King James Version
What Does Exodus 1:5 Mean?
“And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. loins: Heb. thigh”
Context
3
Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
5
And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. loins: Heb. thigh
6
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
7
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(5) **All the souls . . .** were seventy souls. Comp. Genesis 46:8-27. The number is made up as follows:—Jacob himself, 1; his sons, 12; his daughter, Dinah, 1; his grandsons, 51; his grand-daughter Serah, 1; his great-grandsons, 4—Total, 70. His daughters, except Dinah, and his sons’ daughters, except Serah, spoken of in Genesis 46:7, are not included. If his female descendants were, at the time of his descent into Egypt, as numerous as the males, the entire number of those who “came out of his loins” must have been 132. To form a calculation of the number of persons who entered Egypt with him, we must add the wives of his sons and grandsons, and the husbands of his daughters and granddaughters. A further liberal allowance must be also made for retainers. (See the comment on Exodus 1:1.) It is not perhaps surprising that Kurtz, taking all these classes into account, should calculate that those who entered Egypt with Jacob amounted to “several thousands” (*History of The Old Covenant, *vol. ii. p. 149, E.T.).
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Exodus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Exodus 1:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Exodus 1:5
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge