Bible Strands
Genesis 46:3
“I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks to Jacob (Israel) in a night vision immediately before the family prepares to migrate to Egypt.
The words — אָנֹכִי (ʾānōkî) literally means "I," paired with הָאֵל (hāʾēl) "[am] the God," forming the direct declaration "I am God." אַל־תִּירָא (ʾal-tîrʾā) translates as "do not be afraid," directly addressing the fear of the journey south.
The thread — The promise to make the family a "great nation" runs through Genesis 12:2 and Deuteronomy 26:5, while the command to "not fear" echoes Isaiah 43:1.
Why it lands — The text demands a practical response to divine reassurance by proceeding with the migration to Egypt without hesitation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
Cross-references
- Genesis 12:2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
- Deuteronomy 26:5 and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous.
- Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
- Acts 27:24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’
- Genesis 26:2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you.
- Genesis 28:13 And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie.
- Genesis 35:11 And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.
- Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Genesis 13:15 for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever.
- Genesis 15:1 After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”