King James Version

What Does Genesis 46:3 Mean?

Genesis 46:3 in the King James Version says “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 nati...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 46 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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:”

Genesis 46:3 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

1

And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

2

And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

3

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:

4

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.

5

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.

Read Genesis 46 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make ... 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 this passage point forward to Christ and the gospel of redemption?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר1 of 14

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אָֽנֹכִ֥י2 of 14
H595

i

הָאֵ֖ל3 of 14

“I am God”

H410

strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)

אֱלֹהֵ֣י4 of 14

“the God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אָבִ֑יךָ5 of 14

“of thy father”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

אַל6 of 14
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תִּירָא֙7 of 14

“fear”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

מֵֽרְדָ֣ה8 of 14

“not to go down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

מִצְרַ֔יְמָה9 of 14

“into Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

כִּֽי10 of 14
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

לְג֥וֹי11 of 14

“nation”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

גָּד֖וֹל12 of 14

“of thee a great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֥13 of 14

“for I will there make”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

שָֽׁם׃14 of 14
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

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 46:3 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 46:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 12:2Deuteronomy 26:5Acts 27:24Isaiah 43:1-2Genesis 26:2-3Isaiah 41:10

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Genesis 46 →

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