Genesis 48 7

Genesis 48:7 kjv

And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.

Genesis 48:7 nkjv

But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)."

Genesis 48:7 niv

As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath" (that is, Bethlehem).

Genesis 48:7 esv

As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)."

Genesis 48:7 nlt

"Long ago, as I was returning from Paddan-aram, Rachel died in the land of Canaan. We were still on the way, some distance from Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). So with great sorrow I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath."

Genesis 48 verses

Genesis 48 7 meaning

Genesis 48:7 captures Jacob's profound and enduring grief over the death and burial of his beloved wife, Rachel. As he bestows his final blessings upon Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, he recounts this personal sorrow, explaining why Joseph, despite being the firstborn son of Rachel, does not receive a greater share but rather his sons are elevated to inherit alongside Reuben and Simeon. It emphasizes the specific, painful memory of Rachel's unexpected death on the journey back to Canaan, before reaching their desired destination, and her burial at a significant location known then as Ephrath, later Bethlehem. This deeply personal remembrance highlights the sacrifices and trials Jacob endured, particularly the loss of the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, which shaped his family's destiny.

Genesis 48 7 Context

Genesis chapter 48 details Jacob, now an old man near death in Egypt, giving blessings to Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. This specific verse (Gen 48:7) acts as an explanation for Jacob's somewhat unconventional adoption and elevation of Ephraim and Manasseh to stand as full sons, effectively granting Joseph a double portion, comparable to a firstborn son. Jacob, with weakened eyesight, blesses the younger Ephraim over the older Manasseh, mirroring the earlier pattern of God's preference for the younger in his own lineage. This deeply personal reminiscence of Rachel's death and burial in Canaan serves as the emotional foundation for his blessing. He recounts a profound loss he experienced in the very land God promised to his forefathers, emphasizing that even amidst divine providence and a large family, life included significant hardship and sorrow. This historical context anchors the blessing within Jacob's lived experience, validating the unique status he bestows upon Joseph's sons.

Genesis 48 7 Word analysis

• For as for me (וַאֲנִי, va'ani): This Hebrew conjunction and pronoun highlights Jacob's personal reflection and deeply felt memory. It signifies a transition to a specific, significant event in his own past that is directly relevant to his present actions, drawing the listeners' (Joseph and his sons) attention to a private sorrow.
• when I came from Paddan (בְּבֹאִי מִפַּדָּן, bevo'i miPaddan): "Paddan" refers to Paddan-Aram, the region where Jacob spent two decades, married Leah and Rachel, and built his family and wealth. This phrase places Rachel's death within the critical journey of Jacob's return to the Promised Land, signifying the end of one life phase and the painful beginning of another in Canaan. It recalls God's instruction for Jacob to return to his homeland (Gen 31:3).
• Rachel died beside me (מֵתָה רָחֵל עָלַי, meta Rachel 'alay): Literally "Rachel died upon me" or "over me." This Hebrew phrase conveys the intimate proximity and the personal, overwhelming impact of her death on Jacob. It emphasizes his helplessness and grief, suggesting she died while leaning on him, or that her death brought a crushing weight upon him. It highlights the profound sorrow that afflicted Jacob at that moment.
• in the land of Canaan (בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן, be'eretz Kena'an): This specifies the location within the Promised Land. Despite being back in the land of promise, a place of divine blessing, death and sorrow still occurred. This underscores that even within God's chosen land, life involves struggle and loss, making Jacob's grief more poignant because it happened before full settlement or rest.
• in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath (בַּדֶּרֶךְ בְּעוֹד כִּבְרַת אֶרֶץ לָבוֹא אֶפְרָתָה, ba-derekh be'od kivrat eretz lavo Ephratah): "In the way" (בַּדֶּרֶךְ, ba-derekh) signifies she died during the journey, not after they had settled. "A little way" or "some measure of ground" (כִּבְרַת אֶרֶץ, kivrat eretz) suggests it was a relatively short, incomplete distance, emphasizing the tragedy of dying so close to a significant landmark, possibly a safe haven.
• and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath (וָאֶקְבְּרֶהָ שָׁם בְּדֶרֶךְ אֶפְרָת, va'eqberaha sham be-derekh Ephrat): This denotes Jacob's direct, personal action in burying Rachel, an act of final care and remembrance. Burial was highly significant in ancient Israel, especially within family plots or promised land. "In the way of Ephrath" refers to the roadside leading to the town, further emphasizing the circumstances of her unexpected death during transit.
• the same is Bethlehem (הִוא בֵּית לָחֶם, hi Bet Lechem): This crucial parenthetical statement provides a definitive identification of the location, ensuring future generations (and biblical readers) know precisely where Rachel's tomb is. Bethlehem would become highly significant later as the birthplace of King David and, more profoundly, of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This connection links Rachel's foundational role in Israel's history and suffering with the ultimate redemption that comes through Bethlehem.

Genesis 48 7 Bonus section

• Jacob's explicit mention of Rachel's burial outside the family tomb at Machpelah (Gen 49:31) reveals the deep distress and emergency circumstances surrounding her death. Unlike the other patriarchs and matriarchs who were laid to rest in the communal grave, Rachel's isolated burial near Bethlehem stands out as a unique sorrow for Jacob. This unfulfilled wish to bury Rachel in the ancestral cave possibly contributed to his feeling of perpetual grief and serves as a testament to her being a favored, yet tragically short-lived, spouse.
• The detail of "a little way to come unto Ephrath" (כִּבְרַת אֶרֶץ, kivrat eretz) could imply that Rachel died literally a short walk from a major town, increasing the pathos. Scholars have debated the precise measure of this distance, but its ambiguity only magnifies the sense of dying on the brink of safety or comfort.
• Rachel's suffering in childbirth (Ben-oni, son of my sorrow) mirrors her previous struggles with barrenness, painting a picture of a life marked by significant physical and emotional hardship, yet one central to the covenantal promise. Her eventual death encapsulates the 'sorrow' of her final child's birth and solidifies her place in the national consciousness as a figure of lament (as seen in Jeremiah's prophecy).

Genesis 48 7 Commentary

Jacob's recounting of Rachel's death is more than a mere biographical detail; it's a window into his deepest sorrows and the sacrifices he made in faith. The pain of losing Rachel, the mother of his cherished Joseph and Benjamin, still lingers years later. This emotional recounting helps explain Jacob's decision to adopt Ephraim and Manasseh, providing a foundational reason for the unique double inheritance Joseph receives. Rachel, dying so close to Bethlehem (Ephrath), highlights both the suddenness of her death and the bittersweet nature of life's journey in the promised land, where even blessings can be tinged with sorrow. Her tomb stood as a landmark, a perpetual reminder of Jacob's grief and the divine plan unfolding amidst human suffering. The significance of this burial place is later fulfilled through Bethlehem's role as the birthplace of the Lord Jesus, tying Rachel's pivotal, suffering role in the lineage of Israel to the ultimate redemption of humanity.