Genesis 47:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they [are] in the land of Goshen.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then Yosef went in and told Pharaoh, "My father and brothers have come from the land of Kena'an with their flocks, livestock and all their possessions; right now they are in the land of Goshen."

Berean Standard Bible:

So Joseph went and told Pharaoh: “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.”

American Standard Version:

Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Then Joseph{H3130} came{H935} and told{H5046} Pharaoh{H6547}, and said{H559}, My father{H1} and my brethren{H251}, and their flocks{H6629}, and their herds{H1241}, and all that they have, are come out{H935} of the land{H776} of Canaan{H3667}; and, behold, they are in the land{H776} of Goshen{H1657}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Genesis 45:10

  • And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

Genesis 46:31

  • And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which [were] in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;

Genesis 46:28

  • ¶ And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

Exodus 9:26

  • Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel [were], was there no hail.

Hebrews 2:11

  • For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Genesis 46:34

  • That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, [and] also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd [is] an abomination unto the Egyptians.

Genesis 45:16

  • ¶ And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

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Commentary for Genesis 47:1

Genesis 47:1 is a verse from the Hebrew Bible that captures a moment in the larger narrative of Joseph, the favored son of the patriarch Jacob (also known as Israel), who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Joseph eventually rose to power in Egypt after interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, which led to his role as the second-in-command in Egypt.

**Themes:**
1. **Family Reconciliation:** The verse reflects a turning point in the Joseph story where Joseph's family, having suffered from famine in Canaan, comes to Egypt seeking aid. It sets the stage for the emotional reunion between Joseph and his family, highlighting themes of forgiveness and reconciliation.
2. **Divine Providence:** The narrative underscores the theme of God's providence, as Joseph's earlier misfortunes have positioned him to save his family during the famine.
3. **Migration and Settlement:** The verse introduces the migration of Jacob and his descendants to Egypt, which will eventually lead to their settlement in the land of Goshen. This move is significant as it sets the stage for the Israelites' sojourn in Egypt, their subsequent enslavement, and ultimately, the Exodus.

**Historical Context:**
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the ancient Near East during the period when the Israelites were a semi-nomadic people. The story is set in the time of the Hyksos rule in Egypt (c. 1650–1550 BCE), foreign rulers who may have been Semitic and could have welcomed other Semitic peoples, like Jacob's family, into Egypt.

The land of Goshen, where Joseph directs his family to settle, is traditionally located in the eastern Nile Delta. This area would have been suitable for shepherding, which was the occupation of Jacob's sons, and it allowed the Hebrews to live separately from the Egyptians, which is historically plausible given the Hyksos' possible influence.

In summary, Genesis 47:1 is a pivotal verse in the Joseph narrative, highlighting themes of family reconciliation, divine providence, and the significant migration of the Israelites to Egypt. It reflects the historical dynamics of the ancient Near East, where semi-nomadic peoples like the Hebrews interacted with the great civilizations of the time, such as Egypt.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H3130
    There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹסֵף
    Transliteration: Yôwçêph
    Pronunciation: yo-safe'
    Description: future of יָסַף; let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites; Joseph. Compare יְהוֹסֵף.
  2. Strong's Number: H935
    There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בּוֹא
    Transliteration: bôwʼ
    Pronunciation: bo
    Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
  3. Strong's Number: H5046
    There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָגַד
    Transliteration: nâgad
    Pronunciation: naw-gad'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter.
  4. Strong's Number: H6547
    There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פַּרְעֹה
    Transliteration: Parʻôh
    Pronunciation: par-o'
    Description: of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings; Pharaoh.
  5. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
  6. Strong's Number: H1
    There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָב
    Transliteration: ʼâb
    Pronunciation: awb
    Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
  7. Strong's Number: H251
    There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָח
    Transliteration: ʼâch
    Pronunciation: awkh
    Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.
  8. Strong's Number: H6629
    There are 247 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צֹאן
    Transliteration: tsôʼn
    Pronunciation: tsone
    Description: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).
  9. Strong's Number: H1241
    There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּקָר
    Transliteration: bâqâr
    Pronunciation: baw-kawr'
    Description: from בָּקַר; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd; beeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox.
  10. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
  11. Strong's Number: H3667
    There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כְּנַעַן
    Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻan
    Pronunciation: ken-ah'-an
    Description: from כָּנַע; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him; Canaan, merchant, traffick.
  12. Strong's Number: H1657
    There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גֹּשֶׁן
    Transliteration: Gôshen
    Pronunciation: go'-shen
    Description: probably of Egyptian origin; Goshen, the residence of the Israelites in Egypt; also a place in Palestine; Goshen.