Exodus 1:6 kjv

And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

Exodus 1:6 nkjv

And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation.

Exodus 1:6 niv

Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,

Exodus 1:6 esv

Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.

Exodus 1:6 nlt

In time, Joseph and all of his brothers died, ending that entire generation.

Exodus 1 verses

Exodus 1 6 Meaning

Exodus 1:6 signifies the passing of a foundational era in the history of God's chosen people. It marks the natural conclusion of the generation that entered Egypt with Jacob, specifically noting the death of Joseph, his brothers, and all their contemporaries. This verse acts as a crucial transition point, closing the patriarchal narratives of Genesis and setting the stage for the dramatic unfolding of the Egyptian bondage and subsequent redemption recounted in the Book of Exodus. It underscores the temporal nature of human life and leadership, highlighting that even great figures like Joseph, whom God used powerfully, are mortal.

Exodus 1 6 Context

Exodus 1:6 serves as a pivot, transitioning from the familial narratives of Genesis (Gen 1:1-5 lists Jacob's descendants who came to Egypt) to the burgeoning nation of Israel facing oppression in Egypt. The preceding verses remind the audience of Jacob's immediate family—the seventy souls who inaugurated their stay in Egypt—while the subsequent verse (Ex 1:7) dramatically highlights their immense proliferation. This verse closes a significant chapter in the grand narrative of salvation history, specifically the time when the "brothers" who formed the twelve tribes were all alive, signifying a shift in Israel's collective identity. Historically, the death of Joseph would have removed the most powerful advocate for the Israelites in Egypt. A polemical undercurrent exists: while the Egyptians might have believed in their pharaohs' eternal reigns or deification, this verse emphasizes that even Israel's most pivotal figure in Egypt, Joseph, was subject to death. God's plan transcends any human ruler or intermediary, ensuring the fulfillment of His covenant promises regardless of who lives or dies.

Exodus 1 6 Word analysis

• And Joseph (וְיוֹסֵף, v'Yo-sef): "And Joseph" refers to the highly revered patriarch who saved his family from famine and rose to prominence in Egypt (Gen 41:40). His singular mention first signifies his pivotal role. His passing is profoundly significant, as he was the direct link to the Egyptian court and the initial protector of his family in that foreign land. His death marks the complete end of the era when Israel had a powerful advocate within the reigning political structure.
• died (מֵת, met): A simple verb, yet loaded with finality. It signifies the end of life and, importantly in this context, the end of an era of protection and influence that Joseph afforded his people. This natural occurrence sets the stage for God's supernatural intervention, demonstrating that divine plans do not rely on the continuity of human leaders but on God's eternal nature.
• and all his brethren (וְכָל-אֶחָיו, v'chol-ekhav): This emphasizes that not just Joseph, but all the original sons of Jacob, the foundational patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel, had passed away. This ensures that the entire original generation that entered Egypt is gone, signifying the full shift from a small family unit led by individual patriarchs to a multiplying population. Their passing removed the last living witnesses of the foundational promises and experiences in Canaan, paving the way for a generation whose primary experience was that of life in Egypt.
• and all that generation (וְכֹל הַדּוֹר הַהוּא, v'chol ha-dor ha-hu): This phrase generalizes and emphasizes the complete end of an entire epoch. "That generation" refers to everyone alive during the initial settlement in Egypt, reinforcing the idea of a comprehensive shift. It implies that those who had personal memories of Joseph, Jacob, and the famine, and the reason for their move to Egypt, are now gone. This creates a cultural and historical vacuum, enabling the rise of a "new king" (Ex 1:8) who "knew not Joseph." This concept of a 'new generation' losing memory or relationship with the prior covenants is a recurring biblical theme (e.g., Judg 2:10).

Exodus 1 6 Bonus section

The seemingly straightforward declaration of death in Exodus 1:6 carries immense theological weight as a narrative chiasm or pivot point. It mirrors how a generation died in the wilderness (Num 26) before the new generation entered Canaan, illustrating a recurring pattern of divine work transcending human lifespans. The brevity of this verse, after the detailed genealogies of Genesis, signals a shift in focus: from individual patriarchs to the corporate identity of the "people of Israel" who are about to face a collective ordeal. It sets up the thematic contrast between human impermanence and God's eternal covenant. This dying-out of the 'known' generation highlights that the unfolding events will truly be of divine initiation, rather than relying on previous human arrangements or relationships.

Exodus 1 6 Commentary

Exodus 1:6 serves as a concise, yet monumental, bridge between Genesis and the core narrative of Exodus. It efficiently closes the chapter of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph's lives, underscoring the universal truth of human mortality and the temporal nature of even divinely appointed leaders. This natural conclusion of a generation is crucial for the dramatic shift in Exodus. The passing of Joseph and his brothers—the direct links to Jacob and the original settlement in Egypt—eliminates the human advocate and collective memory that preserved Israel's favored status. This vulnerability makes the subsequent oppression by a new king more potent and inexplicable from a human standpoint, highlighting God's faithfulness in intervening for a people who no longer had an earthly champion. It is a powerful reminder that God's covenant promises are not contingent on individual lives or earthly circumstances, but upon His immutable character and plan, setting the stage for His glorious work of redemption for the newly arisen, countless generation of Israel.