King James Version

What Does Genesis 46:31 Mean?

Genesis 46:31 in the King James Version says “And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My bre...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 46 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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;”

Genesis 46:31 · KJV

Context

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.

30

And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.

31

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;

32

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. their trade: Heb. they are men of cattle

33

And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?

Read Genesis 46 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and ... 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 this verse contribute to the biblical doctrine of creation, fall, or redemption?
  2. How does this passage challenge modern cultural assumptions about identity, purpose, or morality?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וְאֹֽמְרָ֣ה1 of 20

“and say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יוֹסֵ֤ף2 of 20

“And Joseph”

H3130

joseph, the name of seven israelites

אֶל3 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אַחַ֧י4 of 20

“unto him My brethren”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

וְאֶל5 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

וּבֵית6 of 20

“house”

H1004

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

אָבִ֛י7 of 20

“and my father's”

H1

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

אֶֽעֱלֶ֖ה8 of 20

“I will go up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

וְאַגִּ֣ידָה9 of 20

“and shew”

H5046

properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to

לְפַרְעֹ֑ה10 of 20

“Pharaoh”

H6547

paroh, a general title of egyptian kings

וְאֹֽמְרָ֣ה11 of 20

“and say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלָ֔יו12 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אַחַ֧י13 of 20

“unto him My brethren”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

וּבֵית14 of 20

“house”

H1004

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

אָבִ֛י15 of 20

“and my father's”

H1

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

אֲשֶׁ֥ר16 of 20
H834

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

בְּאֶֽרֶץ17 of 20

“which were in the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

כְּנַ֖עַן18 of 20

“of Canaan”

H3667

kenaan, a son a ham; also the country inhabited by him

בָּ֥אוּ19 of 20

“are come”

H935

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

אֵלָֽי׃20 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

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 46:31 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 46:31 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Hebrews 2:11Genesis 47:1-3Genesis 45:16-20Acts 18:3

Places in This Verse

CanaanRegion · Modern: Canaan · 32.77°N, 35.33°E101 verses across 16 books
View all places in Genesis 46 →

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