And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Stephen, echoing the Septuagint translation, gives a number of seventy-five, a detail that was likely understood differently by his listeners and differs from some Hebrew texts. This larger number highlights God's expansive promise to Abraham, showing how a seemingly small family would multiply into a vast nation.
And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Stephen is recounting the history of Israel's ancestors, specifically highlighting Joseph's life and his pivotal role in bringing his family to Egypt. This verse marks the point where Joseph, now in a position of authority, actively summons his father Jacob and their entire extended family to join him, escaping the famine and reuniting the lineage. This event sets the stage for the Israelites' subsequent enslavement in Egypt, which Stephen will move on to describe.
Did Stephen make a mistake counting Jacob's family? The numbers don't quite match up between different biblical accounts. Let's see why.
A Tale of Two Numbers
When Stephen quotes the number of Jacob's family going down to Egypt as seventy-five people, it sparks a question because other parts of the Old Testament (like Genesis 46:27) list seventy.
Stephen, being a Hellenistic Jew, naturally drew from the Septuagint, the version most familiar to him and his audience. It wasn't necessarily an error but a reflection of the biblical text prevalent in his time and culture. It reminds us that biblical texts, even ancient translations, have histories and variations, and understanding the context of quotation is key.
Joseph's life was a rollercoaster of betrayal, slavery, and triumph. This moment of calling his family to Egypt highlights God's incredible faithfulness.
From Pit to Palace, Then to Family
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This verse isn't just a headcount; it's the culmination of God's plan for Joseph and his entire family.
Understand the original words
syngeneia · Greek Noun
A generic term used here to describe a person's relatives or household, emphasizing the family unit through which God preserves His covenant promises.
Stephen's mention of 75 family members, following the Greek Septuagint, highlights the vibrant growth of Jacob's lineage, setting the stage for their eventual enslavement and God's powerful deliverance.
c. 1805 BC— this verse
Jacob's family moves to Egypt
Joseph, having risen to power in Egypt, sends for his father Jacob and all their relatives to join him. This event marks the beginning of the Israelites' long sojourn in Egypt.
c. 1805 BC
Discrepancy in family count
Stephen cites the Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament) which states 75 people came to Egypt. This differs from the Hebrew text of Genesis, which numbers the group at 70. The discrepancy likely arises from different counting methods, including whether to count wives or include certain descendants.
c. 1700-1550 BC
Israelites multiply in Egypt
During their time in Egypt, the Israelites' population grows significantly, a blessing from God but also a cause for concern to the Egyptians.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
After centuries of slavery and oppression, God delivers the Israelites from Egypt under the leadership of Moses, marking a pivotal moment in their history.
This passage provides the foundational account of Jacob's family moving to Egypt, establishing the context for Stephen's statement in Acts.
Exodus 1:5This verse reiterates the total number of Jacob's descendants in Egypt, showing the significance of this family unit in Israel's early history.
Deuteronomy 10:22This passage also mentions the number of Jacob's descendants in Egypt, further emphasizing the historical importance of this migration for the nation of Israel.
Genesis 45:18This verse shows Joseph inviting his father and kindred to come to Egypt, directly preceding the event described in Acts 7:14 and highlighting Joseph's role in facilitating their migration.
ellicottActs 7:14: "Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls."
(14) Threescore and fifteen souls. —Seventy is given as the number, including Jacob, Joseph, and his sons, in Genesis 46:27 ; Exodus 1:5 ; Deuteronomy 10:22 . Here, however, Stephen had the authority of the LXX. of Genesis 46:27 , which gives the number at seventy-five, and makes it up by inserting the son and grandson of Manasseh, two sons and a grandson of Ephraim. With them i…
barnesActs 7:14: "Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls."
All his kindred - His father and family, Genesis 45:17-28 ; Genesis 46:1-26 . Threescore and fifteen souls - Seventy-five persons. There has been much perplexity felt in the explanation of this passage. In Genesis 46:26, Exodus 1:5, and Deuteronomy 10:22, it is expressly said that the number which went down to Egypt consisted of 70 persons. The question is, in what way these acc…
Stephen, echoing the Septuagint translation, gives a number of seventy-five, a detail that was likely understood differently by his listeners and differs from some Hebrew texts. This larger number highlights God's expansive promise to Abraham, showing how a seemingly small family would multiply into a vast nation.
Stephen is recounting the history of Israel's ancestors, specifically highlighting Joseph's life and his pivotal role in bringing his family to Egypt. This verse marks the point where Joseph, now in a position of authority, actively summons his father Jacob and their entire extended family to join him, escaping the famine and reuniting the lineage. This event sets the stage for the Israelites' subsequent enslavement in Egypt, which Stephen will move on to describe.
Stephen is recounting the history of Israel's ancestors, specifically highlighting Joseph's life and his pivotal role in bringing his family to Egypt. This verse marks the point where Joseph, now in a position of authority, actively summons his father Jacob and their entire extended family to join him, escaping the famine and reuniting the lineage. This event sets the stage for the Israelites' subsequent enslavement in Egypt, which Stephen will move on to describe.
"And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all." — Stephen, echoing the Septuagint translation, gives a number of seventy-five, a detail that was likely understood differently by his listeners and differs from some Hebrew texts. This larger number hi…
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Last reviewed October 2026