Bible Strands
Genesis 47:7
Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Joseph brings his father Jacob into Pharaoh’s court after Pharaoh grants land to Jacob’s family. Jacob then stands before the Egyptian ruler and offers him a blessing.
The words — וַיַּעֲמִדֵהוּ (va.ya.ʿamîḏēhû) literally means “and he made him stand,” denoting Joseph’s formal presentation of Jacob. לִפְנֵי (lipnê) translates as “before,” marking Jacob’s physical placement in Pharaoh’s royal presence.
The thread — The blessing exchange mirrors Exodus 12:32, where Pharaoh tells Israel to depart and bless him. Genesis 47:10 records the same blessing again just before Jacob leaves Pharaoh’s presence.
Why it lands — The text states that a patriarch blesses a foreign ruler without recording Pharaoh’s response or Jacob’s words. Readers must note the structural reversal of authority and the absence of theological explanation for the blessing’s reception.
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 Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
Cross-references
- Genesis 47:10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and departed from his presence.
- Genesis 35:27 Jacob returned to his father Isaac at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.
- Exodus 12:32 Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also.”
- Numbers 6:23 “Tell Aaron and his sons: This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
- Joshua 14:13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.
- 1 Samuel 2:20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.” Then they would go home.
- 2 Samuel 8:10 he sent his son Joram to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze,
- 2 Samuel 14:22 Joab fell facedown in homage and blessed the king. “Today,” said Joab, “your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his request.”
- 2 Samuel 19:39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.
- 1 Kings 1:47 The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,