Genesis 46:7

KJV

His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

KJV (with Strong's)

His sons {H1121}, and his sons {H1121}' sons {H1121} with him, his daughters {H1323}, and his sons {H1121}' daughters {H1323}, and all his seed {H2233} brought he {H935} with him into Egypt {H4714}.

Complete Jewish Bible

his sons, grandsons, daughters, granddaughters and all his descendants he brought with him into Egypt.

Berean Standard Bible

Jacob took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.

American Standard Version

his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 46:7 meticulously chronicles the complete migration of Jacob's immediate family—his sons, grandsons, daughters, and granddaughters—into Egypt. This verse underscores the comprehensive nature of the move, emphasizing the divine preservation of the entire patriarchal lineage as a foundational step in God's unfolding covenant plan, setting the stage for the Israelites' growth into a numerous nation within Egypt before their eventual Exodus.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 46:7 is situated at a pivotal moment in the Genesis narrative, marking the culmination of Joseph's story and the beginning of Israel's sojourn in Egypt. Immediately preceding this verse, Jacob has received divine assurance from God at Beersheba, promising His presence, protection, and the eventual return of his descendants to Canaan ([Genesis 46:1-4](/genesis/46-1-4 "God's Promise to Jacob at Beersheba")). The preceding verses detail Jacob's departure from Beersheba with his family and possessions, setting the scene for their arrival. This specific verse acts as a comprehensive summary of those who accompanied Jacob, emphasizing the totality of the family unit entering Egypt, thereby establishing the full scope of the nascent nation's foundational presence in a foreign land. It serves as a bridge between the patriarchal narratives and the unfolding story of the nation of Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near East frequently experienced periods of famine, making Egypt, with its fertile Nile Delta and sophisticated agricultural management (especially under Joseph's foresight), a common refuge for those seeking sustenance. The migration of an entire family, including extended relatives, was a significant undertaking, often driven by survival. In this cultural context, lineage and family continuity were paramount, as identity, inheritance, and covenant promises were tied to one's descendants. The detailed enumeration in this verse reflects the cultural importance of documenting family lines and the profound significance of ensuring the survival of every member, especially those who would carry on the family name and heritage. The move to Egypt was not a casual relocation but a divinely orchestrated strategic move to protect and multiply the covenant family.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Genesis and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Providence**, demonstrating God's active hand in preserving His chosen people even amidst severe famine, orchestrating events through Joseph's earlier ascent to power ([Genesis 45:7-8](/genesis/45-7-8 "Joseph's Explanation of God's Providence")). Secondly, it underscores **Covenant Fulfillment**, as the migration ensures the survival and growth of the "seed" promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ([Genesis 12:2-3](/genesis/12-2-3 "The Abrahamic Covenant")). The detailed listing of family members emphasizes the continuity of the covenant line. Thirdly, it sets the stage for the **Formation of a Nation**, as the entire family unit is gathered in one place, providing the necessary foundation for their multiplication into the twelve tribes of Israel, a process that would unfold over the next 430 years in Egypt before the Exodus ([Exodus 1:7](/exodus/1-7 "The Growth of Israel in Egypt")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 46:7 provides a meticulous accounting of Jacob's household, ensuring the reader understands the full scope of the family's relocation. This precise enumeration is critical for establishing the continuity of the covenant line and the foundation of the future nation of Israel.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **sons (Hebrew, _bên'_):** From the root meaning "to build," this term (H1121) signifies a son as a builder or perpetuator of the family name. In its widest sense, it encompasses literal and figurative relationships, including grandsons and descendants. Here, "his sons, and his sons' sons" emphasizes the direct male lineage, crucial for the patriarchal structure and the continuation of the covenant promises through specific family lines.
* **daughters (Hebrew, _bath'_):** As the feminine form of _bên_ (H1323), "daughter" carries a similar broad meaning, referring to female offspring. The explicit inclusion of "his daughters, and his sons' daughters" highlights the completeness of the family unit, acknowledging the vital role of women in the continuation and growth of the household, ensuring the entire family—not just the male line—was preserved.
* **seed (Hebrew, _zeraʻ'_):** This word (H2233) literally means "seed" but is used figuratively to denote "offspring," "descendants," or "posterity." In this context, "all his seed" serves as a comprehensive term, encompassing every member of Jacob's direct lineage who accompanied him. Its use here directly connects this migration to the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning their innumerable descendants, reinforcing that this move was a deliberate act of God to preserve and multiply His chosen people.
* **brought (Hebrew, _bôwʼ'_):** This primitive root (H935) means "to go or come" and, in its causative form, "to bring." While the verse states "brought he with him," attributing the action to Jacob, the broader narrative context reveals that this entire movement was under God's sovereign direction, fulfilling His promise to Jacob in [Genesis 46:3](/genesis/46-3 "God's assurance to Jacob"). It signifies the active, intentional relocation of the entire family.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"His sons, and his sons' sons with him":** This phrase emphasizes the male lineage, highlighting the direct descendants who would form the patriarchal heads of the future tribes of Israel. The inclusion of "sons' sons" (grandsons) indicates the generational depth of the migration, showing that not just the immediate children but also the next generation were part of this foundational move, ensuring the continuity of the family line.
* **"his daughters, and his sons' daughters":** Crucially, the verse explicitly includes the female members of the family. This detail is significant as it demonstrates the completeness of the family unit and the preservation of the entire household, not just the male line. While specific names of daughters and granddaughters are less frequently listed in the patriarchal narratives, their inclusion here underscores their vital role in the continuity and growth of the family, as they would bear the next generation.
* **"and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt":** This concluding phrase serves as a comprehensive summary, encompassing every single member of Jacob's direct lineage. The term "seed" (Hebrew: _zeraʻ_) is highly significant, linking this migration directly to the covenant promises of numerous descendants. The phrase "brought he with him" attributes the action to Jacob, but implicitly, this entire movement was under God's sovereign direction, fulfilling His promise to preserve and multiply His chosen people in Egypt.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 46:7 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Enumeration** is evident in the detailed listing of "sons, and his sons' sons... his daughters, and his sons' daughters," which provides a meticulous account of the family's composition. This precision serves to create **Emphasis** on the completeness and totality of the migration, leaving no doubt that the entire covenant family was preserved. The repetition of "sons" and "daughters" across generations reinforces this sense of comprehensive inclusion. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Foreshadowing**, as the gathering of "all his seed" in one place implicitly points towards the future growth of this family into a great nation, a theme that will be dramatically developed in the Book of Exodus. The use of the term "seed" also carries strong **Theological Significance**, connecting this physical migration to the spiritual promises of lineage and blessing.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 46:7 stands as a powerful testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and meticulous providence in preserving His covenant people. The detailed enumeration of Jacob's family entering Egypt underscores that this was not merely a human decision to escape famine but a divinely orchestrated movement, a crucial step in God's overarching plan for Israel. This act of preservation ensured the continuity of the covenant line, setting the stage for the fulfillment of promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding their numerous descendants and the eventual formation of a great nation. It highlights God's active involvement in the lives of His people, guiding them even into unfamiliar territories to accomplish His redemptive purposes.

* [Genesis 12:2-3](/genesis/12-2-3 "The Abrahamic Covenant: A Great Nation and Blessing") – God's initial promise to Abraham to make him a great nation and bless all families of the earth through him.
* [Genesis 46:3-4](/genesis/46-3-4 "God's Assurance to Jacob before Going to Egypt") – God directly assures Jacob that He will go with him to Egypt and make him a great nation there.
* [Exodus 1:7](/exodus/1-7 "The Rapid Growth of Israel in Egypt") – This verse explicitly describes the rapid multiplication of the Israelites in Egypt, fulfilling the promise implicit in Genesis 46:7.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 46:7 offers profound insights into God's meticulous care and unwavering faithfulness to His promises, even amidst challenging circumstances like severe famine and forced migration. It reminds us that God's overarching plan often involves the entire family unit, and His providence extends across every generation, ensuring the preservation and growth of His people. For believers today, this passage offers profound encouragement that God oversees every detail of our lives, orchestrating events to fulfill His ultimate purposes, even when we are called to new or unfamiliar places. It underscores the divine importance of family in God's grand narrative and His steadfast commitment to preserving His people through all trials. We can trust that just as God faithfully guided and preserved Jacob's family, He will also guide and preserve us, working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the detailed enumeration of Jacob's family in this verse strengthen your understanding of God's meticulous care and faithfulness?**
* **In what ways might God be orchestrating seemingly difficult circumstances in your life or family to fulfill a greater, long-term purpose?**
* **How does the preservation of Jacob's "seed" encourage you about God's commitment to His covenant promises, both to Israel and to believers today?**
* **What role does your family (biological or spiritual) play in God's unfolding plan, and how does this verse inspire you to consider its significance?**

### FAQ
**Why is the lineage in Genesis 46:7 so detailed, mentioning sons, grandsons, daughters, and granddaughters?**

Answer: The detailed enumeration in Genesis 46:7 serves several crucial purposes, highlighting God's meticulous plan and faithfulness. Firstly, it emphasizes the **completeness** of Jacob's family migration, ensuring that the entire covenant line was preserved. This meticulous accounting underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to make Jacob's descendants a great nation, demonstrating that no one from the direct lineage was left behind. Secondly, it highlights **generational continuity**, showing that the divine promise extended not just to Jacob's immediate children but also to the next generation, ensuring the future growth of the family. Thirdly, the explicit inclusion of both **male and female members** (daughters and sons' daughters) demonstrates the comprehensive nature of God's preservation, acknowledging the vital role of women in bearing future generations and thus providing a holistic foundation for the future twelve tribes of Israel, as later detailed in [Genesis 46:27](/genesis/46-27 "The Total Count of Jacob's Descendants in Egypt").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous preservation of Jacob's "seed" in Genesis 46:7 is profoundly Christ-centered, serving as a vital link in the unfolding story of redemption. This verse, by detailing the complete migration of the patriarchal family into Egypt, ensures the continuity of the specific lineage through which the promised Messiah would eventually come. Every son, grandson, daughter, and granddaughter mentioned contributes to the unbroken genealogical line that culminates in Jesus Christ, the ultimate "seed" of Abraham and Jacob ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - The Seed of Abraham is Christ")), through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed ([Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "Genesis 12:3 - Blessing All Nations")). God's sovereign preservation of this family in Egypt, despite famine and hardship, demonstrates His unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan, ensuring the advent of the Savior who would deliver humanity from sin. The detailed genealogies in the New Testament, such as [Matthew 1:1-17](/matthew/1-1-17 "Matthew 1:1-17 - Genealogy of Jesus Christ") and [Luke 3:23-38](/luke/3-23-38 "Luke 3:23-38 - Genealogy of Jesus Christ"), trace this very lineage back through Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham, underscoring that God's faithfulness in Genesis 46:7 directly paved the way for the incarnation of the Son of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.