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    Genesis 47 (KJV)

    Read Genesis chapter 47 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Genesis 47

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    Genesis 47 Summary

    Genesis 47 records Jacob's family settling in Egypt. Joseph presents his father to Pharaoh, and Jacob blesses the Egyptian ruler. The family is given the best land of Goshen. Meanwhile, Joseph administers Egypt through the famine, acquiring all money, livestock, and land for Pharaoh in exchange for grain.

    As Jacob nears death at 147 years old, he makes Joseph swear to bury him in Canaan, not in Egypt. This request reveals Jacob's enduring faith in God's promise that Canaan—not Egypt—is the true homeland of Abraham's descendants.

    Key Themes

    Settlement in GoshenJacob blesses PharaohFamine administrationFaith in the promiseBurial covenant

    Key Verses in Genesis 47

    "And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been."

    — Genesis 47:9

    Jacob's honest assessment of life as a pilgrimage reflects a mature faith that sees earthly life as temporary.

    Life Application

    Jacob's insistence on being buried in Canaan teaches us to hold our present comforts loosely while clinging to God's eternal promises. Where we find provision is not always where we find our true home.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why did Jacob call his life 'few and evil'?

    Despite living 130 years at this point, Jacob's life was marked by conflict, deception, exile, grief over Joseph, and hard labor. Compared to his ancestors Abraham (175 years) and Isaac (180 years), his years felt both shorter and harder.