Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel.
- KJV And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
- BSB And Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him,
- NKJV And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.
- NLT Then Joseph told the physicians who served him to embalm his father’s body; so Jacob was embalmed.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joseph has the physicians embalm Israel according to Egyptian custom.
Overview
Embalming prepared the body for the long journey to Canaan and reflects Joseph's high standing in Egypt. The act shows respectful care while also serving the practical aim of fulfilling Jacob's burial wishes. It illustrates how God's people may wisely use the customs around them to honor godly purposes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 2 Chr 16:14They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in David’s city, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire for him.
- Gen 50:26So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
- Mark 16:1When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
- John 19:39–40Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds.
- Matt 26:12For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
- Luke 24:1But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.
- John 12:7But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.
- Mark 14:8She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 50:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.