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When Critics Ask (1960)

Genesis 46:4

Did God bring Jacob out of Egypt or did he die there?

PROBLEM: In this verse, God promised Jacob, “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again.” However, Jacob died in Egypt (Genesis 49:33) and never returned to the Land of Promise.

SOLUTION: This promise was fulfilled to Jacob in several ways, any one of which would explain the difficulty. First, it was a promise to Jacob’s posterity who were brought back out of Egypt. This is indicated by the statement, “I will make of you a great nation” (v. 3). Second, Jacob was probably brought back from Egypt along with Joseph, though not alive (Genesis 50:25; Exodus 13:19). Finally, after the resurrection Jacob will return to the Land alive (cf. Matthew 8:11).

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See also Genesis 46:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob Goes Down to Egypt 9. פלוּא _pallû'_, Pallu, “distinguished.” חצרן _chetsrôn_, Chetsron, of the “court,” or “village.” כרמי _karmı̂y_, Karmi, “vine-dresser.” 10. ימוּאל _y__e__mû'êl_, Jem...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 46 JACOB GOES DOWN TO EGYPT _ 1. Israel's departure and the vision (Genesis 46:1)_ 2. The journey and the arrival in Egypt (Genesis 46:5) 3. The offspring of the sons of Jacob (Genesis 46:8...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 46:1 TO GENESIS 47:12. JACOB AND HIS DESCENDANTS GO DOWN INTO EGYPT AND SETTLE IN GOSHEN. The list in Genesis 46:8 with the introductory verses...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Jacob at Beer-sheba 1. _Beer-sheba_ Cf. Genesis 21:31; Genesis 21:33; Genesis 26:33; Genesis 28:10. Jacob, in...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I will go down_ The promise of the Divine presence is the assurance of safety and blessing. God is no mere local god of Canaan. He will be with His people, where they are; whether in Mesopotamia (Gen...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    I WILL GO DOWN WITH THEE INTO AEGYPT— Those who go where God sends them, shall certainly have God with them. _And I will also surely bring thee up again._—Whatever low and darksome valley we are calle...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    3. _Joseph as Prime Minister of Egypt_ (Genesis 41:46 to Genesis 47:31) 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh,...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ I will ... surely bring thee up again. Since Jacob could not expect t...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE DESCENT OF JACOB INTO EGYPT. THE GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF THE ISRAELITES 1-4. On reaching Beersheba, the southern boundary of the Promised Land, Jacob offers sacrifices to God. In return God assures...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PUT HIS HAND UPON THINE EYES] i.e. close them in death....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ‘I will bring you back again.’ The word ‘you’ does not mean Jacob himself. It means the nation that Jacob would become. So it means Jacob’s *descendants. Jacob himself would not return. But when he wa...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 46 JACOB TRAVELS TO EGYPT V1 So Israel set out on his journey and he took all his possessions with him. He came to Beer-sheba. And there he gave...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    JOSEPH SHALL PUT HIS HAND UPON THINE EYES. — Both among the Jews and Greeks it was the duty of those nearest in blood to close the eyes of a deceased relative. The promise conveyed the assurance that...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אָנֹכִ֗י אֵרֵ֤ד עִמְּךָ֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה וְ אָנֹכִ֖י...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB AND HIS FAMILY GO TO EGYPT Genesis 46:1 Evidently Joseph's invitation to his father to come to him in Egypt aroused very earnest questionings in Jacob's soul. Was it a wise step for him to take...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This chapter should be read in the light of the whole divine movement we are attempting to keep in mind. The migration of Jacob and his sons to Egypt is here distinctly shown to be a part of God's pro...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    A JOURNEY TOWARD REUNION Jacob had believed a lie so long that he could not accept the truth. It took hearing his sons repeat Joseph's words and seeing the carts he sent to convince him. Then, he said...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    I will (b) go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely (c) bring thee up [again]: and Joseph shall (d) put his hand upon thine eyes. (b) Conducting you by my power. (c) In your posterity....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Thence; in thy posterity. Septuagint add at last, or after a long time. Jacob's bones were brought back and buried in Chanaan. (Calmet) --- Eyes, as he is the most dear to thee. Parents closed the ey...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    May we not spiritualize this as a New Testament promise? Doth not JESUS indeed say, fear not to go down into the grave, I will be with thee' see Matthew 22:31; Romans 14:7; Isaiah 43:2;...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _FATHER AND SON_ ‘Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.’ Genesis 46:4 I. ‘PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS.’ Nothing in by-gone years would have given Jacob more pl...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    4._And Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes_. This clause was added for the sake of showing greater indulgence. For though Jacob, in desiring that, when he died, his eyes should be closed by the...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 42 THROUGH 47. At the same time another scene presents itself. His brethren, who had rejected him, forced by famine, are brought, by the path of repentance an...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I WILL GO DOWN WITH THEE INTO EGYPT,.... Which was enough to silence all his fears; for if the presence of God went with him to protect and defend hide, to bless and prosper him, and to direct, suppor...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 4. _I will go down with thee._] That was as good security as cou...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _I will go down with thee into Egypt_ Those that go where God sends them shall certainly have God with them. _And I will surely bring thee up again_ Though Jacob died in Egypt, yet this promise was fu...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacob is comforted by God at Beersheba. 5 Thence hee with his company goeth into Egypt. 8 The number of his family that went into Egypt. 28 Ioseph meeteth Iacob. 31 Hee instructeth his brethren...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I will go down with thee in to Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again. His protection would attend their removal, their stay, and the eventual return of the children of Israel. This promise...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Journey over Beersheba to Egypt...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    EIGHTH SECTION _Israel’s emigration with his family to Egypt. The settlement in the land of Goshen. Jacob and Pharaoh. Joseph’s political Economy. Jacob’s charge concerning his burial at Canaan._ GE...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB AND HIS FAMILY MOVE TO EGYPT (vs.1-27) Nothing is said of the great amount of preparation they must make for their journey, but Jacob is said to take the journey with all that he had, which of...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-4 Even as to those events and undertakings which appear most joyful, we should seek counsel, assistance, and a blessing from the Lord. Attending on his ordinances, and receiving the pledges of his c...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I WILL BRING THEE UP AGAIN, though not in thy person, yet in thy body, GENESIS 47:29,30 GENESIS 50:5,13; and in thy posterity, which are a part of thyself, or thyself multiplied. JOSEPH SHALL PUT HIS...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    On which we shall dwell more particularly. There is not in scripture a more perfect and beautiful type of Christ than Joseph. Whether we view Christ as the object of the Father's love, the object of t...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 46:4 down H3381 (H8799) Egypt H4714 surely H5927 (H8800) up H5927 (H8686) Joseph H3130 put...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB GOES TO EGYPT (GENESIS 46:1) Genesis 46:1 ‘And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.' It is probable, alth...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob's journey to Egypt and meeting with Joseph. CHARACTERS: Jacob, Joseph, brothers, their families, Pharaoh. CONCLUSION: A glorious meeting day is coming after the trials and mistakes o...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 46:2. _In the visions of the night._ It was a practice of the ancient Romans to undertake nothing of importance without consulting the gods, a practice derived no doubt from the holy patriarch...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And He said, I am God, the God of thy father, fear not to go down into Egypt_ DIVINE ASSURANCE VOUCHSAFED TO JACOB Not the invitation of Pharaoh, not the urgent message of Joseph, not even the warm...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Israel took his Journey with all that he had_ ISRAEL’S JOURNEY INTO EGYPT I. A JOURNEY WHICH THE PATRIARCH HAD NEVER EXPECTED TO TAKE, AND WHICH WAS FRAUGHT WITH CONSEQUENCES WHICH HE HAD NEVER...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 46:2 Before Jacob leaves for Egypt, God speaks to him in a vision at NIGHT (v. Genesis 46:2). Previously, God had forbidden Isaac to go to Egyp

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 46:1 Jacob brings his family to Egypt. Verses Genesis 46:1 describe the journey to Egypt. Verses G

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 46:1. Beersheba.] This was the frontier town, where Abraham and Isaac had acknowledged God (Genesis 21:33; Genesis 26:24)....

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 46:1 AND ISRAEL (as the head of the theocratic family) TOOK HIS JOURNEY—_literally, broke up, _sc. his encampment (cf. Genesis 12:9)—WITH ALL THAT HE HAD, AND CAME—from Hebron ...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    will go. Genesis 28:15 Genesis 48:21 Isaiah 43:1 Isaiah 43:2 and I will....

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    I will go down with thee into Egypt — Those that go where God sends them shall certainly have God with them. And I will surely bring thee up again — Tho' Jacob died in Egypt, yet this promise was fulf...

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