Genesis 46:3 kjv

And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

Genesis 46:3 nkjv

So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.

Genesis 46:3 niv

"I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.

Genesis 46:3 esv

Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.

Genesis 46:3 nlt

"I am God, the God of your father," the voice said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation.

Genesis 46 verses

Genesis 46 3 Meaning

In Genesis 46:3, God speaks to Jacob at Beer-sheba, reassuring him and commanding him to journey into Egypt. God introduces Himself as "I am God, the God of your father," emphasizing His consistent identity and enduring covenant relationship with the patriarchal lineage. He directly addresses Jacob's presumed fear of leaving the Promised Land due to the famine, instructing him not to be afraid of this significant migration. The divine rationale for this command is a reaffirmation of the promise to multiply Jacob's descendants into a "great nation," explicitly stating that this miraculous growth would occur "there" in Egypt. This verse signifies divine guidance, reassurance, and the continuation of the Abrahamic covenant despite challenging circumstances, ensuring Jacob that the move is part of God's greater redemptive plan.

Genesis 46 3 Context

Genesis 46 recounts Jacob's journey to Egypt. Prior to this verse, the preceding chapters describe Joseph's dramatic reveal to his brothers, the dire famine across the land, and Pharaoh's invitation for Jacob's entire family to settle in Goshen, Egypt. Jacob's family (approximately 66 persons listed in Gen 46:8-27) represents the nascent Israel. While reuniting with Joseph brought joy, leaving the Promised Land was a weighty decision for Jacob. He likely hesitated due to the significance of the land promised by God to Abraham, Isaac, and himself, and possibly recalled instances where "going down to Egypt" led to trouble (as with Abraham in Gen 12) or was expressly forbidden (as with Isaac in Gen 26:2). In this critical juncture, Jacob pauses his journey at Beer-sheba, a historically significant site for patriarchal encounters with God, offering sacrifices and seeking divine direction before taking the momentous step of leading his entire family into a foreign land. God's direct revelation in verse 3 answers this deep apprehension and confirms the path forward as His will.

Genesis 46 3 Word analysis

• And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): This phrase indicates God's direct and immediate response to Jacob's sacrifice and unspoken anxiety. It highlights the divine initiation of the conversation, demonstrating God's attentiveness to His servant's concerns.
• I am God (אָנֹכִי אֵל - anokhi 'El):
  • Anokhi ("I"): An emphatic first-person singular pronoun, asserting God's personal and sovereign identity.
  • El ("God"): This is a strong, foundational name for God in Hebrew, signifying His power, strength, and preeminence. It is distinct from Elohim (which suggests plurality of majesty or might) or YHWH (the covenant name). Here, El emphasizes His inherent divinity and mighty capacity to fulfill His promises, asserting Himself as the one true, powerful God. This is implicitly a polemic against the numerous local and polytheistic deities of the Near East, especially in the context of entering Egypt, by declaring His singular might.
• the God of your father (אֱלֹהֵי אָבִיךָ - 'Elohei avikha):
  • 'Elohei: The construct form of Elohim, used here with the suffix for "of." It links God to the preceding patriarchal generations—Abraham and Isaac—underscoring the continuity and faithfulness of the covenant relationship. This ensures Jacob that the same God who protected and blessed his ancestors is present and active for him. It roots God's present interaction within the rich history of His previous revelations and promises to this lineage.
  • Avikha ("your father"): Specifically refers to Isaac, whom Jacob had just buried, emphasizing the generational covenant being passed on.
• do not fear (אַל תִּירָא - 'al tira') - "Do not be afraid": A common biblical phrase of divine reassurance, always accompanied by a reason for comfort rooted in God's presence, promise, or power. It directly addresses Jacob's likely trepidation about leaving the Promised Land and the uncertainties of moving to Egypt. This is a divine imperative against Jacob's natural human fear.
• to go down to Egypt (לרדת מצרים - la'redet Mitsrayim):
  • La'redet ("to go down"): A geographical reality (Egypt is lower than Canaan), but often also carried connotations of spiritual or national decline. However, in this context, it is God's explicit command, transforming a potential "descent" into a divinely ordained movement.
  • Mitsrayim ("Egypt"): The specific destination. Though Egypt would later become a land of oppression for Israel, at this juncture, it is the providentially chosen "womb" where the nation would incubate and grow.
• for I will make of you a great nation there (כִּי לְגֹוי גָּדוֹל אֶֽעֶשְׂךָ שָׁם - ki l'goy gadol e'eseh'ka sham):
  • Ki ("for" / "because"): Connects the command ("do not fear") with its divine rationale, explaining the purpose behind the command.
  • L'goy gadol ("into a great nation"): Directly reasserts the core promise of the Abrahamic covenant regarding innumerable descendants and nationhood (Gen 12:2; 17:6; 28:14; 35:11).
  • E'eseh'ka ("I will make you"): Highlights God's active, sovereign agency in bringing this promise to fruition. It's a divine pledge.
  • Sham ("there"): Emphatically states that the place of rapid population growth and national formation will be Egypt, the very land Jacob fears entering. This specifies how God intends to fulfill His promise, not in Canaan, but providentially in a foreign land.

Genesis 46 3 Bonus section

• Beer-sheba's Significance: This site, meaning "well of the oath," holds profound spiritual significance in the patriarchal narratives. It's where Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech (Gen 21:31), and Isaac encountered God and built an altar (Gen 26:23-25). For Jacob to pause here for sacrifice indicates his reliance on God at this critical juncture, connecting his journey with his ancestors' experiences and reinforcing the divine covenantal promises associated with this specific place.
• The Paradox of Egypt: While later a place of bitter slavery, at this time, Egypt was providentially chosen by God as the fertile "nursery" where Israel would grow from a small family into a vast nation, as confirmed in Acts 7:17. God's presence transforms what could be a dangerous descent into a strategic step in His plan. This shows God's sovereignty over location and circumstance.
• From Family to Nation: This verse marks a pivotal transition point for the Abrahamic covenant. Up to this point, God's promises primarily concerned the growth of a "seed" (offspring) within the patriarchal families. By sending them into Egypt to become a "great nation," God is actively guiding the shift from a nomadic family unit to the formation of a distinct, numerous nation—Israel.

Genesis 46 3 Commentary

Genesis 46:3 stands as a profound moment of divine affirmation and redirection in the life of Jacob. Faced with a desperate famine and the emotional weight of moving his entire family to a foreign land, Jacob arrives at Beer-sheba, a place associated with his ancestral encounters with God. Here, his quiet apprehension is met with a direct, personal, and reassuring word from God.

God's self-revelation as "I am God, the God of your father" immediately establishes a foundation of continuity and reliability. He is not a new, unfamiliar deity, but the same powerful and covenant-keeping God who blessed Abraham and Isaac. This addresses any potential anxieties Jacob might have had about leaving the land of covenant promises and implicitly stands against the multitude of gods worshipped in Egypt, confirming the one true God's authority over all places.

The command "do not fear to go down to Egypt" directly counteracts Jacob's natural human fear and reminds us of God's common reassurances throughout Scripture when His people face daunting circumstances. The subsequent explanation, "for I will make of you a great nation there," transforms a seemingly desperate migration into a deliberate, divinely ordained step in the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. It is a specific revelation of how the promised nationhood will materialize, setting the stage for the miraculous multiplication of Israel in Egypt before their eventual exodus. This verse perfectly encapsulates God's sovereign control over seemingly adverse situations, using them as catalysts for His greater purposes, always accompanied by His faithful presence and enduring promises.