Genesis 46 in the early church
71 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 46, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 11 · 12 · 15 · 20 · 25 · 26 · 27 · 28 · 29 · 30 · 31 · 32 · 33 · 34
Genesis 46:1
So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:1 | On Jacob and the Happy Life 2.36 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-390 |
| Gen 46:1 | On Joseph 80 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 46:1 | On Joseph 81 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 46:1–34 | Genesis, lines 1424–1447 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
| Gen 46:1–4 | Part 1, chapter 32 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Genesis 46:2
And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:2 | On Joseph 82 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:3 | The Instructor 1.7.57 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 190–200 |
| Gen 46:3 | Against Heresies 3.21.3 · Irenaeus of Lyons | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| Gen 46:3 | Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 46:3–4 | Homilies on Numbers 24.3 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 46:3 | Prophetic Extracts 1.7 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | before 325 (probably ca. 310–320) |
| Gen 46:3 | On Joseph 82 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
Genesis 46:4
I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you back. And Joseph’s own hands will close your eyes.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:4 | Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 46:4 | Homilies on Numbers 27.6 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 46:4 | On the Decrees of Nicaea 7 · Athanasius of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 350–356 |
| Gen 46:4 | On Jacob and the Happy Life 2.38 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-390 |
| Gen 46:4 | On Joseph 82 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 46:4 | On Joseph 83 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
Genesis 46:5
Then Jacob departed from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him, along with their children and wives.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:5 | Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 46:5 | Poem 24, lines 827–858 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 393–431 |
Genesis 46:6
They also took the livestock and possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:6 | Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 46:6 | Divine Institutes 7.15.1 · Lactantius | allusion, high confidence | ca. 303–311 |
| Gen 46:6 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.23.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 46:6 | On the Destruction of Jerusalem 5.15 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370 |
| Gen 46:6 | Homilies on Matthew 8.4 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
Genesis 46:7
Jacob took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:7 | Fragments on Genesis, column 141 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Genesis 46:8
Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:8 | Fragments on Genesis, column 141 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 46:8–27 | City of God 16.40 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 46:8 | City of God 16.40 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
Genesis 46:11
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:11 | Refutation of All Heresies 10.30.3 · Hippolytus of Rome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 222–235 |
Genesis 46:12
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:12 | Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Genesis 46:15
These are the sons of Leah born to Jacob in Paddan-aram, in addition to his daughter Dinah. The total number of sons and daughters was thirty-three.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:15 | Fragments on Genesis, column 141 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Genesis 46:20
Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:20 | Fragments on Genesis, column 141 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Genesis 46:25
These are the sons of Jacob born to Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel—seven in all.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:25 | Exposition of Psalm 118 4.7.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
Genesis 46:26
All those belonging to Jacob who came to Egypt—his direct descendants, besides the wives of Jacob’s sons—numbered sixty-six persons.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:26 | Homilies on the Psalms 44.4 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360-378 |
| Gen 46:26 | Letter 22.11 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Gen 46:26 | Exposition of Psalm 118 4.7.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Gen 46:26 | Letter 190.18 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Gen 46:26 | Letter 190.19 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
Genesis 46:27
And with the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family who went to Egypt were seventy in all.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:27 | Miscellanies 1.21.142 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Gen 46:27 | On First Principles 4.3.11 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220–230 (Rufinus's translation 398) |
| Gen 46:27 | Homilies on Exodus 1.3 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 46:27 | Homilies 18.4 · Anonymous | echo, medium confidence | 4th century (reworking earlier material) |
| Gen 46:27 | Recognitions 1.34 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Gen 46:27 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.28.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 46:27 | Letter 189 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 360–390 |
| Gen 46:27 | Ancoratus 59.2 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, medium confidence | 374 |
| Gen 46:27 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 4.2.1 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 46:27 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 8.4.5 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 46:27 | Letter 95.8 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Gen 46:27 | Hexameron (Exameron) 6.46 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 46:27 | On Joseph 84 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 46:27 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 40.11.1 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Gen 46:27 | On Continence 11 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 395 |
| Gen 46:27 | On the Trinity 7.4 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
| Gen 46:27 | City of God 14.4 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 46:27 | Part 1, chapter 32 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Genesis 46:28
Now Jacob had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When Jacob’s family arrived in the land of Goshen,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:28–29 | Pilgrimage (Itinerarium) 7.7 · Egeria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 381-395 |
| Gen 46:28 | On Joseph 84 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
Genesis 46:29
Joseph prepared his chariot and went there to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, embraced him, and wept profusely.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:29 | Catechetical Lecture 16.30 · Cyril of Jerusalem | allusion, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Gen 46:29 | Exposition of Psalm 118 18.23.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Gen 46:29 | On Joseph 84 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 46:29–30 | Part 1, chapter 32 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Genesis 46:30
Then Israel said to Joseph, “Finally I can die, now that I have seen your face and know that you are still alive!”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:30 | Fragments on Genesis, column 141 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
Genesis 46:31
Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and inform Pharaoh: ‘My brothers and my father’s household from the land of Canaan have come to me.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:31–34 | Demonstration 15.3 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
Genesis 46:32
The men are shepherds; they raise livestock, and they have brought their flocks and herds and all that they own.’
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:32 | On the Work of Monks 14 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 400–401 |
Genesis 46:33
When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:33 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.21.13 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
Genesis 46:34
you are to say, ‘Your servants have raised livestock ever since our youth—both we and our fathers.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:34 | To Autolycus 3.21 · Theophilus of Antioch | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 180–185 |
| Gen 46:34 | Fragments on Genesis, column 141 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 46:34 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.21.13 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 46:34 | On Cain and Abel 1.24 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 375-378 |