Genesis 50:7 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 50:7 kjv
And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
Genesis 50:7 nkjv
So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
Genesis 50:7 niv
So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh's officials accompanied him?the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt?
Genesis 50:7 esv
So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
Genesis 50:7 nlt
So Joseph went up to bury his father. He was accompanied by all of Pharaoh's officials, all the senior members of Pharaoh's household, and all the senior officers of Egypt.
Genesis 50 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 47:29-31 | "when the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, '...please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers...'" | Jacob's dying wish to be buried in Canaan, fulfilled by Joseph. |
| Gen 49:29-32 | "Then he charged them and said to them: 'I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite...'" | Jacob's specific burial instructions, location. |
| Gen 50:13 | "For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a burial place..." | Fulfillment of the burial instructions and covenant land connection. |
| Gen 23:17-20 | "So the field of Ephron...the cave that was in it, and all the trees...were deeded to Abraham...Abraham buried Sarah his wife there in the cave..." | Original purchase of Machpelah cave for burial, a patriarchal burial site. |
| Gen 24:66-67 | "...Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent...Thus Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death." | Illustrates ancient burial practices and familial comfort. |
| Gen 25:9-10 | "And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah..." | Abraham's burial in the same family plot. |
| Gen 35:29 | "...And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him." | Isaac's burial by his sons, illustrating filial duty. |
| Exod 13:19 | "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, 'God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.'" | Joseph's own desire for burial in Canaan, echoing Jacob's. |
| Heb 11:22 | "By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones." | Highlights Joseph's faith and belief in God's promises through his burial wish. |
| Exod 20:12 | "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." | General principle of honoring parents, embodied by Joseph's actions. |
| Eph 6:2-3 | "'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 'that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.'" | New Testament reaffirmation of honoring parents. |
| Prov 23:22 | "Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old." | Wisdom literature emphasizing respect for parents. |
| Ruth 1:16-17 | "...where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried." | Dedication and commitment unto death and burial. |
| 2 Sam 3:31 | "Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, 'Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.'" | Examples of significant public mourning rites. |
| Luke 7:12-13 | "When He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother...and when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, 'Do not weep.'" | Portrayal of a funeral procession and public sorrow. |
| Jer 34:5 | "...you shall die in peace; as your fathers, the former kings who were before you, burned incense for them, so they shall burn incense for you and lament for you..." | Mention of kingly funeral rites, similar reverence shown to Jacob. |
| Zech 12:11 | "In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo." | Description of a massive, widespread lamentation. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-17 | "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake...Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." | Principle of respecting authority figures, applied to Pharaoh's representatives. |
| Rom 13:7 | "Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor." | Ethical imperative to give due honor to people. |
| Gen 15:13-16 | "Then He said to Abram: 'Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs...But in the fourth generation they shall return here...'" | Foreshadowing of the Israelites' return to Canaan, a key aspect of their faith and the patriarch's burial wish. |
| Gen 50:9 | "And with him went both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great company." | Reinforces the magnitude of the funeral procession, the "great company." |
| Josh 24:32 | "The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried in Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought..." | Final fulfillment of Joseph's own burial wish, connecting him to the same land. |
Genesis 50 verses
Genesis 50 7 meaning
This verse describes the grand departure of the funerary procession carrying Jacob's body from Egypt to Canaan for burial. It highlights Joseph's filial piety in fulfilling his father's final request and underscores his elevated status in Egypt, as evidenced by the high-ranking Egyptian dignitaries accompanying them, showing immense respect for Joseph and, by extension, his deceased father.
Genesis 50 7 Context
Genesis chapter 50 opens with Joseph weeping over his father, Jacob, kissing him. The preceding verses (Gen 50:1-3) detail Jacob's embalming, a process common in ancient Egypt and signifying great respect, taking the customary 40 days, followed by 30 days of mourning for a total of 70 days – a period traditionally associated with royal mourning in Egypt. Pharaoh's servants, upon seeing Joseph's grief, request permission from Pharaoh for Joseph to fulfill his solemn vow to his father concerning his burial place. Pharaoh grants this request due to Joseph's high standing. Verse 7 specifically describes the commencement of this extraordinary journey. It highlights Joseph's complete devotion to his father's final wishes, even after embalming. The extensive delegation from Pharaoh and the Egyptian elders underscore the respect Joseph commanded in Egypt and the diplomatic significance of the patriarch's passing. This solemn procession of Egyptians accompanying Jacob's sons to Canaan bridged two cultures and testified to Jacob's spiritual significance as well as Joseph's political power. The journey itself marks the last major interaction between the patriarchal family and the Egyptians for several centuries until the Exodus.
Genesis 50 7 Word analysis
- So Joseph went up (וַיַּעַל יוֹסֵף - wayya‘al Yosef):
- went up (wayya‘al): Derived from the Hebrew verb alah (עָלָה), meaning "to go up," "ascend," or "rise." This term often implies a significant, elevated journey, particularly in the biblical narrative where going from Egypt to Canaan is considered "going up," reflecting Canaan's geographical elevation relative to the Nile Valley and its spiritual significance as the Promised Land. It contrasts with going down to Egypt. It emphasizes a departure from Egypt's confines and an ascent towards the land of promise and ancestral burial.
- to bury his father (לְקַבֵּר אֶת־אָבִיו - leqabber et-’aviv):
- to bury (leqabber): Infinitive construct of the verb qabar (קָבַר), meaning "to bury," "inter." This act of burial was profoundly important in ancient Near Eastern culture, reflecting honor, respect, and proper care for the deceased, ensuring peace in the afterlife according to their beliefs. For the patriarchs, it also underscored the continuity of the covenant line and a physical connection to the promised land, even in death. It's an act of filial piety.
- his father (’aviv): Refers to Jacob (Israel). Joseph's devotion here demonstrates a high degree of obedience and love for his father, fulfilling a solemn oath.
- and with him went up (וַיַּעֲלוּ אִתּוֹ - wayya‘alu ’itto): Reinforces the joint nature of this expedition and the considerable number of people accompanying Joseph.
- all the servants of Pharaoh (כָּל־עַבְדֵי פַרְעֹה - kol-‘avdey Par‘oh):
- all (kol): Denotes totality, emphasizing the comprehensiveness and significance of the Egyptian representation. Not just a few, but a full retinue.
- servants of Pharaoh (‘avdey Par‘oh): These were high-ranking officials and royal attendants, demonstrating Pharaoh's personal regard for Joseph and the symbolic significance given to Jacob's funeral by the highest political authority in Egypt. This showcases Joseph's unparalleled influence and honor in Egyptian court.
- the elders of his household (זִקְנֵי בֵיתוֹ - ziqney veyto):
- elders (ziqney): From zaqen (זָקֵן), meaning "old" but also "wise" or "distinguished." In ancient societies, elders held positions of authority, wisdom, and leadership. These were senior, respected members of Pharaoh's inner court or administrative staff directly associated with Joseph. This implies Joseph himself was seen as the head of a major "household" within the royal administration.
- his household (veyto): Refers to Joseph's official administrative household or his immediate retinue given his status as viceroy.
- and all the elders of the land of Egypt (וְכֹל זִקְנֵי אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם - vekhol ziqney ’erets Mitsrayim):
- all (kol): Again, emphasizing comprehensiveness, showing a broad national participation beyond just Pharaoh's immediate staff or Joseph's personal entourage.
- elders of the land of Egypt (ziqney ’erets Mitsrayim): These were representatives of the entire socio-political fabric of Egypt, leaders from various regions or institutions. This level of participation for the burial of a non-Egyptian patriarch is extraordinary and unprecedented, reflecting not only the reverence for Jacob, but more so the immense power and prestige Joseph wielded in Egypt, orchestrated by divine favor. It's a grand display of Joseph's political sway.
Genesis 50 7 Bonus section
- The Aliyah Concept: The repeated phrase "went up" (aliya) is a loaded term in biblical geography and theology. It often refers to going to Jerusalem (the aliyah to Jerusalem), signifying a pilgrimage or spiritual ascent. Here, it denotes going from the fertile, albeit foreign, land of Egypt, which represents servitude later, to the Promised Land of Canaan, representing the inheritance and divine promise. Even in death, Jacob "goes up" to the land of covenant.
- Diplomatic Grandeur: This procession was a diplomatic event of immense proportions, a rare public display of cooperation and mutual respect between the Egyptian state and a prominent Israelite family head. Such an elaborate and respectful burial for a non-native would have been exceptional, signifying Jacob's status by proxy through Joseph, and implicitly, God's hand on Jacob's family.
- Final Resting Place as Promise: Jacob's insistence on being buried in Canaan, specifically in the cave of Machpelah with his ancestors (Gen 49:29-32), reflects a profound belief in the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham regarding the land. It’s not just a familial tradition but a testament of faith, that even in death, his identity and hope are rooted in the Promised Land. This foreshadows the eventual exodus of his descendants.
Genesis 50 7 Commentary
Genesis 50:7 describes a procession of unparalleled magnificence for the burial of Jacob, demonstrating the extraordinary stature Joseph had attained in Egypt, truly a viceroy with ultimate authority next to Pharaoh. The assembly was not merely Joseph's immediate family but included "all the servants of Pharaoh" and "all the elders of the land of Egypt." This massive governmental presence underscores the deep respect and diplomatic honor shown not just to the deceased patriarch but also, more directly, to Joseph, whose power and influence made such an escort possible. The "going up" to Canaan signifies the patriarch's return, in death, to the promised land, fulfilling his ardent desire and oath, a powerful affirmation of the Abrahamic covenant. It's a stark, momentary connection between two distinct peoples (Israel and Egypt) before the descent into Egyptian bondage, making the grandeur all the more poignant as it marks the end of an era of favor. The emphasis on filial piety (Joseph burying his father) is also central, highlighting a foundational tenet of the covenant relationship – honoring parents – which God promises to bless. This grand display was God's honor on His servant Jacob and a testament to Joseph's enduring faithfulness.