Genesis Chapter 46
Showing all 34 verses for Genesis Chapter 46.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. "
"Israel set out on his journey with everything he owned, and travelled to Beersheba, where he offered sacrifices to the God his father Isaac had worshipped."
Jacob pauses his journey to offer sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac at Beersheba. Before a major, life-changing move, it's worth pausing deliberately to seek God's presence rather than simply pressing forward on momentum alone.
"And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. "
"God spoke to Israel in a vision during the night, calling out, 'Jacob, Jacob.' And he answered, 'Here I am.'"
God calls to Jacob by name in a night vision, and Jacob answers, 'Here am I.' A simple, ready willingness to listen when God calls, even in an unexpected moment, opens the door to guidance you couldn't have found on your own.
"And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: "
"God said, 'I am God, the God of your father. Don't be afraid to go down to Egypt, because I will make you into a great nation there.'"
God tells Jacob not to fear going to Egypt, promising to make him into a great nation there. A season that looks like leaving everything familiar behind can actually be the very place God intends to grow something far bigger than what you're leaving.
"I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. "
"'I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will certainly bring you back up again. And Joseph will close your eyes when you die.'"
God promises to go down with Jacob into Egypt and to bring him up again, with Joseph's hand upon his eyes. Trust that God's presence travels with you into unfamiliar territory, and that even the ending of a difficult story can be gentle and full of love.
"And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. "
"Jacob got up and left Beersheba, and Israel's sons carried their father, their children, and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had sent for them."
Jacob's sons carry their father, the children, and the wives in the waggons Pharaoh sent. Allowing others to carry and support you, especially in old age or hardship, is not a loss of dignity but a natural part of loving family.
"And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: "
"They took their livestock and the possessions they had built up in Canaan, and came into Egypt — Jacob and all his descendants with him."
The family takes their cattle and every good thing they had gathered in Canaan as they head to Egypt. A major transition doesn't have to mean abandoning everything built before; wisdom often means carrying forward what's genuinely worth keeping.
"His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. "
"His sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters — all his descendants — he brought with him into Egypt."
Sons, grandsons, daughters and granddaughters all make the journey together. A family's strength is measured not just by its most prominent members but by how fully it holds and carries everyone, young and old, through a shared transition.
"And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. "
"These are the names of Jacob's family who came into Egypt — Jacob and his sons, starting with Reuben, Jacob's firstborn."
The list of names begins with Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. Being named and remembered individually, even within a very long list, reflects how much each person genuinely matters within the larger family story.
"And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi. "
"The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Phallu, Hezron, and Carmi."
Reuben's sons are listed: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. Every generation builds on the one before it; the ordinary act of raising children and passing on a name is itself a quiet, faithful contribution to a much longer story.
"And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman. "
"The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, whose mother was a Canaanite woman."
Simeon's sons are listed, including one born to a Canaanite mother. A family's story often includes people from different backgrounds woven together; that mix is not a flaw in the story but frequently part of its richness.
"And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. "
"The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."
Levi's three sons are named: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. A small, unassuming entry in a family record can carry an enormous future significance not yet visible to the person living it; trust that ordinary faithfulness can matter far beyond its moment.
"And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. "
"The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Pharez, and Zarah — but Er and Onan had died in Canaan. Pharez's sons were Hezron and Hamul."
Judah's line is recorded, including the deaths of Er and Onan and the sons of Pharez. A family's history holds both loss and continuation together; grief over what didn't survive doesn't erase the hope carried forward by what did.
"And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron. "
"The sons of Issachar were Tola, Phuvah, Job, and Shimron."
Issachar's four sons are listed: Tola, Phuvah, Job, and Shimron. Even the quietest, least-detailed names in a long record are still part of a story of real lives, real hopes, and a family genuinely increasing as promised.
"And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel. "
"The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel."
Zebulun's three sons are named: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. Consistency across generation after generation, even in the plainest of records, reflects the steady unfolding of a promise made long before any of these children were born.
"These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three. "
"These were the sons Leah bore to Jacob in Padan-aram, along with his daughter Dinah — all his children by Leah numbered thirty-three."
Leah's children are totalled at thirty-three, including her daughter Dinah. A full accounting of a life, its joys and its hardships together, deserves to be honoured rather than reduced to only its most dramatic chapters.
"And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. "
"The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli."
Gad's seven sons are listed in turn. Even a family built through complicated circumstances, servants and secondary wives among them, is still fully embraced and fully counted as belonging.
"And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel. "
"The sons of Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and their sister Serah; the sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel."
Asher's children are named, including his daughter Serah. Notice how, every so often, a daughter is named directly within a long list of sons; those quieter inclusions matter and are worth honouring, not overlooking.
"These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls. "
"These were the descendants of Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah — sixteen people in all that she bore to Jacob."
Zilpah's descendants total sixteen souls. However someone entered a family, whether by birth, circumstance, or service, love and belonging can still be extended fully and without reservation.
"The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife; Joseph, and Benjamin. "
"The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife, were Joseph and Benjamin."
Rachel's sons are named simply: Joseph and Benjamin. Even a shorter list can carry the deepest love; the length of an entry says nothing about the depth of the relationship behind it.
"And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. "
"In Egypt, Joseph became the father of Manasseh and Ephraim, born to him by Asenath, daughter of Potipherah, priest of On."
Joseph's sons Manasseh and Ephraim, born in Egypt to Asenath, are recorded. Building a genuine new life and family in an unfamiliar land doesn't sever you from where you came from; both can be held together with integrity.
"And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard. "
"The sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard."
Benjamin's many sons are listed by name. A late, deeply loved child can still go on to build an equally full and flourishing life of his own; being cherished doesn't limit what someone becomes.
"These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen. "
"These were the descendants born to Jacob through Rachel — fourteen people in total."
Rachel's total is given as fourteen souls. A beloved life, even one that ended too soon, can still leave behind a legacy that continues to grow and multiply long after it's gone.
"And the sons of Dan; Hushim. "
"The son of Dan was Hushim."
Dan's one son, Hushim, is recorded. A short entry is still a complete and valued one; worth was never measured by the length of the list beside a name.
"And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem. "
"The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem."
Naphtali's four sons are named: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. The steady, patient work of recording every family member reflects a God who forgets no one and keeps count of every life with care.
"These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven. "
"These were the descendants of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel — she bore seven people in all to Jacob."
Bilhah's descendants total seven souls. Every branch of a complicated family tree, however it came to be, is still counted, named, and valued as genuinely belonging.
"All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were threescore and six; "
"All the direct descendants who came with Jacob into Egypt — not counting his sons' wives — numbered sixty-six in total."
The direct descendants who came with Jacob, not counting the sons' wives, number sixty-six. A precise, honest accounting of who you are and who is with you reflects real care for the fullness of the story, not just its highlights.
"And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten. "
"Including Joseph's two sons born in Egypt, the whole household of Jacob that came into Egypt numbered seventy people."
With Joseph's two sons already in Egypt, the total household of Jacob comes to seventy. A promise made decades earlier, that Jacob's family would multiply, is quietly and faithfully fulfilled in the plain arithmetic of a family list.
"And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. "
"Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to get directions to Goshen, and so they arrived in the land of Goshen."
Jacob sends Judah ahead to Joseph to prepare the way to Goshen. Wise, practical preparation, sending someone trusted ahead to smooth the path, reflects real care for the family following behind.
"And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. "
"Joseph had his chariot made ready and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. When he saw him, he threw his arms around his neck and wept there for a long time."
Joseph rushes to meet his father, falls on his neck, and weeps a long while. However powerful or important you become, deep, unashamed love for your family is worth expressing fully and openly when the moment finally comes.
"And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. "
"Israel said to Joseph, 'Now I can die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.'"
Jacob says he can now die in peace, having seen Joseph's face and known he is alive. A single, deeply longed-for reunion can bring genuine closure and peace to even the heaviest grief carried for decades.
"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; "
"Joseph said to his brothers and his father's household, 'I will go and tell Pharaoh, "My brothers and my father's household, who lived in Canaan, have come to me."'"
Joseph plans to tell Pharaoh plainly that his family has arrived from Canaan. Honest, direct communication with those in authority over your circumstances is the foundation for building a secure and trustworthy future.
"And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. "
"'These men are shepherds — their work has always been raising livestock, and they've brought their flocks, herds, and everything they own.'"
Joseph notes that his family are shepherds who have brought their flocks and all they own. Being honest about your identity and way of life, rather than disguising it to fit in, is worth doing even when it might set you apart from others.
"And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? "
"'So when Pharaoh sends for you and asks, "What is your occupation?"'"
Joseph anticipates Pharaoh's question about their occupation. Thoughtful preparation for a difficult or important conversation helps everyone involved respond with clarity and confidence rather than confusion.
"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. "
"'you should say, "Your servants have raised livestock from our youth until now, just as our fathers did" — so that you may live in the land of Goshen, since shepherds are looked down on by the Egyptians.'"
Joseph advises his family to openly name themselves as shepherds, even though it is looked down upon by Egyptians, trusting it will secure them their own land in Goshen. Sometimes owning an identity others look down on, rather than hiding it, is exactly what secures you the good and distinct place God intends for you.