Book of Genesis - Chapter 46 - Verse 26

Genesis 46:26 provides us with a specific count of the number of souls that accompanied Jacob into Egypt. The verse states that, excluding Jacob's sons' wives, there were a total of sixty-six individuals who made the journey. This number includes Jacob himself, his sons, and some of his grandchildren. The significance of this number has been a topic of discussion among biblical scholars. Some believe that the number sixty-six has symbolic importance, representing completeness and perfection. Others suggest that it may simply be a factual account of the number of individuals who made the journey. Regardless of the interpretation, this verse serves as a reminder of the importance of genealogy and lineage in the biblical narrative, tracing the descendants of Jacob as they begin their new chapter in Egypt.

One theological interpretation of the verse "All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six" focuses on the significance of the number sixty-six. In the Hebrew culture, numbers often held symbolic meaning, and the number sixty-six is believed to represent the idea of completeness or wholeness. This verse highlights the completeness of the group that accompanied Jacob to Egypt. Another interesting aspect of this verse is the mention of excluding Jacob's sons' wives from the count of the total number of souls. This omission could be seen as emblematic of the importance placed on the bloodline and lineage in the context of the biblical narrative. Through word studies, we can delve deeper into the meanings behind these concepts and gain a richer understanding of the theological implications of this verse.