This verse describes Jacob’s faithful move of his entire family and possessions to Egypt, trusting in God’s promise to transform them into a great nation.
“They took their livestock and their property, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him.” (v.6) In this verse, Jacob obeys God’s directive to leave Canaan, a region that includes parts of modern-day Israel and Palestine. According to scriptural genealogies, this moment occurs in the early second millennium BC, when Jacob (also called Israel) was around 130 years old (Genesis 47:9). Scripture notes how he gathered all his possessions—his animals, goods, and household servants—and then journeyed into Egypt. Doing so required great trust in the Suzerain God, who had promised to make Jacob’s family into a thriving nation (Genesis 46:3). This shift in location from the land of Canaan to Egypt sets the stage for the events in Exodus, as this small clan will eventually multiply into a vast people.The land of Canaan had been Jacob’s home, where he inherited livestock and wealth (Genesis 30:43, 31:1). However, at God’s instruction and as a response to Joseph’s invitation, he uprooted his entire family. Jacob’s descendants numbered seventy persons who entered Egypt (Genesis 46:27). Although Canaan was the land that God originally promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s offspring, Jacob was asked to leave it for a season, reminding us that God often calls us to trust His timing and guidance. Once they arrived, the Israelites settled in Goshen, a region within Egypt’s borders fit for tending flocks.Through Jacob’s action, this pivotal relocation signaled a new chapter in Israel’s history. Placing themselves under God’s care and leadership, they would grow and prosper in Egypt, setting the stage for the eventual exodus under Moses about four centuries later (Exodus 1:1). The family’s decision to leave Canaan behind was an act of faith that connected God’s promise to the unfolding narrative of Israel’s deliverance and covenantal destiny.
Set to dark mode
Genesis 46:6 meaning
“They took their livestock and their property, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him.” (v.6) In this verse, Jacob obeys God’s directive to leave Canaan, a region that includes parts of modern-day Israel and Palestine. According to scriptural genealogies, this moment occurs in the early second millennium BC, when Jacob (also called Israel) was around 130 years old (Genesis 47:9). Scripture notes how he gathered all his possessions—his animals, goods, and household servants—and then journeyed into Egypt. Doing so required great trust in the Suzerain God, who had promised to make Jacob’s family into a thriving nation (Genesis 46:3). This shift in location from the land of Canaan to Egypt sets the stage for the events in Exodus, as this small clan will eventually multiply into a vast people.The land of Canaan had been Jacob’s home, where he inherited livestock and wealth (Genesis 30:43, 31:1). However, at God’s instruction and as a response to Joseph’s invitation, he uprooted his entire family. Jacob’s descendants numbered seventy persons who entered Egypt (Genesis 46:27). Although Canaan was the land that God originally promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s offspring, Jacob was asked to leave it for a season, reminding us that God often calls us to trust His timing and guidance. Once they arrived, the Israelites settled in Goshen, a region within Egypt’s borders fit for tending flocks.Through Jacob’s action, this pivotal relocation signaled a new chapter in Israel’s history. Placing themselves under God’s care and leadership, they would grow and prosper in Egypt, setting the stage for the eventual exodus under Moses about four centuries later (Exodus 1:1). The family’s decision to leave Canaan behind was an act of faith that connected God’s promise to the unfolding narrative of Israel’s deliverance and covenantal destiny.