King James Version

What Does Genesis 47:9 Mean?

Genesis 47:9 in the King James Version says “And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have t...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 47 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.”

Genesis 47:9 · KJV

Context

7

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

8

And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? How: Heb. How many are the days of the years of thy life?

9

And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

10

And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

11

And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

Read Genesis 47 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years:... 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 deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?
  2. What specific changes in thinking or behavior does this verse call us to make?
  3. How does this passage point forward to Christ and the gospel of redemption?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר1 of 25

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יַֽעֲקֹב֙2 of 25

“And Jacob”

H3290

jaakob, the israelitish patriarch

אֶל3 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

פַּרְעֹ֔ה4 of 25

“unto Pharaoh”

H6547

paroh, a general title of egyptian kings

בִּימֵ֖י5 of 25

“The days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

שְׁנֵי֙6 of 25

“of the years”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

מְגֽוּרֵיהֶֽם׃7 of 25

“of my pilgrimage”

H4033

a temporary abode; by extension, a permanent residence

שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים8 of 25

“and thirty”

H7970

thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth

וּמְאַ֖ת9 of 25

“are an hundred”

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

שְׁנֵי֙10 of 25

“of the years”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

מְעַ֣ט11 of 25

“few”

H4592

a little or few (often adverbial or comparative)

וְרָעִ֗ים12 of 25

“and evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

הָיוּ֙13 of 25
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

בִּימֵ֖י14 of 25

“The days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

שְׁנֵי֙15 of 25

“of the years”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

חַיֵּ֣י16 of 25

“of my life”

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

וְלֹ֣א17 of 25
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

הִשִּׂ֗יגוּ18 of 25

“been and have not attained”

H5381

to reach (literally or figuratively)

אֶת19 of 25
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בִּימֵ֖י20 of 25

“The days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

שְׁנֵי֙21 of 25

“of the years”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

חַיֵּ֣י22 of 25

“of my life”

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

אֲבֹתַ֔י23 of 25

“of my fathers”

H1

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

בִּימֵ֖י24 of 25

“The days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

מְגֽוּרֵיהֶֽם׃25 of 25

“of my pilgrimage”

H4033

a temporary abode; by extension, a permanent residence

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 47:9 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 47:9 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 39:12Genesis 35:28Psalms 39:5Job 14:1Deuteronomy 34:7James 4:14

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