Genesis 50:6 kjv

And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.

Genesis 50:6 nkjv

And Pharaoh said, "Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear."

Genesis 50:6 niv

Pharaoh said, "Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do."

Genesis 50:6 esv

And Pharaoh answered, "Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear."

Genesis 50:6 nlt

Pharaoh agreed to Joseph's request. "Go and bury your father, as he made you promise," he said.

Genesis 50 verses

Genesis 50 6 Meaning

Genesis 50:6 describes Pharaoh's immediate and unequivocal granting of Joseph's request to go from Egypt and bury his father, Jacob, in Canaan. Pharaoh's permission is given specifically because Joseph's actions are in direct fulfillment of a solemn oath Jacob had made him swear. The verse highlights Joseph's filial devotion, the respected status of oaths in the ancient world, and the significant favor Joseph and his family held in the eyes of the Egyptian monarch.

Genesis 50 6 Context

Genesis chapter 50 opens with Joseph's profound grief at Jacob's passing, initiating a seventy-day period of mourning and embalming, a process distinct to Egyptian custom, underscoring the great honor bestowed upon Jacob. Joseph's plea to Pharaoh in verse 4 and the resulting permission in verse 6 represent a critical step before the elaborate funeral procession can begin. The historical and cultural context is vital: oaths were considered profoundly binding in the ancient Near East, carrying social, moral, and even divine weight. For Pharaoh to acknowledge and permit such a significant journey, requiring a massive escort and a high-ranking official's temporary absence, demonstrates Joseph's extraordinary influence and Pharaoh's respect for established obligations. The act of "going up" to Canaan signifies the ultimate fulfillment of the patriarchal longing to be buried in the Promised Land, a desire shared by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, pointing to their faith in God's covenant promises despite residing outside it for periods.

Genesis 50 6 Word analysis

• And Pharaoh said (וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה - vayyōmer Par‘ōh): Signifies a direct, immediate, and authoritative command or grant of permission from the highest secular power in Egypt. This response underscores Pharaoh's recognition of Joseph's significant status and the sanctity of the matter.
• Go up (עֲלֵה - ‘aleh): An imperative verb meaning "ascend" or "go up." This indicates a journey from the lower elevation of Egypt to the generally higher land of Canaan. It also carries symbolic weight, often referring to a pilgrimage or movement towards a sacred or more significant place in biblical texts.
• and bury (וּקְבֹר - ūqvōr): An imperative, direct command, highlighting the primary action required. Burial was a profoundly important rite in ancient cultures, expressing reverence for the deceased and maintaining proper communal order.
• your father (אֶת־אָבִיךָ - ʾet-ʾāvîkhā): Emphasizes the intensely personal and familial nature of the request. It is not just a general burial but the burial of "your father," appealing to the deeply ingrained sense of filial duty.
• according as (כַּאֲשֶׁר - ka'asher): A crucial comparative conjunction meaning "just as," "in accordance with," or "as." This links Pharaoh's approval directly to the condition Joseph specified – the oath. It reveals Pharaoh's respect for Joseph's honesty and integrity.
• he made you swear (הִשְׁבִּיעֶךָ - hishbî‘ēkhā): A Hiphil perfect form of the verb "shaba" (to swear). The Hiphil conjugation signifies "to cause to swear," or "to put under oath." This is significant because it indicates Jacob proactively bound Joseph by a solemn vow, not merely asking for a casual promise, making it a binding spiritual and moral obligation that even a pagan king honored.

• "And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father": This phrase demonstrates the authority of Pharaoh and his unhesitating consent. It indicates Joseph's exceptionally high standing in the Egyptian court, where his personal request for such a major undertaking was immediately granted, showcasing the profound respect for Joseph and, by extension, Jacob.
• "according as he made thee swear": This emphasizes the sanctity and binding nature of oaths in the ancient world, recognized even by rulers outside the Israelite covenant. Pharaoh's acknowledgment of this oath validates Joseph's need to fulfill his promise, reflecting a universal moral code where one's solemn word was a non-negotiable obligation. This also underscores Jacob's faith in obtaining such a powerful, binding promise from his son.

Genesis 50 6 Bonus section

The speed with which Pharaoh responds (implied by "And Pharaoh said" immediately after Joseph's address in v. 5) highlights the absence of political complications or internal opposition, emphasizing Joseph's established trust and influence. This specific Pharaoh, being accommodating, provides a stark contrast to future Egyptian rulers who would severely oppress the Israelites and reject God's demand for their departure. This earlier benevolent posture by Pharaoh facilitated a crucial moment in the Israelite narrative: Jacob, the last patriarch of Genesis, is brought back to the land promised by God, reaffirming the divine promise through physical presence, even after death. The elaborate nature of the funeral procession, as described in subsequent verses, could not have taken place without this explicit royal endorsement. The Hebrew phrase for "go up" (עֲלֵה) being used signifies a return to the homeland in a specific and meaningful way for the Israelite consciousness, establishing Canaan as the true place of belonging and spiritual inheritance.

Genesis 50 6 Commentary

Genesis 50:6 serves as a concise yet powerful illustration of several key themes: the sacredness of oaths, the deep importance of filial duty, and God's sovereignty operating even through secular rulers. Pharaoh's swift and clear approval for Joseph to fulfill his promise to Jacob underscores that in the ancient Near East, a solemn oath was a profoundly serious and binding commitment, a truth understood and respected across cultures, even pagan ones. This permission reflects not only Joseph's high esteem in Egypt but also a shared moral framework where word given was word honored. The journey "up" to Canaan for burial is more than a physical trek; it's an act of faith, symbolically fulfilling the patriarch's desire to rest in the promised land, foreshadowing the eventual mass exodus when God would lead His people "up" from Egypt to their inheritance, fulfilling His own greater oath. Joseph's faithfulness here perfectly mirrors God's own unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises across generations.

• Practical Examples:
  • Fulfilling promises diligently, whether small or significant.
  • Honoring family obligations with commitment and love.
  • Acknowledging the weight and consequence of one's words and vows.