And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

EXODUS 13:19KJV
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Exodus 13:19 (KJV)

What does Exodus 13:19 mean?

Exodus 13:19 describes how Moses took the bones of Joseph with him when the Israelites left Egypt, because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath to carry his remains with them when God delivered them. This verse shows the Israelites honoring Joseph’s request and trusting in God’s promise to bring them out of Egypt.

Moses is leading the Israelites out of slavery, and as they prepare to leave, he makes sure to fulfill a promise made generations earlier. Joseph, a key ancestor who had died in Egypt, had made the people swear to take his bones back to their homeland when God rescued them. This act connects the Exodus to earlier promises and shows the Israelites remembering their history and God’s faithfulness.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 13:19

  • "Bones" (עֶצֶם, etsem): This word means bones or remains, highlighting that Moses is not just taking a symbolic item, but the actual physical remains of Joseph, emphasizing respect for the dead and the importance of burial in the promised land.
  • "Straitly sworn" (שָׁבַע, shava): The repetition in the Hebrew (literally "swearing he made them swear") stresses how serious and binding Joseph’s request was, showing this was a solemn oath, not a casual promise.
  • "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim) and "surely visit" (פָּקַד, paqad): The phrase "God will surely visit you" uses a form that doubles the verb, making it emphatic—Joseph was completely confident that God would act on behalf of his people.

Why Exodus 13:19 matters

  • This verse ties the story of the Exodus back to the promises made to the patriarchs, showing that God’s faithfulness spans generations and that the people did not forget their ancestors’ hopes.
  • It clears up any idea that the Exodus was only about escape; it was also about fulfilling old promises and carrying forward the memory and faith of those who came before.
  • The verse helps explain why Joseph’s bones are later buried in Canaan (Joshua 24:32), connecting the journey out of Egypt to the eventual settlement in the promised land.

Where else these words appear

“bones” Hebrew H6106 · used in 108 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • 2 Kings 13:21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
  • Proverbs 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.