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Genesis 46:7 meaning

Jacob’s act of bringing all his descendants to Egypt exemplifies faithful obedience that leads to the fulfillment of God’s promises.

“his sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.” (v.7) This verse shows how Jacob, also called Israel (Genesis 32:28), migrated from Canaan into the land of Egypt. Jacob brought not just his immediate family, but all of the children and grandchildren that had sprung from him, signifying a complete relocation of the covenant family. Egypt lies in the northeastern part of the African continent, flanking the Nile River, and it served as a place of refuge and growth for the Hebrews (Genesis 46:3; Exodus 1:1).Jacob, whose birth is often estimated around 2006 B.C. and whose death is placed around 1859 B.C., was the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. In obeying God’s instruction to go down to Egypt (Genesis 46:2), Jacob left his homeland with a relatively small group—around seventy people total (Genesis 46:27).Although the group was few in number at that time, this event set the stage for them to become “a great, mighty and populous nation” while in Egypt, according to God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:2; Deuteronomy 26:5).The verse highlights that no branch of Jacob’s family was left behind, demonstrating the unity and continuity of the line through which God’s blessing would come. By moving everyone under his care, Jacob ensured that the covenant people would remain together even in a foreign land. This family’s sojourn in Egypt eventually led to the Exodus, when God delivered the Israelites out of bondage in dramatic fashion centuries later (Exodus 1-14), confirming the divine plan that had been set in motion.

Genesis 46:7