Genesis 50:6 (KJV)

What does Genesis 50:6 mean?

Genesis 50:6 records Pharaoh granting Joseph permission to leave Egypt and bury his father, just as Joseph had promised Jacob he would do. Pharaoh’s response shows official approval and respect for Joseph’s family obligations.

In this verse, Pharaoh is speaking directly to Joseph after Joseph asks to go bury his father Jacob in Canaan, fulfilling an oath he made. The verse highlights the trust and favor Joseph had with Pharaoh, as well as the importance placed on honoring family commitments and burial customs in ancient times.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 50:6

• "Go up" (עָלָה, ‘alah): This word often means to ascend or travel to a higher place. In the context of Egypt and Canaan, Canaan was geographically higher, so “go up” reflects both the physical journey and the common biblical way of describing travel to the land of the ancestors.
• "Swear" (שָׁבַע, shava’): This word means to make a solemn oath. Pharaoh’s mention of Joseph’s oath underlines the seriousness of Joseph’s promise to his father and why Pharaoh honors it.

Why Genesis 50:6 matters

• Genesis 50:6 shows the high level of trust and respect between Joseph and Pharaoh, which is significant given Joseph’s foreign origin and high position in Egypt.
• The verse emphasizes the importance of keeping promises, especially those made to family members, in the biblical narrative.
• This moment sets the stage for the fulfillment of Jacob’s wishes and the return of his body to the land promised to his ancestors, connecting the end of Genesis to the larger story of God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.