Exodus 1:5 kjv

And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

Exodus 1:5 nkjv

All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already).

Exodus 1:5 niv

The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.

Exodus 1:5 esv

All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.

Exodus 1:5 nlt

In all, Jacob had seventy descendants in Egypt, including Joseph, who was already there.

Exodus 1 verses

Exodus 1 5 Meaning

Exodus chapter 1 verse 5 states that the total number of individuals descended from Jacob, excluding his sons' wives but including Jacob himself, was seventy persons when they initially came into Egypt. The verse specifically notes that Joseph was already in Egypt, indicating his prior arrival and significant establishment which set the stage for his family's settlement. This establishes the initial small size of the Israelite family from whom a great nation would emerge, fulfilling God's ancient promises.

Exodus 1 5 Context

Exodus opens by bridging the narrative gap between the book of Genesis and the burgeoning Israelite nation in Egypt. Genesis concluded with the death of Joseph, Jacob, and the eleven brothers. Exodus begins approximately 400 years later (Acts 7:6). This verse serves as a crucial point of transition, detailing the precise (though numerically debated in antiquity, like the LXX's 75 vs. MT's 70) small group that first settled in Egypt under God's providential care. It emphasizes the foundational fact that the "great nation" God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob originated from this specific number of family members, setting the stage for the dramatic multiplication detailed in the subsequent verses and the divine purpose behind their descent into Egypt through Joseph.

Exodus 1 5 Word analysis

• All (כָל kōl): Signifies the totality or completeness of the number being presented. It leaves no room for others outside this specific count regarding Jacob's direct descendants who entered Egypt.
• descendants of Jacob (יֹצְאֵי יֶרֶךְ־יַעֲקֹב yotzeʾei yereḵ-yaʿăqōḇ): Literally "those who came out of the loins of Jacob." This is a Hebrew idiom denoting direct, biological offspring. It emphasizes lineage and the continuity of the covenant line from Jacob (Israel).
• were seventy (שִׁבְעִים šīḇʿîm): The number seventy holds significant biblical weight, often associated with completeness, wholeness, and foundational sets. Examples include the seventy nations in Gen 10, the seventy elders appointed by Moses (Num 11), and the seventy (or seventy-two) disciples sent out by Jesus (Lk 10). It underscores the precise and providential count.
• persons (נֶפֶשׁ nāp̄eš): Hebrew for 'soul,' 'life,' or 'person.' The repetition of this term (implicitly "seventy souls") emphasizes individual lives and sentient beings, not just a collective quantity. It signifies that each of these was a unique, living human being within Jacob's direct family.
• Joseph (יוֹסֵף Yōsēp̄): Jacob's son, whose story occupies a significant portion of Genesis. His specific mention here highlights his unique status and pre-existing establishment in Egypt. His earlier arrival was key to the family's survival and subsequent settlement in Goshen.
• was already in Egypt (הָיָה בְמִצְרָיִם hāyāh bəmitzrayim): This phrase provides crucial temporal context. It signifies that Joseph's position as second-in-command was well-established, paving the way for his family's arrival. This prior arrangement underscores God's sovereignty and providential planning, securing a place for His chosen people before their exodus.

• All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons: This phrase is a concise historical summation. It underlines the miraculously small start of the people who would become God's mighty nation. It implies the covenant line's continuation despite famine and displacement, moving according to God's will to a new land for a divine purpose.
• Joseph was already in Egypt: This emphasizes divine providence. Joseph's dramatic journey and rise to power, seemingly tragic at first, were orchestrated by God for the preservation of Jacob's family (Gen 45:7-8). His presence was not incidental but foundational to the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham.

Exodus 1 5 Bonus section

The discrepancy between the Masoretic Text's "seventy" (Ex 1:5; Gen 46:27; Deut 10:22) and Stephen's speech in Acts 7:14, which mentions "seventy-five," is often reconciled by recognizing that Stephen (and the Septuagint) included additional descendants or family members not counted in the Masoretic Text's stricter enumeration of those "coming out of Jacob's loins," possibly including some wives or children born to Joseph in Egypt. This minor numerical variation does not detract from the main point: a small family entered Egypt and grew into a massive nation through divine blessing and oversight, illustrating God's power to make a mighty nation from humble beginnings (Zech 4:10). The symbolic weight of '70' in biblical numerology frequently suggests completeness or universal representation, hinting at Israel's future role among the nations.

Exodus 1 5 Commentary

Exodus 1:5 acts as a pivotal summary, cementing the bridge between the patriarchal history of Genesis and the birth of a nation in Exodus. It succinctly outlines the size and status of Jacob's family upon their arrival in Egypt—a small group of seventy persons. The precise number underscores a divine meticulousness, framing what will soon become an exponentially increasing population as part of God's deliberate plan, rather than mere demographic accident. The specific mention of Joseph's prior presence is key, highlighting God's pre-arranged providential care through Joseph's earlier ordeal, securing their safe haven. This verse sets the foundational condition for the miraculous growth that defies oppressive conditions, revealing God's faithfulness to His covenant promises of a numerous offspring to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.