Jacob's Burial and Joseph's Death
Genesis 50
Joseph mourns his father, has him embalmed, and with Pharao's permission leads a great company up to Chanaan to bury Jacob in the cave near Mambre before returning to Egypt. Fearing Joseph's revenge, his brothers ask his forgiveness, and Joseph reassures them that though they intended evil, God turned it to good; the chapter closes with Joseph's own death in Egypt at a hundred and ten years, after he charges the sons of Israel to carry his bones out of Egypt when God visits them.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTHEN Joseph fell upon his father’s face and bewailed him and kissed him.
BrentonAnd Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept on him, and kissed him.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπιπεσὼν Ἰωσὴφ ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἔκλαυσεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐφίλησεν αὐτόν.
KJVAnd Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
JPSAnd Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
2
ThomsonAnd Joseph gave orders to his servants the embalmers to embalm his father.
BrentonAnd Joseph commanded his servants the embalmers to embalm his father; and the embalmers embalmed Israel.
GreekΚαὶ προσέταξεν Ἰωσὴφ τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ τοῖς ἐνταφιασταῖς, ἐνταφιάσαι τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐνεταφίασαν οἱ ἐνταφιασταὶ τὸν Ἰσραήλ.
KJVAnd Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
JPSAnd Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. And the physicians embalmed Israel.
3
ThomsonAnd when the embalmers had embalmed Israel, and completed his forty days; (for this is the time allowed for embalming) the Egyptians mourned for him, seventy days.
BrentonAnd they fulfilled forty days for him, for so are the days of embalming numbered; and Egypt mourned for him seventy days.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπλήρωσαν αὐτοῦ τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας· οὕτω γὰρ καταριθμοῦνται αἱ ἡμέραι τῆς ταφῆς· καὶ ἐπένθησεν αὐτὸν Αἴγυπτος ἑβδομήκοντα ἡμέρας.
KJVAnd forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
JPSAnd forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him threescore and ten days.
4
ThomsonAnd when the days of mourning were over, Joseph spoke to the princes of Pharao saying, If I have found favour in your sight, speak for me to Pharao and say,
BrentonAnd when the days of mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the princes of Pharao, saying, If I have found favour in your sight, speak concerning me in the ears of Pharao, saying,
GreekἘπεὶ δὲ παρῆλθον αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ πένθους, ἐλάλησεν Ἰωσὴφ πρὸς τοὺς δυνάστας Φαραὼ, λέγων, εἰ εὗρον χάριν ἐναντίον ὑμῶν, λαλήσατε περὶ ἐμοῦ εἰς τὰ ὦτα Φαραὼ, λέγοντες,
KJVAnd when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
JPSAnd when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke unto the house of Pharaoh, saying: ‘If now I have found favour in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying:
5
ThomsonMy father adjured me saying, In the tomb which I cut out for myself in the land of Chanaan there thou shalt bury me. Now therefore let me go up and bury my father and I will return again.
BrentonMy father adjured me, saying, In the sepulchre which I dug for myself in the land of Chanaan, there thou shalt bury me; now then I will go up and bury my father, and return again.
Greekὁ πατήρ μου ὥρκισέ με, λέγων, ἐν τῷ μνημείῳ, ᾧ ὤρυξα ἐμαυτῷ ἐν γῇ Χαναὰν, ἐκεῖ με θάψεις· νῦν οὖν ἀναβὰς· θάψω τὸν πατέρα μου, καὶ ἐπανελεύσομαι·
KJVMy father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
JPSMy father made me swear, saying: Lo, I die; in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come back.’ .
6
ThomsonAnd Pharao said to Joseph, Go up and bury thy father as he adjured thee.
BrentonAnd Pharao said to Joseph, Go up, bury thy father, as he constrained thee to swear.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Φαραὼ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ, ἀνάβηθι, θάψον τὸν πατέρα σου, καθάπερ ὥρκισέ σε.
KJVAnd Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
JPSAnd Pharaoh said: ‘Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.’
7
ThomsonSo Joseph went up to bury his father. And there went up with him all the servants of Pharao and the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
BrentonSo Joseph went up to bury his father; and all the servants of Pharao went up with him, and the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνέβη Ἰωσὴφ θάψαι τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ· καὶ συνανέβησαν μετʼ αὐτοῦ πάντες οἱ παῖδες Φαραὼ, καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντες οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῆς γῆς Αἰγύπτου,
KJVAnd Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
JPSAnd Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
8
Thomsonand all Joseph’s family and his brothers and all his father’s household and his kindred. But their flocks and herds they left in the land of Gesem.
BrentonAnd all the household of Joseph, and his brethren, and all the house of his father, and his kindred; and they left behind the sheep and the oxen in the land of Gesem.
Greekκαὶ πᾶσα ἡ πανοικία Ἰωσὴφ, καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πᾶσα ἡ οἰκία ἡ πατρικὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡ συγγένεια αὐτοῦ· καὶ τὰ πρόβατα, καὶ τοὺς βόας ὑπελίποντο ἐν γῇ Γεσέμ.
KJVAnd all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
JPSand all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house; only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
9
ThomsonThere went up also with him chariots and horsemen, so that the camp was very large.
BrentonAnd there went up with him also chariots and horsemen; and there was a very great company.
GreekΚαὶ συνανέβησαν μετʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἅρματα καὶ ἱππεῖς, καὶ ἐγένετο ἡ παρεμβολὴ μεγάλη σφόδρα.
KJVAnd there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
JPSAnd there went up with him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very great company.
10
ThomsonAnd when they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is on the bank of the Jordan, they mourned for him with a very great and sore lamentation. And he continued the mourning for his father seven days.
BrentonAnd they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan; and they bewailed him with a great and very sore lamentation; and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
GreekΚαὶ παρεγένοντο εἰς ἅλωνα Ἀτὰδ, ὅ ἐστι πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου· καὶ ἐκόψαντο αὐτὸν κοπετὸν μέγαν καὶ ἰσχυρὸν σφόδρα· καὶ ἐποίησε τὸ πένθος τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας.
KJVAnd they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
JPSAnd they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they wailed with a very great and sore wailing; and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
11
ThomsonAnd when the inhabitants of the land of Chanaan saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, This is a great grief to the Egyptians. For this cause they called its name Grief of Egypt. It is on the bank of the Jordan.
BrentonAnd the inhabitants of the land of Chanaan saw the mourning at the floor of Atad, and said, This is a great mourning to the Egyptians; therefore he called its name, The mourning of Egypt, which is beyond Jordan.
GreekΚαὶ εἶδον οἱ κάτοικοι τῆς γῆς Χαναὰν τὸ πένθος ἐπὶ ἅλωνι Ἀτὰδ, καὶ εἶπαν, πένθος μέγα τοῦτό ἐστι τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, Πένθος Αἰγύπτου, ὅ ἐστι πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου.
KJVAnd when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
JPSAnd when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said: ‘This is a grievous amourning to the Egyptians.’ Wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
12
ThomsonWhen his sons had done this for him—
BrentonAnd thus his sons did to him.
GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ οὕτως οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
JPSAnd his sons did unto him according as he commanded them.
13
Thomsonwhen they had carried him to the land of Chanaan and buried him in the double cave—the cave which Abraham bought for the possession of a burying place from Ephron the Chettite over against Mambre,
BrentonSo his sons carried him up into the land of Chanaan, and buried him in the double cave, which cave Abraam bought for possession of a burying place, of Ephrom the Chettite, before Mambre.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνέλαβον αὐτὸν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς γῆν Χαναάν· καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ σπήλαιον τὸ διπλοῦν, ὃ ἐκτήσατο Ἁβραὰμ τὸ σπήλαιον ἐν κτήσει μνημείου παρὰ Ἐφρὼν τοῦ Χετταίου, κατέναντι Μαμβρή.
KJVFor his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
JPSFor his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burying-place, of Ephron the Hittite, in front of Mamre.
14
Thomsonthen Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brethren and those who went up with him to bury his father.
BrentonAnd Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brethren, and those that had gone up with him to bury his father.
GreekΚαὶ ὑπέστρεψεν Ἰωσὴφ εἰς Αἴγυπτον, αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οἱ συναναβάντες θάψαι τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
JPSAnd Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
15
ThomsonNow when Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, Perhaps Joseph may bear us a grudge and requite us for all the ills which we have done to him.
BrentonAnd when the brethren of Joseph saw that their father was dead, they said, Let us take heed, lest at any time Joseph remember evil against us, and recompense to us all the evils which we have done against him.
GreekἸδόντες δὲ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ Ἰωσὴφ, ὅτι τέθνηκεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῶν, εἶπαν, μή ποτε μνησικακήσῃ ἡμῖν Ἰωσὴφ, καὶ ἀνταπόδομα ἀνταποδῷ ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ κακὰ, ἃ ἐνεδειξάμεθα εἰς αὐτὸν.
KJVAnd when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
JPSAnd when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said: ‘It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him.’
16
ThomsonSo they came to Joseph and said, Our father before he died adjured us saying,
BrentonAnd they came to Joseph, and said, Thy father adjured us before his death, saying,
GreekΚαὶ παραγενόμενοι πρὸς Ἰωσὴφ εἶπαν, ὁ πατήρ σου ὥρκισε πρὸ τοῦ τελευτῆσαι αὐτὸν, λέγων,
KJVAnd they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
JPSAnd they sent a message unto Joseph, saying: ‘Thy father did command before he died, saying:
17
ThomsonThus shall you say to Joseph, Forgive them their iniquity and their sin for having done thee evil. Now therefore forgive the iniquity of the servants of the God of thy father. And while they were speaking to him, Joseph wept.
BrentonThus say ye to Joseph, Forgive them their injustice and their sin, forasmuch as they have done thee evil; and now pardon the injustice of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept while they spoke to him.
Greekοὕτως εἴπατε Ἰωσήφ· ἄφες αὐτοῖς τὴν ἀδικίαν καὶ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτῶν, ὅτι πονηρά σοι ἐνεδείξαντο· καὶ νῦν δέξαι τὴν ἀδικίαν τῶν θεραπόντων τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ πατρός σου· καὶ ἔκλαυσεν Ἰωσὴφ λαλούντων αὐτῶν πρὸς αὐτόν.
KJVSo shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
JPSSo shall ye say unto Joseph: Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father.’ And Joseph wept when they spoke unto him.
18
ThomsonAnd they came near to him and said, We are thy servants,
BrentonAnd they came to him and said, We, these persons, are thy servants.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλθόντες πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπαν, οἵδε ἡμεῖς σοὶ οἰκέται.
KJVAnd his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
JPSAnd his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said: ‘Behold, we are thy bondmen.’
19
Thomsonupon which Joseph said to them, Fear not, for I am God’s servant.
BrentonAnd Joseph said to them, Fear not, for I am God's.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἰωσὴφ, μὴ φοβεῖσθε, τοῦ γὰρ Θεοῦ εἰμι ἐγώ.
KJVAnd Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
JPSAnd Joseph said unto them: ‘Fear not; for am I in the place of God?
20
ThomsonYou indeed consulted against me for evil: but God determined concerning me for good, to bring to pass as at this day, that much people might be nourished.
BrentonYe took counsel against me for evil, but God took counsel for me for good, that the matter might be as it is to-day, and much people might be fed.
GreekὙμεῖς ἐβουλεύσασθε κατʼ ἐμοῦ εἰς πονηρὰ, ὁ δὲ Θεὸς ἐβουλεύσατο περὶ ἐμοῦ εἰς ἀγαθὰ, ὅπως ἂν γενηθῇ ὡς σήμερον, καὶ τραφῇ λαὸς πολύς.
KJVBut as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
JPSAnd as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21
ThomsonMoreover he said to them, Be not afraid. I will continue to nourish you and your families. So he comforted them, and spoke affectionately to them.
BrentonAnd he said to them, Fear not, I will maintain you, and your families: and he comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ἐγὼ διαθρέψω ὑμᾶς, καὶ τὰς οἰκίας ὑμῶν· καὶ παρεκάλεσεν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐλάλησεν αὐτῶν εἰς τὴν καρδίαν.
KJVNow therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
JPSNow therefore fear ye not; I will sustain you, and your little ones.’ And he comforted them, and spoke kindly unto them.
22
ThomsonAnd Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his brothers and all his father’s family.
BrentonAnd Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his brethren, and all the family of his father; and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.
GreekΚαὶ κατῴκησεν Ἰωσὴφ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πᾶσα ἡ πανοικία τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἔζησεν Ἰωσὴφ ἔτη ἑκατὸν δέκα.
KJVAnd Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
JPSAnd Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house; and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.
23
ThomsonAnd when Joseph had lived a hundred and ten years and saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation; and the children of Machir the son of Manasses were also dandled on his knees;
BrentonAnd Joseph saw the children of Ephraim to the third generation; and the sons of Machir the son of Manasse were borne on the sides of Joseph.
GreekΚαὶ εἶδεν Ἰωσὴφ Ἐφραὶμ παιδία, ἕως τρίτης γενεᾶς· καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Μαχεὶρ τοῦ υἱοῦ Μανασσῆ ἐτέχθησαν ἐπὶ μηρῶν Ἰωσήφ.
KJVAnd Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.
JPSAnd Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation; the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph’s knees.
24
ThomsonJoseph spoke to his brothers, saying, I die, but God will assuredly visit you and conduct you out of this land into the land which God with an oath gave to our fathers, Abraham, Isaak and Jacob.
BrentonAnd Joseph spoke to his brethren, saying, I die, and God will surely visit you, and will bring you out of this land to the land concerning which God sware to our fathers, Abraam, Isaac, and Jacob.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἰωσὴφ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ, λέγων, ἐγὼ ἀποθνήσκω· ἐπισκοπῇ δὲ ἐπισκέψεται ὁ Θεὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἀνάξει ὑμᾶς ἐκ τῆς γῆς ταύτης εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἣν ὤμοσεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν, Ἁβραὰμ, Ἰσαὰκ, καὶ Ἰακώβ.
KJVAnd Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
JPSAnd Joseph said unto his brethren: ‘I die; but God will surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.’
25
ThomsonAnd Joseph adjured the children of Israel saying, In the visitation wherewith God will visit you, you shall carry my bones hence with you.
BrentonAnd Joseph adjured the sons of Israel, saying, At the visitation with which God shall visit you, then ye shall carry up my bones hence with you.
GreekΚαὶ ὥρκισεν Ἰωσὴφ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ, λέγων, ἐν τῇ ἐπισκοπῇ ᾗ ἐπισκέψηται ὁ Θεὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ συνανοίσετε τὰ ὀστᾶ μου ἐντεῦθεν μεθʼ ὑμῶν.
KJVAnd Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
JPSAnd Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying: ‘God will surely remember you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.’
26
ThomsonSo Joseph died being a hundred and ten years old, and when they had embalmed him they put him into a coffin in Egypt.
BrentonAnd Joseph died, aged an hundred and ten years; and they prepared his corpse, and put him in a coffin in Egypt.
GreekΚαὶ ἐτελεύτησεν Ἰωσὴφ ἐτῶν ἑκατὸν δέκα· καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἔθηκαν ἐν τῇ σορῷ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ.
KJVSo Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
JPSSo Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old. And they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.