Genesis 46:22 kjv
These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.
Genesis 46:22 nkjv
These were the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: fourteen persons in all.
Genesis 46:22 niv
These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob?fourteen in all.
Genesis 46:22 esv
These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob ? fourteen persons in all.
Genesis 46:22 nlt
These were the sons of Rachel and Jacob. The number of Jacob's descendants through Rachel was fourteen.
Genesis 46 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2 | "And I will make of you a great nation..." | God's covenant promise of numerous descendants. |
| Gen 13:16 | "I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted." | Confirmation of innumerable descendants. |
| Gen 15:5 | "...Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'" | Abrahamic promise reiterated. |
| Gen 15:13 | "Then the Lord said to Abram, 'Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs...'" | Prophecy of the sojourn in Egypt. |
| Gen 17:6 | "I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you." | God’s promise of fruitfulness. |
| Gen 22:17 | "...I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore..." | Blessings through Abraham's obedience. |
| Gen 28:3 | "May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples." | Isaac’s blessing on Jacob for progeny. |
| Gen 28:14 | "...your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad..." | God’s promise to Jacob at Bethel. |
| Gen 30:24 | "And she called his name Joseph, saying, 'May the Lord add to me another son!'" | Rachel's desire for more sons. |
| Gen 35:11 | "God said to him, 'I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed a company of nations, shall come from you...'" | God reinforces the covenant to Jacob. |
| Gen 46:1-4 | Jacob goes to Beersheba, God promises to go with him to Egypt and make him a great nation there. | Divine guidance and purpose for the migration. |
| Gen 46:20 | "To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim..." | Source for two of the 14 persons. |
| Gen 46:21 | "The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard." | Source for ten of the 14 persons. |
| Gen 46:26 | "All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt... were sixty-six persons..." | Part of the larger count of immigrants. |
| Gen 46:27 | "All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy." | Total count, includes Joseph's already in Egypt. |
| Exod 1:1 | "These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household..." | Begins the accounting in Exodus, linking to Genesis. |
| Exod 1:5 | "All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons..." | Echoes Gen 46:27 total count. |
| Num 1:32-35 | Census lists descendants by tribe, showing the growth of Joseph's sons into tribes. | Demonstrates the fulfilling of the progeny promise. |
| Deut 10:22 | "Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven." | Reminds Israel of their humble beginnings and God's faithfulness. |
| Acts 7:14 | "And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all." | Stephen’s summary of events, slightly different number in LXX. |
| Rom 9:7-9 | "nor are they all children of Abraham because they are his offspring... But 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.'" | Emphasizes the promise descending through specific lines (election). |
| Heb 11:12 | "Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven..." | Faith enabling Abraham to father countless descendants. |
Genesis 46 verses
Genesis 46 22 Meaning
Genesis 46:22 precisely states the total number of individuals descended from Rachel, born to Jacob, who were part of the contingent arriving in Egypt. This count includes Rachel’s direct sons, Joseph and Benjamin, along with Joseph’s two sons and Benjamin’s ten sons, totaling fourteen persons. It marks the precise growth of one of Jacob’s distinct family lines at the pivotal moment of their migration, emphasizing divine faithfulness to the covenant promise of multiplying Abraham’s seed.
Genesis 46 22 Context
Genesis chapter 46 recounts Jacob’s departure from Canaan with his family to join Joseph in Egypt, fulfilling a divine plan and prophecy. This specific verse (46:22) is part of a detailed census of all Jacob’s household members journeying to Egypt (Genesis 46:8-27), organized by the mothers of his sons. These meticulous lists serve to underscore the fulfillment of God's covenant promises concerning a multitude of descendants, even as the fledgling nation enters a foreign land. The count of "fourteen persons" from Rachel’s lineage is particularly significant, as it includes Joseph, who was already in Egypt, and his sons born there, confirming their integral inclusion in Jacob’s household and the covenant family entering Egypt, setting the stage for their national development.
Genesis 46 22 Word analysis
- These: (אֵ֠לֶּה, ’elleh) Points directly to the list of names just provided in verses 20-21 (Joseph and Benjamin and their children).
- are the sons: (בְּנֵ֤י, beney) Refers to descendants, not solely direct children.
- of Rachel: (רָחֵל֙, Rachel) Specifies the maternal lineage, a critical distinction in the chapter's structuring of family groups. Rachel was Jacob’s beloved wife, and her two sons, Joseph and Benjamin, are central to the narrative.
- who were born: (אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֻלַּ֣ד, asher yullad) The Hebrew is passive ("who were caused to be born" or "who were born"), emphasizing divine enablement of procreation. It encompasses both direct progeny and their immediate children counted as part of the family unit.
- to Jacob: (לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב, leYa’akov) Confirms paternal connection and inclusion within the covenant family of Israel.
- all: (כָּל־, kol-) Implies completeness and inclusion, no one from this specific line is excluded from the count.
- persons: (נֶ֖פֶשׁ, nefesh) Lit. "soul," but here used to denote an individual person or life, common in biblical censuses (e.g., Exod 1:5). This usage emphasizes each individual’s identity and inclusion in the growing family.
- fourteen: (אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר, arba’ah ’asar) The precise number, composed of Joseph (1), Benjamin (1), Joseph’s two sons (Manasseh, Ephraim - 2), and Benjamin’s ten sons (10). This specific count contributes to the larger total of seventy who entered Egypt (Gen 46:27). The meticulous accounting highlights God’s detailed oversight of the covenant community’s growth.
- "sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob": This phrase emphasizes the direct descendants of Rachel and Jacob. Despite Joseph and his sons being in Egypt already, they are still "counted" here with the arriving party, signifying their enduring belonging to Jacob’s house and the covenant nation. This shows the genealogical and spiritual inclusion, not necessarily physical travel. The numerical breakdown demonstrates God's fulfillment of his promise to multiply Jacob's seed, transforming a few individuals into the foundational elements of a nation. The focus on maternal lines (Rachel here, previously Leah, Zilpah, Bilhah) is significant, recognizing the contribution of each wife's family unit to the whole of Israel.
Genesis 46 22 Bonus section
The precise number of "fourteen persons" from Rachel's line for Jacob's descent into Egypt often causes scholarly discussion regarding the exact accounting methods in the Genesis genealogies and later in Exodus and Deuteronomy. This verse highlights that the biblical writer meticulously details how specific family units contribute to the larger totals, such as the total seventy who entered Egypt (Gen 46:27, Exod 1:5, Deut 10:22). While Joseph and his sons were already in Egypt and thus didn't physically "come down" with Jacob, their inclusion here underscores that the "fourteen" are counted as part of Jacob's household moving from Canaan to Egypt for covenant purposes. This maintains the genealogical integrity of Israel and includes all covenant heirs at this foundational moment. The distinct groupings by mothers (Leah, Zilpah, Bilhah, Rachel) in Genesis 46 are also indicative of the separate 'tribal' origins that would eventually form the twelve tribes of Israel, with Joseph's two sons effectively becoming two tribes (Manasseh and Ephraim) later (Josh 17:17), replacing Joseph and Levi in the twelve-tribe allocation of land.
Genesis 46 22 Commentary
Genesis 46:22 is a seemingly simple demographic statement, yet it carries profound theological weight. As part of a larger genealogical record, it meticulously lists the number of descendants from Rachel, one of Jacob's four wives. This precise accounting reinforces the divine commitment to multiply Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s offspring, transforming a wandering family into the nascent stages of a nation. The counting of "fourteen persons" for Rachel’s line—including Joseph and his Egyptian-born sons—signifies a continuous, unbroken lineage within God's covenant people, regardless of geographical location or mixed heritage (like Joseph's sons who were half-Egyptian by birth). It showcases God's faithfulness in sustaining and growing His chosen family even as they embark on a significant sojourn into a foreign land, thereby validating His prior promises (e.g., Gen 35:11). This level of detail highlights the divine care and oversight for each individual who constituted the beginnings of Israel. It serves as a reminder that every life counted contributes to God’s overarching plan for His people.