Genesis 46:8

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 46:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And these are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob`s first-born.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And these are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob`s first-born.
Genesis 46:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 46

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8And these are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob`s first-born.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And these [are] the names of the children of Israel which came into Egypt, etc.] Not meaning precisely Jacob’s seed and offspring, but the body of the people of Israel, as they were when they went into Egypt, including Jacob himself: Jacob and his sons; for he went with them to Egypt, and was the head and principal of them: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn; (see <012932>Genesis 29:32).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten--Strictly speaking, there were only sixty-six went to Egypt; but to these add Joseph and his two sons, and Jacob the head of the clan, and the whole number amounts to seventy. In the speech of Stephen (Act 7:14) the number is stated to be seventy-five; but as that estimate includes five sons of Ephraim and Manasseh (Ch1 7:14-20), born in Egypt, the two accounts coincide.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- Jacob Goes Down to Egypt 9. פלוּא pallû', Pallu, “distinguished.” חצרן chetsrôn, Chetsron, of the “court,” or “village.” כרמי karmı̂y, Karmi, “vine-dresser.” 10. ימוּאל yemû'êl, Jemuel, “day of El.” ימין yâmı̂yn, Jamin, “right hand.” אהד 'ôhad, Ohad, “joining together.” יכין yâkı̂yn, Jakin, “he shall establish.” צחר tsôchar, Tsochar, “whiteness.” 11. גרשׁון gêreshôn, Gereshon, “expelling.” קהת qehâth, Qehath, “assembly.” מררי merârı̂y, Merari, “flowing, bitter.” 12. חמוּל châmûl, Chamul, “pitied, treated with mercy.” 13. תולע tôlâ‛, Tola‘, “worm, scarlet.” פוּה pû'âh, Puvvah, “mouth?” יוב yôb, Job, “enemy?” שׂמרן śı̂mrôn, Shimron, “watch.” 14. סרד sered, Sered, “fear.”…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“46:8-27 This genealogy of the sons of Jacob shows that all the tribes of Israel went together to the land of Egypt; they would all leave together as well (see the book of Exodus).”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification