What does Genesis 46:27 mean?
The middle part of Genesis chapter 46 lists and counts the official descendants of Jacob at or around the time of the family settling in the land of Egypt (Genesis 45:9–11; 46:1–4). The previous verse counted those entering the land with Jacob at sixty-six sons, grandsons, and one daughter and granddaughter. This does not seem to include the wives of Jacob's sons or grandsons.This verse adds in Jacob himself, along with Joseph and his two sons who already lived in the land of Egypt. That brings the total official count of the number of Jacob's large and extended household to seventy. This number may be a slight approximation. In the Old Testament, seventy is sometimes used to represent the completion of a group (Exodus 24:9; Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel 9:24).
From these seventy official descendants of Jacob in the land of Egypt, God will grow an uncountable nation, just as He had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:2; 22:17).
Genesis 46:8–27 pauses the story of Jacob's migration to Egypt to count his direct offspring around this time. The final tally of all Israelites, not counting the wives of the sons and grandsons, is 70. The text then resumes explaining Jacob's reunion with his son, Joseph.
Genesis 46 includes three basic sections. First, Jacob and his large family begin their journey with all their possessions towards their new home in Egypt. Jacob stops in Beersheba and offers sacrifices to God. God responds by assuring Jacob He will continue to be with him and multiply his people. The narrative pauses to count the current descendants of Jacob, then resumes with Jacob's arrival in the Goshen region of Egypt. Joseph meets him there for an emotional reunion. Then Joseph prepares the family to meet Pharaoh.