And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:

GENESIS 46:6KJV
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Genesis 46:6 (KJV)

What does Genesis 46:6 mean?

Genesis 46:6 describes how Jacob and his entire family gathered all their livestock and possessions they had acquired in Canaan and traveled to Egypt together. This verse marks the moment when Jacob and his descendants physically relocate from Canaan to Egypt, bringing everything they own with them.

At this point in Genesis, Jacob is responding to Joseph’s invitation to move to Egypt during a time of famine. The verse emphasizes that not only Jacob, but all his "seed"—meaning his children and descendants—make the journey, highlighting the unity and completeness of the family’s migration. The mention of their cattle and goods shows that this was a permanent move, not just a visit, and sets the stage for the Israelites’ later life in Egypt.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 46:6

  • "Cattle" (מִקְנֶה, miqneh) refers specifically to livestock, which was a primary measure of wealth and livelihood in ancient times. The detail shows the family was moving their entire means of living, not just themselves.
  • "Goods" (רְכוּשׁ, rekush) means possessions or property, emphasizing that everything valuable to the family was taken along.
  • "Seed" (זֶרַע, zera‘) is often used for descendants or offspring, underlining that the whole family line was included in the move, not just immediate children.

Why Genesis 46:6 matters

  • Genesis 46:6 clarifies that the move to Egypt was total and deliberate, not a temporary relocation or partial migration.
  • The verse connects the story of Jacob’s family directly to the later narrative of the Israelites in Egypt, explaining how they came to be there in the first place.
  • By mentioning both cattle and goods, Genesis 46:6 highlights the seriousness and permanence of the migration, showing that Jacob’s family intended to settle in Egypt for the foreseeable future.

Where else these words appear

“gotten” Hebrew H7408 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
  • Genesis 31:18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
  • Genesis 36:6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.

“goods” Hebrew H7399 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
  • Genesis 36:7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.

“cattle” Hebrew H4735 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
  • Exodus 9:4 And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.
  • Judges 18:21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

“Canaan” Hebrew H3667 · used in 91 verses

  • Genesis 9:18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
  • Genesis 45:17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
  • Numbers 35:14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.