Genesis 47:8 kjv

And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?

Genesis 47:8 nkjv

Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How old are you?"

Genesis 47:8 niv

Pharaoh asked him, "How old are you?"

Genesis 47:8 esv

And Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How many are the days of the years of your life?"

Genesis 47:8 nlt

"How old are you?" Pharaoh asked him.

Genesis 47 verses

Genesis 47 8 Meaning

This verse records Pharaoh's direct inquiry to Jacob upon their meeting in Egypt. Pharaoh asks Jacob about his age, demonstrating either respectful curiosity or an observation of Jacob's aged appearance. This seemingly simple question sets the stage for Jacob's profound reflection on the nature of his life as a pilgrim and the brevity and hardship of his journey thus far, which he will express in the subsequent verse (Gen 47:9). The interaction highlights the stark contrast between worldly power (Pharaoh) and spiritual wisdom and divine favor (Jacob).

Genesis 47 8 Context

Genesis chapter 47 marks a pivotal moment in the life of Jacob and the unfolding narrative of God's covenant people. The context preceding this verse involves Joseph, now a powerful ruler in Egypt, arranging for his father Jacob and his entire household to come to Egypt to survive a severe famine that grips the land (Gen 47:1-6). Pharaoh has generously welcomed them, acknowledging Joseph's role in saving Egypt.Upon their arrival, Joseph brings his aged father before Pharaoh. This is not just a casual meeting but a formal introduction of the patriarch of God's chosen family to the most powerful earthly ruler of that time. Before Pharaoh poses his question in verse 8, Jacob blesses Pharaoh (Gen 47:7). This act of blessing from Jacob, a sojourner, upon Pharaoh, the sovereign of a vast empire, subtly reverses the expected hierarchy and signifies the spiritual superiority of the patriarch chosen by God. Pharaoh's subsequent question about Jacob's age is therefore a response to the gravity of the blessing or perhaps an observation of Jacob's venerable, possibly frail, appearance after his long journey and a lifetime of hardships. It's an expression of recognition, and perhaps awe, towards one who bore such evident marks of age and a divine connection.

Genesis 47 8 Word analysis

• Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה - Par‘oh): This is not a personal name but a title used for the ancient kings of Egypt. In the biblical narrative, Pharaoh represents worldly power and temporal authority. His inquiry to Jacob highlights an intersection between the pinnacle of human governance and God's chosen patriarch.
• said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyō’mer): A standard Hebrew verb indicating a direct utterance. It implies an initiating statement in a dialogue, showing Pharaoh taking the lead in this interaction with Jacob.
• to Jacob (אֶל-יַעֲקֹב - ’el Ya‘ăqōḇ): Specifies the recipient of Pharaoh's address. It emphasizes the personal, direct encounter between the leader of the dominant world power and the patriarch of the nascent Israelite nation, underscoring the significance of this meeting for God's providential plan.
• How old are you? (כַּמָּה יְמֵי שְׁנֵי חַיֶּיךָ - kammah yêmê shənê ḥayyêḵā): This phrase, literally translated as "How many are the days of the years of your life?" or "How few are the days of the years of your life?", is more than a mere factual query.
  • כַּמָּה (kammah): "How much" or "how many." It expresses curiosity about the quantity or extent.
  • יְמֵי שְׁנֵי חַיֶּיךָ (yêmê shənê ḥayyêḵā): "Days of the years of your life." The use of "days" before "years" can emphasize the daily toil or the passage of time day by day, contributing to the sense of life's cumulative experience or brevity. This formulation highlights the weariness and accumulated experience often associated with great age.
  • The phrasing carries an underlying observation that Jacob appeared exceedingly old, possibly frail, given his advanced age (he was 130 years old at this time, per Gen 47:9) and the hardships he endured. Pharaoh's question, while respectful, also reflects his awareness of Jacob's very old age and possibly a curiosity about the journey and experiences that might have led to such a venerable, yet worn, appearance. This prepares for Jacob's deeply personal and spiritually insightful answer regarding his "few and evil" days of pilgrimage.

Genesis 47 8 Bonus section

The seemingly simple question from Pharaoh foreshadows Jacob's profound response in Gen 47:9, where he identifies his life not merely by chronological age but by its nature as a pilgrimage ("days of the years of my sojourning") marked by "few and evil days." This immediately distinguishes Jacob's perspective from a purely earthly one, reflecting a life lived with a different destination and purpose in mind—the promised land and God's covenant. The very act of Pharaoh inquiring about the age of an Israelite patriarch also serves to honor God's chosen people, despite their humble appearance as shepherds, placing them directly in the favor of the world's most powerful ruler due to Joseph's mediation and, ultimately, God's providence. This divine orchestration reminds us that God often elevates His humble servants to positions where they interact with the world's powerful figures for His sovereign purposes, demonstrating His ultimate authority over all earthly powers.

Genesis 47 8 Commentary

Genesis 47:8 presents a succinct yet deeply significant moment in the grand biblical narrative. Pharaoh's direct and respectful question to Jacob regarding his age follows immediately after Jacob has blessed the mighty Egyptian ruler. This exchange transcends a mere polite conversation. It is a moment where the world's greatest secular authority meets the venerable patriarch through whom God's covenant promises are being carried forward. Pharaoh, the ruler of a powerful empire, acknowledges Jacob's evident old age and presumably the weight of experience etched on his countenance. This question serves as an invitation for Jacob to articulate his life's perspective, which he does in the following verse, describing his "few and evil" days of sojourning. This interaction thus underscores the themes of life's brevity, the sojourner's pilgrimage, God's providence in bringing His servant before kings, and the ultimate supremacy of the one true God, whose servant (Jacob) has the authority to bless a seemingly superior earthly potentate.