And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse states "he died, he and our fathers," but the text emphasizes that Jacob was the one who went down into Egypt, implying the others likely passed away there as well, even though Scripture doesn't detail their deaths. This subtle phrasing suggests a shared experience of mortality for the patriarchs outside the Promised Land, highlighting God's presence even in exile.
And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Stephen recounts how Jacob and his sons, the patriarchs, went down to Egypt and eventually died there, as a reminder that their nation's beginnings were as sojourners outside the promised land. This sets the stage for his recounting of their time in Egypt, emphasizing God's presence with them even in exile, and their eventual return to the land.
Jacob and his sons moved down to Egypt, a land not of promise. But their story didn't end there. What does this move reveal about God's faithfulness, even in difficult circumstances?
Stephen highlights Jacob's descent into Egypt, followed by his death and the deaths of 'our fathers' there. This isn't just a historical note; it underscores a crucial theme: God's presence doesn't cease just because His people are in exile.
A Land of Sojourning
Even though the promised land was Canaan, Jacob and his descendants spent generations in Egypt. This period, while marked by hardship later on, was also a time where God sustained them, grew them, and preserved His covenant people.
God's Faithfulness in Exile
Stephen wants his audience to remember that their ancestors lived and died outside the promised land. This fact challenges any notion that God's favor was tied only to a specific geographical location. God was with them in Egypt, and His worship was preserved.
The text mentions Jacob and his fathers dying in Egypt, and then refers to their burial in Shechem. But the details are complex, with differing accounts even in Scripture. What does this teach us about their ultimate hope?
Stephen's account of the patriarchs' burial involves details that have caused much discussion over the centuries. While Jacob himself was buried in Hebron with Abraham and Isaac, the scripture only explicitly mentions Joseph's bones being carried out of Egypt. However, Stephen, and tradition, suggests the other patriarchs were also eventually brought to Shechem.
Ask a follow-up
A Complex Burial Narrative
The commentaries highlight discrepancies regarding who bought the land, who was buried where, and when. This might seem confusing, but it points to a deeper truth.
The True Homeland
Despite the earthly burials, the patriarchs' faith was fixed on a heavenly homeland. Their desire to be buried in the land of promise wasn't just about soil; it was a tangible expression of their belief in God's ultimate promises. They looked beyond their current circumstances and earthly graves to an enduring city. The confusion in the details doesn't negate their faith; it simply shows that their ultimate rest was not dependent on perfectly accounting for every bone.
Stephen highlights that the patriarchs, including Jacob, died in Egypt, far from the Promised Land. This reminds his audience that their revered ancestors were once sojourners, emphasizing that God's promises transcend geographical location and political status.
c. 1800 BC— this verse
Jacob and family move to Egypt
Famine drove Jacob and his extended family, numbering about 75 people, to migrate from Canaan to Egypt at the invitation of Joseph. They settled in the land of Goshen.
c. 1800 BC - 1550 BC
Israelites dwell in Egypt
The descendants of Jacob lived in Egypt for approximately 400 years. Initially welcomed, they eventually faced enslavement and oppression by the Egyptians.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
Under Moses' leadership, the Israelites were liberated from Egyptian bondage. This event marks their departure from Egypt and the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Patriarchs' bones carried out of Egypt
As the Israelites left Egypt, they carried the bones of Joseph and, according to tradition and Stephen's speech, the other patriarchs with them to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Burial in Canaan
Tradition holds that the bones of Jacob and the patriarchs were eventually buried in the field at Shechem, which Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor. Joseph's burial is explicitly mentioned in Scripture.
This passage directly relates to Jacob's death, detailing his final instructions and his passing, providing the Old Testament foundation for Stephen's reference.
Genesis 50:25-26These verses describe the Israelites carrying Joseph's bones out of Egypt, connecting the death of the patriarchs in Egypt with their eventual burial in the Promised Land, and highlighting the custom of preserving their remains.
Joshua 24:32This verse confirms the burial of Joseph's bones in Shechem, reinforcing the narrative thread of the patriarchs' remains and their connection to the land promised to Abraham.
Exodus 1:6This verse speaks to the broader context of the entire generation of Joseph dying, which supports Stephen's statement that not just Jacob, but 'our fathers' also died in Egypt.
Hebrews 11:22This verse mentions that by faith, Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones, showing the patriarchs' forward-looking faith even in death.
barnesActs 7:15: "So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,"
And died - Genesis 49:33 . He and our fathers - The time which the Israelites remained in Egypt was 215 years, so that all the sons of Jacob were deceased before the Jews went out to go to the land of Canaan. And were carried over - Jacob himself was buried in the field of Macpelah by Joseph and his brethren, Genesis 1, 13. It is expressly said that the bones of Joseph were carried by the Israelites when they went into t…
calvinActs 7:9-16: "And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,"
- And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. Notwithstanding, God was with him; 10. And he delivered him out of all his afflictions: and he gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt, and over all his house. 11. And there came a famine upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction; neither did our fathers find foo…
The verse states "he died, he and our fathers," but the text emphasizes that Jacob was the one who went down into Egypt, implying the others likely passed away there as well, even though Scripture doesn't detail their deaths. This subtle phrasing suggests a shared experience of mortality for the patriarchs outside the Promised Land, highlighting God's presence even in exile.
Stephen recounts how Jacob and his sons, the patriarchs, went down to Egypt and eventually died there, as a reminder that their nation's beginnings were as sojourners outside the promised land. This sets the stage for his recounting of their time in Egypt, emphasizing God's presence with them even in exile, and their eventual return to the land.
Stephen recounts how Jacob and his sons, the patriarchs, went down to Egypt and eventually died there, as a reminder that their nation's beginnings were as sojourners outside the promised land. This sets the stage for his recounting of their time in Egypt, emphasizing God's presence with them even in exile, and their eventual return to the land.
"And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers," — The verse states "he died, he and our fathers," but the text emphasizes that Jacob was the one who went down into Egypt, implying the others likely passed away there as well, even though Scripture…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026