Genesis 50:14 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 50:14 kjv
And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
Genesis 50:14 nkjv
And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father.
Genesis 50:14 niv
After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.
Genesis 50:14 esv
After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.
Genesis 50:14 nlt
After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father's burial.
Genesis 50 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 47:29-31 | And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him... thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. | Joseph's vow to bury Jacob in Canaan fulfilled. |
| Gen 50:1-13 | And Joseph fell upon his father's face... he went up with his father, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah. | Context of the grand funeral procession. |
| Exod 13:19 | And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. | Joseph's future desire to be buried in Canaan, echoing Jacob. |
| Heb 11:22 | By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. | Joseph's faith demonstrated by his burial wish. |
| Gen 23:19-20 | And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah... a possession of a buryingplace. | The established family burial plot in Canaan. |
| Deut 34:5-6 | So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley... no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. | God's provision for Moses' burial, contrast to public Jacob burial. |
| 2 Sam 19:37 | I pray thee, let thy servant turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. | Desire for burial with ancestors as honor. |
| Ps 23:4 | Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. | God's comfort even during the sorrow of death and burial. |
| Job 19:26-27 | And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. | Belief in resurrection, hope beyond physical burial. |
| 1 Cor 15:42-44 | So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. | Spiritual perspective on burial and resurrection. |
| Gen 45:5-8 | But now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. | Joseph's attitude of forgiveness and God's sovereignty. |
| Gen 50:15-21 | And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us... But Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? | Joseph's continued care for his brothers post-burial. |
| Gen 47:27 | And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. | The family's thriving in Egypt after moving there. |
| Exod 1:7 | And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. | Confirmation of rapid growth of the nation in Egypt. |
| Acts 7:15-16 | So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor. | New Testament reference to Jacob's burial journey. |
| Eph 6:2-3 | Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. | Principle of honoring parents, seen in Joseph's action. |
| Prov 20:7 | The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. | Joseph's integrity, even after his father's passing, secures his family's blessing. |
| Ecc 7:2 | It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. | Reflection on the reality and importance of funerals. |
| Matt 27:57-60 | When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph... He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus... And laid it in his own new tomb. | Care for the dead, mirroring the respect shown to Jacob. |
| Isa 57:1-2 | The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace. | Peace found in the death of the righteous, Jacob rests. |
| Phil 2:8 | And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. | Obedience unto death, like Joseph's obedience to Jacob's final wish. |
Genesis 50 verses
Genesis 50 14 meaning
Genesis 50:14 states that Joseph, along with his brethren and all who had journeyed with him to Canaan for the burial of his father Jacob, returned to Egypt immediately after the burial was completed. This verse marks the successful fulfillment of Jacob's last request and signals the return of the family and their attendants to their dwelling place in Egypt, thereby concluding a significant patriarchal era event.
Genesis 50 14 Context
Genesis chapter 50 opens with Joseph mourning Jacob and preparing his body according to Egyptian custom for an extended period. Joseph then requests Pharaoh's permission for a grand journey to Canaan to fulfill his solemn promise to his father to bury him in the ancestral tomb at Machpelah. A "very great company" comprising Joseph, his brothers, Jacob's household, and a significant delegation of Egyptian officials, chariots, and horsemen embarked on this journey, observing a further seven-day mourning ritual at the "threshingfloor of Atad." This elaborate procession underscored the high regard for Jacob, reflecting both his own spiritual prominence and Joseph's elevated status in Egypt. Verse 14 specifically describes the conclusion of this mission, signifying the successful fulfillment of Jacob's last will and a return to the prevailing status quo, where the nascent nation of Israel was established and prospering within Egypt under Joseph's leadership.
Genesis 50 14 Word analysis
- And Joseph returned (וַיָּשָׁב יוֹסֵף - vayyashav Yosef): The verb "returned" (וַיָּשָׁב - vayyashav) indicates a swift and deliberate action. Joseph, as the primary agent, takes responsibility and initiative for this journey back. His actions consistently reflect faithfulness and leadership.
- into Egypt (מִצְרָיְמָה - Mitsraymah): The suffix '-ah' denotes motion toward a place. It emphasizes a return to the land where God had placed him and his family for their preservation and growth, even though Canaan was the promised land. This signifies Egypt as their temporary, but established, home.
- he, and his brethren (הוּא וְאֶחָיו - hu ve'echayv): The inclusion of "he" (Joseph) emphasizes his central role, even amidst the presence of all his brothers. Their collective return demonstrates renewed family unity and continued solidarity after the emotional event of the burial, putting old jealousies further behind them.
- and all that went up with him (וְכָל הָעֹלִים עִמּוֹ - vechol ha'olim immo): This refers to the vast retinue described earlier (Gen 50:7-9). It shows the significant impact and importance of Jacob's funeral, involving not just family but also a large Egyptian delegation. This demonstrates the respect afforded by Pharaoh and Egypt to Joseph and, by extension, to his family.
- to bury his father (לְקָבֵר אֶת אָבִיו - leqaver et aviv): This clause re-emphasizes the purpose of their entire grand journey: the fulfillment of a filial duty and the solemn honoring of Jacob. It highlights Joseph's unwavering commitment to his promise to his father (Gen 47:30).
- after he had buried his father (אַחֲרֵי קָבְרוֹ אֶת אָבִיו - acharei qavro et aviv): This phrase precisely states the timing of their return – immediately after the completion of the burial. It signals the closure of one narrative segment (the funeral) and the imminent commencement of the next (life back in Egypt and the subsequent family dynamics). It underscores the methodical and complete execution of Joseph's responsibility.
Genesis 50 14 Bonus section
The meticulously fulfilled funeral wishes of Jacob by Joseph contrast starkly with the often-ungodly practices surrounding death in ancient Near Eastern cultures, showcasing the reverent, faith-driven practices of Abraham's descendants. The return of such a large delegation to Egypt underscores Egypt's power and influence at the time, and its interaction with the proto-nation of Israel, demonstrating a unique historical alliance orchestrated by divine providence. This re-establishment of the Israelites in Goshen prepared them for their time of numerical growth, foreshadowing their eventual exodus as a distinct and powerful nation, ready to inherit the very land Jacob was buried in.
Genesis 50 14 Commentary
Genesis 50:14 serves as a pivot point in the patriarchal narrative. It concludes the final rites for Jacob and solidifies the family's presence in Egypt. The verse highlights Joseph's exemplary piety, loyalty, and leadership, as he meticulously fulfills his vow to his father despite his powerful position. The return to Egypt, accompanied by a great procession, signals both the successful execution of Jacob's burial in the Promised Land and the pragmatic necessity for the burgeoning family to reside in Egypt, where resources were abundant. This journey back also sets the stage for the brothers' post-funeral anxiety (Gen 50:15-21), demonstrating Joseph's continued care and his theological understanding of God's sovereignty over their past trials and future flourishing. This marks the stable conclusion of a generation and the establishment of the Israelite family as a prominent, growing group in Goshen before the subsequent oppression described in Exodus.