1 So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob. 3 “I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you back. And Joseph’s own hands will close your eyes.” 5 Then Jacob departed from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him, along with their children and wives. 6 They also took the livestock and possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt. 7 Jacob took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring. 8 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. 9 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah born to Jacob in Paddan-aram, in addition to his daughter Dinah. The total number of sons and daughters was thirty-three. 16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Jacob born to Zilpah—whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah—sixteen in all. 19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel born to Jacob—fourteen in all. 23 The son of Dan: Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Jacob born to Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel—seven in all. 26 All those belonging to Jacob who came to Egypt—his direct descendants, besides the wives of Jacob’s sons—numbered sixty-six persons. 27 And with the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family who went to Egypt were seventy in all. 28 Now Jacob had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When Jacob’s family arrived in the land of Goshen, 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and went there to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, embraced him, and wept profusely. 30 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Finally I can die, now that I have seen your face and know that you are still alive!” 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and inform Pharaoh: ‘My brothers and my father’s household from the land of Canaan have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds; they raise livestock, and they have brought their flocks and herds and all that they own.’ 33 When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you are to say, ‘Your servants have raised livestock ever since our youth—both we and our fathers.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”
Genesis · Majority Standard Bible
Genesis 46 Majority Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Ard
Listed among Benjamin's sons in Genesis 46, he is named a son of Bela in Numbers 26:40 and founded the Ardite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:40
Areli
Gad's seventh-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Arelite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:17
Arodi
Gad's sixth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household; Numbers 26:17 gives the name Arod and calls his clan the Arodites.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:17
Asenath
The Egyptian wife given to Joseph, mother of Ephraim and Manasseh.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 41:45-52; Genesis 46:20
Ashbel
Benjamin's third-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Ashbelite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:38; 1 Chronicles 8:1
Becher
Benjamin's second-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:21; 1 Chronicles 7:6
Bela
Benjamin's first-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Belaite clan; Numbers 26:40 names Ard and Naaman as his sons.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:38; Numbers 26:40
Beriah
Asher's fourth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household, founded the Beriite clan, and was the father of Heber and Malchiel.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:44–45; 1 Chronicles 7:30
Carmi
Reuben's fourth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Carmite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14; Numbers 26:6
Ehi
Benjamin's sixth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household; the clan list of Numbers 26:38 gives the name Ahiram in the same place and calls his clan the Ahiramites.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:38
Elon
Zebulun's second-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Elonite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:14; Numbers 26:26
Eri
Gad's fifth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Erite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:16
Ezbon
Gad's fourth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household; Numbers 26:16 gives the name Ozni in the same place and calls his clan the Oznites.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:16
Gera
Benjamin's fourth-listed son in Genesis 46, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:21
Gershon
A son of Levi whose clan was charged with carrying the tabernacle's curtains and coverings.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:11; Numbers 3:25-26
Guni
Naphtali's second-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Gunite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:24; Numbers 26:48; 1 Chronicles 7:13
Haggi
Gad's second-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Haggite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:15
Hamul
The second-listed son of Perez, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Hamulite clan of Judah.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:21; 1 Chronicles 2:5
Hanoch
Reuben's first-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Hanochite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14; Numbers 26:5
Heber
Beriah's first-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Heberite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:45; 1 Chronicles 7:31
Hezron
A son of Perez who carried Judah's royal line down into the years of Egypt.
Cited in the guide: Gen. 46:12; Ruth 4:18; 1 Chron. 2:5, 9; Matt. 1:3
Hezron
Reuben's third-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Hezronite clan of Reuben.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14; Numbers 26:6
Huppim
Benjamin's ninth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household; the clan list of Numbers 26:39 gives the name Hupham in the same place and calls his clan the Huphamites.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:39
Hushim
Dan's only named son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household; Numbers 26:42 gives the name Shuham in the same place and calls his clan the Shuhamites.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:23; Numbers 26:42
Imnah
Asher's first-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Imnite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:44; 1 Chronicles 7:30
Ishvah
Asher's second-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and is not named in the clan list of Numbers 26.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:17; 1 Chronicles 7:30
Ishvi
Asher's third-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Ishvite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:44; 1 Chronicles 7:30
Jachin
Simeon's fourth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Jachinite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15; Numbers 26:12
Jacob
He wrestled with God through the night and rose as Israel, father of twelve tribes.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 25–35; 46–49
Jahleel
Zebulun's third-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Jahleelite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:14; Numbers 26:26
Jahzeel
Naphtali's first-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Jahzeelite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:24; Numbers 26:48
Jamin
Simeon's second-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Jaminite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15; Numbers 26:12
Jemuel
Simeon's first-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household; Numbers 26:12 gives the name Nemuel in the same place and calls his clan the Nemuelites.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15; Numbers 26:12
Jezer
Naphtali's third-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Jezerite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:24; Numbers 26:49; 1 Chronicles 7:13
Joseph
Betrayed and enslaved, he rose to rule Egypt and saved his family from famine.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 37; 39–50
Kohath
A son of Levi whose clan would carry the holiest things of the tabernacle.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16–18; Numbers 4:1–20
Malchiel
Beriah's second-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Malchielite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:45; 1 Chronicles 7:31
Merari
A son of Levi whose clan carried the tabernacle's frames, bars, pillars, and bases.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:11; Numbers 3:36-37
Muppim
Benjamin's eighth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household; the clan list of Numbers 26:39 gives the name Shupham in the same place and calls his clan the Shuphamites.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:39
Naaman
Listed among Benjamin's sons in Genesis 46, he is named a son of Bela in Numbers 26:40 and founded the Naamite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:40; 1 Chronicles 8:4
Ohad
Simeon's third-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and is not named in the clan list of Numbers 26.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15
Pallu
Reuben's second-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household, founded the Palluite clan, and was the father of Eliab.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14; Numbers 26:5
Potiphera
Priest of On whose daughter Asenath Pharaoh gave to Joseph as his wife.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 41:45; Genesis 41:50; Genesis 46:20
Puvah
Issachar's second-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Punite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:13; Numbers 26:23; 1 Chronicles 7:1
Rosh
Benjamin's seventh-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:21
Serah
Asher's daughter, the only sister named among the sons of Asher who went to Egypt with Jacob's household.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:46; 1 Chronicles 7:30
Sered
Zebulun's first-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Seredite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:14; Numbers 26:26
Shaul
Simeon's son by a Canaanite woman, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Shaulite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15; Numbers 26:13
Shillem
Naphtali's fourth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Shillemite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:24; Numbers 26:49
Shimron
Issachar's fourth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Shimronite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:13; Numbers 26:24; 1 Chronicles 7:1
Shuni
Gad's third-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Shunite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:15
Tola
Issachar's first-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household and founded the Tolaite clan.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:13; Numbers 26:23; 1 Chronicles 7:1
Ziphion
Gad's first-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household; Numbers 26:15 gives the name Zephon in the same place and calls his clan the Zephonites.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:15
Zohar
Simeon's fifth-listed son, who went to Egypt with Jacob's household; the clan list of Numbers 26:13 gives the name Zerah in the same place.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15; Numbers 26:13
Cross references (31)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Genesis 31:42; Genesis 28:10; Genesis 21:33; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 26:22–25
- 2 Genesis 15:1; Job 33:14–15; Numbers 24:4; Acts 9:4; 1 Samuel 3:10
- 3 Genesis 12:2; Deuteronomy 26:5; Acts 27:24; Isaiah 43:1–2; Genesis 35:11
- 4 Exodus 3:8; Genesis 28:15; Genesis 48:21; Genesis 50:1; Genesis 15:14–16
- 5 Genesis 45:19; Genesis 45:21; Genesis 45:27; Genesis 31:17–18; Exodus 10:24
- 6 Acts 7:15; Isaiah 52:4; Psalm 105:23; Joshua 24:4; Deuteronomy 26:5
- 8 1 Chronicles 2:1–55; Exodus 1:1–5; Deuteronomy 33:6; Numbers 2:10–13; Numbers 1:5
- 10 Exodus 6:15; Genesis 29:33; Numbers 1:6; 1 Chronicles 2:1; Numbers 26:12–13
- 11 Genesis 29:34; Numbers 3:17–22; 1 Chronicles 2:1; Exodus 6:16; 1 Chronicles 6:16
- 12 1 Chronicles 4:21; Genesis 38:10; Genesis 29:35; Genesis 38:7; Genesis 49:8–12
- 13 1 Chronicles 12:32; Numbers 1:8; Genesis 35:23; Deuteronomy 33:18; 1 Chronicles 2:1
- 14 Genesis 49:13; Deuteronomy 33:18–19; 1 Chronicles 2:1; Numbers 1:30–31; Numbers 1:9
- 15 Genesis 29:32–35; Genesis 30:17–21; 1 Chronicles 2:1; Genesis 25:20; Genesis 35:23
- 16 Numbers 26:15–17; Genesis 30:11; 1 Chronicles 5:11–16; Numbers 1:24–25; Genesis 49:19
- 17 Genesis 30:13; Genesis 49:20; 1 Chronicles 2:2; Genesis 35:26; Numbers 1:40–41
- 18 Genesis 29:24; Genesis 30:9–13; Exodus 1:4; Genesis 35:26
- 19 Genesis 44:27; Exodus 1:5; Numbers 1:36–37; Genesis 39:1–40:23; Numbers 26:38–41
- 20 Genesis 41:50–52; Genesis 41:45; Deuteronomy 33:13–17; 1 Chronicles 7:14–29; Numbers 1:32–35
- 21 1 Chronicles 7:6–12; Numbers 1:11; Numbers 1:36–37; Genesis 49:27; Deuteronomy 33:12
- 23 Numbers 10:25; Genesis 35:25; Deuteronomy 33:22; 1 Chronicles 2:2; Genesis 30:6
- 24 1 Chronicles 7:13; 2 Kings 15:29; Numbers 1:15; 1 Chronicles 12:34; Numbers 26:48–50
- 25 Genesis 29:29; Genesis 35:22; Exodus 1:2; Genesis 35:25; Genesis 30:3–8
- 26 Exodus 1:5; Judges 8:30; Genesis 35:11
- 27 Deuteronomy 10:22; Acts 7:14; Exodus 1:5; Exodus 24:1
- 28 Genesis 45:10; Genesis 31:21; Genesis 44:16–34; Genesis 49:8; Genesis 46:34–47:1
- 29 Luke 15:20; Genesis 33:4; Genesis 45:14–15; Acts 20:37; Genesis 41:43
- 30 Luke 2:29–30; Genesis 45:28
- 31 Hebrews 2:11; Acts 18:3; Genesis 45:16–20; Genesis 47:1–3
- 32 Genesis 47:3; Exodus 3:1; Isaiah 40:11; Psalm 78:70–72; Genesis 4:2
- 33 Genesis 46:32; Jonah 1:8; Genesis 47:2–4
- 34 Exodus 8:26; Genesis 43:32; Genesis 46:32; Genesis 37:12; Genesis 45:10
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
In the same way it is nothing else than men that are meant either in the words, "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified;" or in the words, "Seventy-five souls went down into Egypt with Jacob." In the one passage, "no flesh" signifies "no man;" and in the other, by "seventy-five souls" seventy-five men are …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… that is "lovingly;" and as Jacob, when he had found Joseph, fell upon his neck; as also in the Gospels, the loving father, on seeing his son who had returned from his wandering, had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
But if the Evangelist said that the Word was made flesh, note that in the Holy Scripture sometimes a man is spoken of as a soul, as, for example, with seventy-five souls came Jacob into Egypt: and sometimes a man is spoken of as flesh, as, for example, All flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 9 (1899)
… Shuthelah, grandson of Joseph, and Shuthelah's son Ezer, grandson of Ephraim, and great-grand-son of Joseph, who could not possibly be in existence when Jacob came into Egypt, and there found his grandsons, the sons of Joseph, their grandsires, still boys under nine years of age. But doubtless, when the Scripture mentions Jacob's entrance into Egypt with seventy-five souls, it does …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
But those who diligently look into these things will the less easily be mistaken, because it is written, "These are the names of the sons of Israel who entered into Egypt along with Jacob their father." For this means that the seventy-five are reckoned along with him, not that they were all with him when he entered Egypt; for, as …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)