Genesis 46:4 kjv

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.

Genesis 46:4 nkjv

I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."

Genesis 46:4 niv

I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes."

Genesis 46:4 esv

I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes."

Genesis 46:4 nlt

I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes."

Genesis 46 verses

Genesis 46 4 Meaning

Genesis 46:4 communicates a pivotal promise from God to Jacob, affirming His divine presence, orchestrating His providential plan for Jacob and his descendants, and providing personal comfort. The verse promises that God will accompany Jacob to Egypt, ensuring His continuous care and guidance. It explicitly guarantees the eventual return of Jacob's descendants (and symbolically, Jacob's 'essence' in his lineage) to the promised land. Furthermore, it offers Jacob deep personal solace by assuring him that his beloved son Joseph, whom he long mourned as lost, will be present at his death, performing the traditional act of closing his eyes, signifying a peaceful and honored passing.

Genesis 46 4 Context

Genesis 46:4 is situated at a crucial juncture in the narrative of Jacob and his family. The land of Canaan is experiencing a severe famine, forcing Jacob to consider relocating to Egypt, where Joseph has miraculously become the powerful ruler. Jacob, identified here by his divinely given name 'Israel', is hesitant to leave the Promised Land, even to join his long-lost beloved son. His journey southward, to Beer-sheba, a significant site associated with his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham, is marked by prayer and sacrifice, indicating his seeking of divine guidance before such a momentous departure. It is at Beer-sheba that God appears to Jacob in a vision by night, reaffirming His covenant and addressing Jacob's implicit fears about leaving the land promised to his ancestors and his future lineage. The immediate preceding verse (Gen 46:3) states God's direct command "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt." This sets the stage for the specific assurances of verse 4, which address Jacob's well-being, the nation's future, and his personal comfort concerning Joseph. The overarching context includes God's plan to grow a large nation in Egypt, a necessary preparatory stage before the Exodus and the formal giving of the Law and land.

Genesis 46 4 Word analysis

• I will go down (וְאָנֹכִי אֵרֵד – ve’anokhi ered): The verb 'erad' (יָרַד) means "to descend," "to go down." The first-person singular emphasizes God's personal involvement and commitment. This signifies God's presence, not merely allowing Jacob to go, but accompanying him every step of the way into a foreign land. It portrays a covenant-keeping God who remains with His people even when they enter difficult or unexpected circumstances.
• with you (עִמְּךָ – immekha): Reinforces the promise of divine presence, an assurance against the fear of the unknown. God is not just directing but participating in Jacob's journey, just as He promised at Bethel (Gen 28:15).
• to Egypt (מִצְרָיְמָה – Mitzraymah): Specifies the destination, acknowledging the foreign and potentially perilous nature of the land. Yet, it underscores that God's sovereignty extends even to places where His people might feel displaced or enslaved.
• and I will also surely bring you up again (וְאָנֹכִי אַעַלְךָ גַם־עָלֹה – ve’anokhi a’alekha gam ‘aloh): This phrase employs a Hebrew grammatical construction called the infinitive absolute (עָלֹה – ‘aloh) followed by the finite verb (אַעַלְךָ – a’alekha). This combination is for intense emphasis, translating to "I will most assuredly bring you up," or "I will certainly bring you up." It is a powerful guarantee of future return to the Promised Land. This "bringing up" primarily refers to the Exodus, where God would bring up Jacob's descendants as a great nation. While Jacob's body would be brought back (Gen 50:13, 25), the primary emphasis is on the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant through his seed. The verb 'alah' (עָלָה) means "to ascend," "to go up," signifying a return from a lower state or land to a higher or more privileged state or land.
• and Joseph’s hand (וְיוֹסֵף יָשִׁית יָדוֹ – ve’yosef yashit yado): 'Yado' (יָדוֹ) is "his hand." This is a profoundly personal assurance for Jacob. The mention of Joseph signifies his beloved son being alive and present at his death.
• shall close your eyes (עַל־עֵינֶיךָ – al-‘einékha): Literally, "upon your eyes." This refers to a common act of filial piety and tender care, usually performed by the closest relative, typically the firstborn or favored son, upon the death of a parent. For Jacob, who had long believed Joseph was dead (Gen 37:33), this was an invaluable comfort, assuring him of a peaceful end with his beloved son by his side. It represents continuity of family, honor, and a calm, prepared death, in contrast to the anguish Jacob had experienced regarding Joseph previously. It also implies that Joseph would remain in authority and live long enough to perform this act.

Genesis 46 4 Bonus section

• The dual promise of God going down and bringing up echoes the broader biblical pattern of divine intervention in "descent" (incarnation, humbling) followed by "ascension" (exaltation, deliverance).
• The detail about Joseph's hand closing Jacob's eyes provides a quiet literary symmetry to Jacob's own belief that he would "go down to Sheol mourning for [Joseph]" (Gen 37:35). Instead, he would go down to Egypt with joy, and depart in peace.
• The fulfillment of Jacob's body being brought up from Egypt (Gen 50:13) and Joseph's bones later being brought up (Exo 13:19, Josh 24:32) demonstrates a layered fulfillment of the promise of "bringing you up again," pointing to both the individual's spiritual peace and the national destiny.
• The fact that God explicitly commands "Do not be afraid" in the preceding verse (Gen 46:3) indicates that Jacob's hesitation to leave the Promised Land, despite the famine and Joseph's position, was significant enough to warrant direct divine comfort and promises.

Genesis 46 4 Commentary

Genesis 46:4 is a magnificent verse displaying God's active, personal involvement in the lives of His covenant people. It moves beyond a simple permission to travel, offering a multi-faceted promise directly tailored to Jacob's anxieties and hopes. The initial "I will go down with you to Egypt" is a direct counter to fear, echoing earlier divine assurances of presence (e.g., Gen 28:15). God is not a distant deity but one who enters into the circumstances of His chosen. The emphatic "I will also surely bring you up again" transcends Jacob's personal lifespan. While his bones would indeed return, the deeper meaning is the guaranteed Exodus of the great nation descending from him, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant to inherit the land (Gen 15:13-16). This emphasizes divine faithfulness and the preordained nature of Israel's sojourn and liberation, which served God's greater redemptive plan. Finally, the promise that "Joseph's hand shall close your eyes" provides immense personal solace, healing Jacob's years of grief and affirming divine providence. It speaks of a peaceful death, surrounded by loved ones, specifically by the son Jacob mourned. This was a significant act of respect and tender finality in ancient culture, signifying a parent’s good end and a son’s duty and continuity. Overall, the verse underlines God’s presence in journey and hardship, His faithfulness to the covenant beyond one's individual life, and His tender care for His people's deepest emotional needs.