The Meaning of Genesis 46:3 Explained

Genesis 46:3

KJV: 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:

YLT: And He saith, 'I am God, God of thy father, be not afraid of going down to Egypt, for for a great nation I set thee there;

Darby: And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation.

ASV: 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:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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: 

What does Genesis 46:3 Mean?

Study Notes

I am God
It is important to distinguish between the directive and the permissive will of God. In the first sense the place for the covenant family was Canaan Genesis 26:1-5 ; Genesis 46:3 is a touching instance of the permissive will of God. Jacob's family, broken, and in part already in Egypt, the tenderness of Jehovah would not forbid the aged patriarch to follow. God will take up His people and, so far as possible, bless them, even when they are out of His best. In Israel's choice of a king 1 Samuel 8:7-9 in the turning back from Kadesh Deuteronomy 1:19-22 in the sending of the spies; in the case of Balaam--illustrations of this principle are seen. It is needless to say that God's permissive will never extends to things morally wrong. The highest blessing is ever found in obedience to His directive will.

Context Summary

Genesis 46:1-27 - Jacob And His Family Go To Egypt
Evidently Joseph's invitation to his father to come to him in Egypt aroused very earnest questionings in Jacob's soul. Was it a wise step for him to take? Perhaps he remembered Genesis 15:13, and dreaded to take the risk. Under these circumstances he went to Beersheba, the well of the oath, so intimately associated with the lives of Abraham and Isaac, and from which he had gone forth on his life's pilgrimage. There he offered special sacrifices and received special directions and promises. He was not only to go down into Egypt, but to go there under the divine guidance and protection. When we visit Egypt at our own impulse we shall land ourselves, as Abraham and Isaac did, in temptation and failure; but when God bids us go, we may make the journey with absolute impunity. Though we walk through the dark valley, we need not fear, if He be with us.
[source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 46

1  Jacob is comforted by God at Beersheba
5  Thence he with his company goes into Egypt
8  The number of his family that went into Egypt
28  Joseph meets Jacob
31  He instructs his brothers how to answer Pharaoh

What do the individual words in Genesis 46:3 mean?

So He said I [am] God the God of your father not do fear to go down to Egypt for a nation great I will make you there
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָנֹכִ֥י הָאֵ֖ל אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אַל־ תִּירָא֙ מֵרְדָ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יְמָה כִּֽי־ לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֥ שָֽׁם

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר  So  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אָנֹכִ֥י  I  [am] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
הָאֵ֖ל  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
אֱלֹהֵ֣י  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אָבִ֑יךָ  of  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
תִּירָא֙  do  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
מֵרְדָ֣ה  to  go  down 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
מִצְרַ֔יְמָה  to  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
לְג֥וֹי  a  nation 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
גָּד֖וֹל  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֥  I  will  make  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.