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Genesis 46:1–7, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
Genesis 46:1–7
God Reassures Jacob Before Egypt
Fear not to go down to Egypt
Israel comes to Beersheba and offers sacrifices. God calls Jacob by name, tells him not to fear Egypt, and promises nationhood there, accompanying presence, a bringing up again, and Joseph's hand at Jacob's death.
The household then carries the father, children, wives, livestock, and possessions into Egypt. Family invitation and royal wagons were not enough. The descent must be related to the promise. 'Fear not' does not shame every anxious feeling.
How this should shape us
Bring major transitions before God without treating desire, invitation, or material opportunity as automatic authorization. Acknowledge fear, name the relevant promise and risk, and support vulnerable members without erasing their agency.
Teach it back
Explain why Genesis 46:1–7 places worship and divine reassurance between Jacob's decision and the household's arrival in Egypt. Include Beersheba and Isaac, Jacob's fear, the great nation 'there,' God's accompanying presence, the personal-and-corporate return promise, Joseph closing Jacob's eyes, the wagons and possessions, the whole household, and what this passage does not authorize about offerings, fear, nationalism, forced relocation, or guaranteed return.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Research trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: Displayed text, patriarchal and Beersheba links, Egypt contrast, promises, migration, burial, multiplication, oppression, and Exodus return.
Genesis 46:1–7 with 12:10–20; 15:13–16; 21:33; 26:1–5, 23–25; 28:10–15; 45:16–28; 46:8–27; 49:29–50:14; Exodus 1:1–14; and 12:31–42 in the pinned standardized 1769 KJV
Supports: Exact Hebrew forms, singular address, verbal emphasis, transport, possessions, descendant, and gender wording.
WLC Genesis 46:1–7, especially bemar'ot hallaylah in v. 2, al-tira and sham in v. 3, the emphatic descent-and-ascent wording and eye idiom in v. 4, and household terms in vv. 5–7
Supports: Translation, idiom, and household-scope cross-checks with explicit uncertainty.
NET Genesis 46 notes for vv. 1–7, especially Beersheba, fear, nationhood, return, eye-closing, household, and daughters language
Supports: Final-form movement from Jacob's decision through divine reassurance, migration, genealogy, reunion, and settlement.
Genesis commentary, Genesis 46:1–47:12 discussion
Supports: Modern literary-critical counterpoint for migration, family preservation, national origin, and the transition to Exodus.
Genesis 37–50 Joseph study guide, especially Israel's transition to Egypt and the Joseph narrative's bridge to Exodus
Supports: Thought-unit boundary, internal structure, patriarchal links, promise sequence, and comprehensive migration emphasis.
Genesis 46:1–27 study guide, pp. 1–3, especially 46:1–7 outline, Beersheba and Isaac comparisons, four promises, wagons, possessions, and household questions
Supports: Singular second-person grammar, accompanying-presence sense, corporate-return interpretation, and eye-closing idiom.
A Handbook on Genesis, public translation-commentary excerpt on Genesis 46:4, page paragraphs 1–5
Supports: Classical Jewish reception of personal burial and Joseph's final act of care.
Genesis 46:4 commentary page, especially Rashi on burial in the land and Ibn Ezra on closing the eyes at death
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed text, patriarchal and Beersheba links, Egypt contrast, promises, migration, burial, multiplication, oppression, and Exodus return.
Exact location: Genesis 46:1–7 with 12:10–20; 15:13–16; 21:33; 26:1–5, 23–25; 28:10–15; 45:16–28; 46:8–27; 49:29–50:14; Exodus 1:1–14; and 12:31–42 in the pinned standardized 1769 KJV
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Exact Hebrew forms, singular address, verbal emphasis, transport, possessions, descendant, and gender wording.
Exact location: WLC Genesis 46:1–7, especially bemar'ot hallaylah in v. 2, al-tira and sham in v. 3, the emphatic descent-and-ascent wording and eye idiom in v. 4, and household terms in vv. 5–7
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Translation, idiom, and household-scope cross-checks with explicit uncertainty.
Exact location: NET Genesis 46 notes for vv. 1–7, especially Beersheba, fear, nationhood, return, eye-closing, household, and daughters language
Open NET Genesis 46 ↗modern open whole book commentary
Genesis
T. Desmond Alexander
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: Final-form movement from Jacob's decision through divine reassurance, migration, genealogy, reunion, and settlement.
Exact location: Genesis commentary, Genesis 46:1–47:12 discussion
Open source ↗modern critical open study guide
Genesis 37–50: Joseph — Study Guide
Joel S. Baden and Yale Bible Study
Yale Divinity School, 2021 course; page inspected 2026
Supports: Modern literary-critical counterpoint for migration, family preservation, national origin, and the transition to Exodus.
Exact location: Genesis 37–50 Joseph study guide, especially Israel's transition to Egypt and the Joseph narrative's bridge to Exodus
Open source ↗modern open inductive Hebrew and literary study guide
Study: The Joseph Story — Genesis 46:1–27: Jacob Arrives in Egypt
Phillip S. Marshall
BiblicalLanguages.net, 2020
Supports: Thought-unit boundary, internal structure, patriarchal links, promise sequence, and comprehensive migration emphasis.
Exact location: Genesis 46:1–27 study guide, pp. 1–3, especially 46:1–7 outline, Beersheba and Isaac comparisons, four promises, wagons, possessions, and household questions
Open source ↗scholarly Bible translation handbook excerpt
A Handbook on Genesis — Translation Commentary on Genesis 46:4
William D. Reyburn and Euan McG. Fry
United Bible Societies; public excerpt hosted by TIPs, 1997; digital excerpt inspected 2026
Supports: Singular second-person grammar, accompanying-presence sense, corporate-return interpretation, and eye-closing idiom.
Exact location: A Handbook on Genesis, public translation-commentary excerpt on Genesis 46:4, page paragraphs 1–5
Open source ↗classical Jewish reception digital source
Genesis 46:4 with Classical Jewish Commentary
Sefaria Library digital editions of Rashi, Ibn Ezra, and related commentators
Sefaria, Classical works; digital page inspected 2026
Supports: Classical Jewish reception of personal burial and Joseph's final act of care.
Exact location: Genesis 46:4 commentary page, especially Rashi on burial in the land and Ibn Ezra on closing the eyes at death
Open source ↗