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God’s Promise to Jacob in Genesis 46:4

In Genesis 46:4, Jehovah reassures Jacob with a significant promise:

“I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I myself will also bring you back from there, and Joseph will lay his hand on your eyes.”

This verse has led to some debate over its exact meaning. At first glance, it may appear as though God was personally promising Jacob that he would physically return to Canaan. However, when considering the broader biblical context, it becomes clear that the fulfillment of this promise had multiple layers—both immediate and future.

Did Jacob Ever Return to Canaan?

The immediate question that arises is whether Jacob himself was ever brought out of Egypt. The answer depends on what is meant by “bringing him back.” Genesis 49:33 states that Jacob died in Egypt:

“When Jacob finished instructing his sons he drew his feet up to the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.”

This confirms that Jacob did not return to Canaan alive. However, his body was transported back to the Promised Land for burial, which aligns with a part of God’s promise. Genesis 50:12-13 details how Jacob’s sons fulfilled his request:

“Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them; for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite, facing Mamre.”

Jacob was buried in the same location as Abraham and Isaac, ensuring that his physical remains rested in the land that God had promised to his descendants.

Was the Promise to Jacob or to His Descendants?

A closer look at the context of Genesis 46:3-4 suggests that the promise was not only to Jacob personally but also to his descendants. In verse 3, God tells Jacob:

“Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.”

This statement reveals that the broader scope of God’s promise involved the entire nation of Israel, not just Jacob as an individual. The promise that Jehovah would “bring you back” was ultimately fulfilled through the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt under Moses centuries later.

This understanding is reinforced in Genesis 50:25, where Joseph made the Israelites swear that they would bring his bones out of Egypt:

“Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.’”

This promise was eventually fulfilled in Exodus 13:19:

“Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.'”

Just as Joseph’s remains were carried out of Egypt during the Exodus, Jacob’s body had been brought back earlier. In this way, God’s promise to Jacob was partially fulfilled in a physical sense through his burial and in a national sense through the deliverance of his descendants.

Could There Be a Future Fulfillment?

Another aspect to consider is whether this promise extends beyond Jacob’s burial and the Exodus. In light of biblical teaching about the resurrection, Jacob will indeed be “brought back” to the land when God restores His faithful servants in the future resurrection.

Jesus pointed to the continued existence of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Matthew 22:31-32:

“But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Since the patriarchs are still considered “living” in God’s plan, it is reasonable to conclude that Jacob will one day return to the land of Canaan after his resurrection. This is in harmony with God’s long-term plan for His faithful ones.

Conclusion

Jacob physically died in Egypt, and his body was returned to Canaan for burial. However, the full promise in Genesis 46:4 extended beyond Jacob himself—it encompassed the future deliverance of his descendants and potentially his personal restoration in the resurrection. The exodus of Israel under Moses fulfilled the national aspect of the promise, while Jacob’s personal return may yet be realized when God’s kingdom is fully established.

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About the author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).