one behind. This careful listing underscores
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill carefully notes that Jacob brought every descendant with him into Egypt, leaving none of his children or grandchildren behind in Canaan. He clarifies that the phrase "his daughters" includes Dinah and the wives of his sons, and that the historian records this full list so readers can later trace the growth of the family.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB clarifies that the "daughters" in this verse must mean daughters-in-law, since Dinah was Jacob's only daughter. Though too old for active oversight, Jacob remained the tribe's venerable sheik whom everyone consulted at every step.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch observes that leaving Canaan, even under clear divine guidance, stirred serious thoughts in Jacob about his family's future. That is why he stopped at Beersheba, the border of the promise, to offer sacrifices and seek reassurance from the covenant God of his fathers before entering Egypt.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that Jacob's halt at Beersheba to seek divine sanction reveals the crucial distinction between human confidence and God's assurance. The migration into Egypt was a bold undertaking that required the promise of a return to Canaan. The number 70 marks the family as the holy seed of God's people.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry views this detailed genealogy as a deliberate record of God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises. By listing every generation and branch of the family, the text demonstrates that the promise made to Abraham has been fully realized in a large, thriving household. This comprehensive account serves as tangible proof that God preserves His people through every stage of their journey into Egypt.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that after 215 years God's promise to Abraham had only increased to seventy people, making the later multiplication in Egypt all the more striking. He also notes that Issachar's son Tola, meaning "worm," was born weak yet became the head of a very numerous tribe.