Genesis 47:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

NIV: Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed Pharaoh,

NASB: Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

CSB: Joseph then brought his father Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

NLT: Then Joseph brought in his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

KJV: And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

NKJV: Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

The Pharaoh (Genesis 45:16–20) has concluded his audience with Joseph's brothers. Using Joseph as the main point of contact, he has granted their request to settle in the land of Goshen (Genesis 47:5–6). The formal decision has been pronounced, and the matter is settled. Now Joseph brings his father Jacob in before the Pharaoh. As he will himself say, Jacob is extremely old and frail (Genesis 47:8). It's possible Joseph had to physically help his father stand before Pharaoh.

Jacob initiates the conversation by blessing Pharaoh, something he will do as he leaves, as well. The blessing of Jacob is no small thing. He himself is uniquely blessed by God in all the world. All the promises and blessings of God given to Abraham and Isaac have been given to him. Jacob's blessing would carry the weight of one specially connected to the one true God.

Genesis 47:1–12 describes how Joseph's family officially arrived as landowners in Egypt. They are given the fertile region of Goshen. At court, Joseph's brothers formally request permission to settle there, and Jacob blesses Pharaoh twice. Pharaoh gives Joseph the authority to give his family enough land in Goshen to accommodate their herds and growing families. Joseph also begins to distribute a regular allotment of food to each member of his extended family.

Genesis 47 begins with Pharaoh interviewing Joseph's brothers and father before granting their request to settle in the region of Goshen in Egypt. Just as Joseph had hoped, his family is secure. The rest of the people of Egypt and Canaan are not. Most run out of money and can no longer buy food from Joseph. On Pharaoh's behalf, Joseph trades food for their livestock and then their land and even their freedom. Nearly all people will be required to pay to Pharaoh 20 percent of their harvest each year from this time forward. After several years, Jacob asks Joseph to swear that he will bury Jacob's body with his fathers in Canaan.

After describing the family's journey from Canaan and their arrival in Egypt in chapter 46, this passage opens on a formal conversation between Pharaoh and Joseph's family. He officially grants their request to settle in Egypt. As the famine continues, citizens of Egypt and Canaan turn over their money, land, and livestock to Joseph in exchange for food. The final three chapters of Genesis explain Jacob's dying blessings, and the passing of both Jacob and Joseph.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/3/2024 9:26:53 AM