King James Version

What Does Genesis 46:27 Mean?

Genesis 46:27 in the King James Version says “And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came in... — study this verse from Genesis chapter 46 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Genesis 46:27 · KJV


Context

25

These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven.

26

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; loins: Heb. thigh

27

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.

28

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

29

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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of ... This passage is part of the Joseph narrative, a masterfully crafted account demonstrating God's sovereign providence working through human choices and circumstances to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The Joseph cycle shows how God transforms evil intentions into instruments of salvation.

Central themes include divine providence orchestrating events toward redemptive ends, the testing and refinement of character through suffering and success, forgiveness overcoming betrayal and injustice, and the preservation of God's covenant people through famine. Joseph's rise from slavery to second-in-command of Egypt illustrates how God exalts the humble and uses seeming disasters for ultimate good.

Theologically, these chapters reveal: (1) God's meticulous sovereignty over all events, even evil human actions; (2) suffering as preparation for future service rather than punishment; (3) forgiveness as reflecting divine character and enabling reconciliation; (4) God's covenant faithfulness across generations ensuring the survival and blessing of His people; (5) how present suffering gains meaning when viewed from the perspective of God's larger purposes. Joseph's words "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (50:20) epitomize biblical theodicy and providence.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding this verse shape our doctrine of humanity, sin, or salvation?
  2. How does this passage challenge modern cultural assumptions about identity, purpose, or morality?
  3. How does understanding Christ as the ultimate fulfillment illuminate this passage's meaning?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
וּבְנֵ֥י1 of 15

And the sons

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יוֹסֵ֛ף2 of 15

of Joseph

H3130

joseph, the name of seven israelites

אֲשֶׁר3 of 15
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יֻלַּד4 of 15

which were born

H3205

to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage

ל֥וֹ5 of 15
H0
מִצְרַ֖יְמָה6 of 15

him in Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

הַנֶּ֧פֶשׁ7 of 15

all the souls

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

שְׁנָ֑יִם8 of 15

were two

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

כָּל9 of 15
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַנֶּ֧פֶשׁ10 of 15

all the souls

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

לְבֵֽית11 of 15

of the house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יַעֲקֹ֛ב12 of 15

of Jacob

H3290

jaakob, the israelitish patriarch

הַבָּ֥אָה13 of 15

which came

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

מִצְרַ֖יְמָה14 of 15

him in Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

שִׁבְעִֽים׃15 of 15

were threescore and ten

H7657

seventy


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 46:27 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 Genesis 46:27 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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