Genesis 50:26 kjv

So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Genesis 50:26 nkjv

So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Genesis 50:26 niv

So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Genesis 50:26 esv

So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Genesis 50:26 nlt

So Joseph died at the age of 110. The Egyptians embalmed him, and his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Genesis 50 verses

Genesis 50 26 Meaning

Genesis 50:26 records the death and initial resting place of Joseph, marking the conclusion of his extraordinary life and the book of Genesis. The verse states that Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years. It also details the embalming of his body by Egyptian custom and his placement in a coffin in Egypt, signaling a temporary arrangement until his remains could be carried to the Promised Land as per his final request, a testament to his enduring faith in God's covenant promises to his forefathers.

Genesis 50 26 Context

Genesis 50:26 marks the concluding verse of the entire book of Genesis. Following the death and burial of Jacob, Joseph reassured his brothers, ensuring them of God's redemptive purpose and his forgiveness towards them. Joseph's last command was concerning his own bones, requesting that they be carried out of Egypt when God finally brought the Israelites to the Promised Land. This verse fulfills that immediate physical fate for Joseph: he dies, is prepared for preservation according to Egyptian practice, and is placed in a coffin within Egypt, setting the stage for a prolonged period of Israelite stay in Egypt and the eventual Exodus led by Moses, who would faithfully fulfill Joseph's request. This final act highlights Joseph's unwavering faith in God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, extending God's faithfulness across generations, even in death.

Genesis 50 26 Word analysis

• So Joseph died: The Hebrew verb is met (מֵת), a straightforward declaration of death. This simple statement signifies the end of an illustrious life, but paradoxically points forward to the continuation of God's covenant plan. Joseph, though highly favored and exalted in Egypt, was still subject to human mortality, demonstrating that all humanity, regardless of status, faces this reality (Gen 3:19).
• being one hundred and ten years old: The Hebrew phrase is me'ah v'eser shanim (מֵאָה וְעֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים). The age 110 was considered an ideal lifespan in ancient Egypt, often associated with wisdom, health, and a fully lived life. It appears in Egyptian literature (e.g., The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep) as a blessing or mark of divine favor, signifying that Joseph attained the pinnacle of Egyptian veneration for longevity. For a biblical figure, it signifies a life richly blessed by God, concluding the patriarchal narrative with a figure of wisdom and success, while not quite reaching the patriarchs' extreme longevity, showing a transition towards more common lifespans as seen in Moses (Dt 34:7) who also lived to a significant but lesser age compared to the earlier patriarchs.
• And they embalmed him: The Hebrew verb vayahanṭu oto (וַיַּחֲנְטוּ אֹתוֹ) means "they embalmed him." This refers specifically to the Egyptian process of mummification, a complex procedure to preserve the body, indicative of Joseph's high status in Egypt. While the Bible details Jacob's embalming by Egyptian physicians earlier (Gen 50:2-3), Joseph's embalming confirms that his family upheld these honors for him. This act itself might carry a subtle polemic: the sophisticated pagan funerary practices are simply descriptive, not implying endorsement of the theological belief that mummification secures an afterlife. True immortality is from God alone (1 Tim 6:16). Yet, for the purpose of Joseph's instruction, it ensured his body would be preserved for later transit.
• and he was put in a coffin: The Hebrew is vayyisem ba'aron (וַיִּישֶׂם בָּאָרוֹן). The word aron (אָרוֹן) here refers to a coffin or sarcophagus. For a high-ranking Egyptian official like Joseph, this would have been a well-crafted, likely elaborate, receptacle. The act of placing him in a coffin, rather than a permanent burial, underscores the temporary nature of his resting place in Egypt. It serves as a visual reminder of his pending journey, emphasizing his and his descendants' anticipation of the return to the land promised by God.
• in Egypt: The Hebrew is b'mitsrayim (בְּמִצְרָיִם). This phrase explicitly states Joseph's immediate burial location. It directly contrasts with Jacob's elaborate funeral procession and burial in Canaan (Gen 50:13) and foreshadows the long period the Israelites would spend in Egypt, eventually as slaves. The fact that Joseph remained "in Egypt" means his dying wish to have his bones brought to the promised land was still outstanding, a powerful, silent testimony of his faith in God's promise of the land of Canaan (Heb 11:22). His body became a tangible symbol of the Israelites' eventual Exodus, a living testament to God's future deliverance.

Genesis 50 26 Bonus section

The seemingly contradictory dual identity of Joseph – a revered Egyptian dignitary and a faithful son of the Abrahamic covenant – is subtly portrayed in his death and post-mortem arrangements. While culturally aligned with Egypt in life, even to the point of being embalmed, his command concerning his bones (Gen 50:25) fundamentally defined him by his Israelite heritage and God's promises. His prolonged wait in a coffin in Egypt speaks to God's patient yet certain fulfillment of His promises, spanning generations (around 400 years from Joseph's death to the Exodus). This illustrates a significant theological truth: God’s timing is perfect, and His word will be fulfilled, even when it appears delayed from a human perspective. Joseph’s coffin, therefore, was not merely a container for his remains, but a potent, silent sermon on faith and the long-term certainty of God's covenant promise.

Genesis 50 26 Commentary

Genesis 50:26 marks a pivotal conclusion to the Genesis narrative, yet it inherently looks forward. Joseph's death at a venerable 110 years, an age considered blessed in ancient Egypt, signifies a life fully lived under divine providence. The act of embalming and placing him in a coffin in Egypt speaks volumes. It reflects his high honor within Egyptian society, as embalming was a practice for royalty and elite, showing that he was treated with respect even in death by a foreign power. However, it simultaneously serves as a powerful reminder of his ultimate loyalty and faith, as his temporary resting place underscored the covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding the land of Canaan. Joseph's preserved body became a tangible object of the Exodus hope, serving as a future focal point for God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and for Israel's return to the Promised Land. This seemingly simple verse is thus laden with theological significance, linking the end of Genesis to the very heart of the book of Exodus.