Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse quietly marks the end of an era, not just with Joseph and his brothers, but the entire generation who personally knew Egypt’s kindness. It’s a subtle, yet powerful, transition point where the intimate connection to their patriarchs and the initial hospitality fades, setting the stage for the dramatic shift to come.
Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The narrative is setting the stage for the Israelites' oppression by highlighting a crucial turning point: the passing of Joseph, his brothers, and their entire generation. This marks the end of a time when they were remembered and favored, paving the way for a new Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph and thus felt no obligation to the Hebrew people.
How can a nation forget the one who saved them from famine and brought them honor?
This verse marks a pivotal moment: the passing of the generation that experienced Joseph's saving grace firsthand. Joseph, his brothers, and their entire generation are gone. This 'wearing off' is not just about death, but about the fading of memory and direct experience. The vital connection to Joseph's extraordinary service—bringing them into Egypt, settling them in Goshen, and saving them from starvation—is severed. Without those who personally knew and benefited from his work, the foundation of their positive relationship with Egypt begins to crumble. This sets the stage for a new Pharaoh to arise who 'did not know Joseph.' It's a stark reminder of how easily goodwill, earned through immense sacrifice, can be forgotten when personal experience is replaced by distant history.
Why does Scripture pause to note this passing of a generation right before a massive increase?
The text pauses here, right after affirming the death of Joseph and his peers, to underscore a profound shift. The generation that directly benefited from Joseph's legacy and the security of Egypt has passed. This clears the way for God's plan to unfold in a new way. It’s as if the previous 'debt' owed to Joseph is settled by his generation's passing. Now, a new generation arises, one that didn't experience the famine or Joseph's advocacy. This allows their incredible, miraculous multiplication (v. 7) to be seen purely as God's direct action and promise-keeping, not merely a continuation of Joseph's favor. It highlights that while human actions pave the way, God's ultimate purposes often transcend specific historical figures and depend on generational renewal.
Understand the original words
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'ach · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew term often used for a son of Jacob/Israel, signifying both the biological descendants of the patriarchs and the covenant people of God.
dowr · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, this refers to a specific span of time characterized by a group of people living contemporaneously; it often carries connotations of a period of divine providence or judgment.
The passing of Joseph and his entire generation signifies the end of the Israelites' privileged status in Egypt. Their unique connection to the land and its leadership is lost, paving the way for future oppression and God's powerful deliverance.
c. 1655 BC
Jacob and his family settle in Egypt
Jacob and his entire household, numbering around 70 people, move to Egypt at the invitation of Joseph, who had risen to prominence.
c. 1630 BC
Death of Joseph
Joseph, who had served Egypt faithfully and saved his family, dies after 110 years in the land. His family is still honored at this time.
c. 1623 BC— this verse
Death of Jacob's sons and their generation
All of Joseph's brothers and the rest of the generation that came down with Jacob to Egypt die. This marks the end of the first generation born in or immigrating to Egypt.
c. 1623 BC - 1450 BC
Israelites' population growth
The Israelites, now settled in Egypt for generations and no longer under the protection of Joseph's influence, begin to multiply greatly as God promised.
c. 1450 BC
Rise of a new Pharaoh
A new Pharaoh ascends to the throne in Egypt, one who did not know Joseph or his family's contributions. This marks a significant political shift.
This verse directly follows the account of Joseph's death in Genesis, stating that Joseph lived to be 110 years old and was 'put in a coffin in Egypt,' providing a direct link to the immediate aftermath of his passing.
Genesis 47:28This passage describes Jacob and his sons living in Egypt and their desire to be buried in Canaan. It sets the stage for the generation that would eventually need to be remembered and buried in the promised land, contrasting with the current generation passing away in Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:22This verse recalls that Jacob's family numbered seventy when they went down to Egypt. It provides context for the 'generation' that has now passed, highlighting the small beginning from which a multitude would eventually grow.
Psalm 105:17-18This Psalm recounts the story of Joseph being sold into slavery and the suffering he endured, including his time in prison. It speaks to the difficulties faced by Joseph and his brothers, which were part of the larger narrative leading to this generation's end and the subsequent enslavement of their descendants.
calvinExodus 1:1-7: "Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob."
- These are the names It is the intention of Moses to describe the miraculous deliverance of the people, (from whence the Greeks gave the name to the book;) but, before he comes to that, he briefly reminds us that the promise given to Abraham was not ineffectual, that his seed should be multiplied
"as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the…
clarkeExodus 1:6: "And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation."
Joseph died, and all his brethren - That is, Joseph had now been some time dead, as also all his brethren, and all the Egyptians who had known Jacob and his twelve sons; and this is a sort of reason why the important services performed by Joseph were forgotten.
This verse quietly marks the end of an era, not just with Joseph and his brothers, but the entire generation who personally knew Egypt’s kindness. It’s a subtle, yet powerful, transition point where the intimate connection to their patriarchs and the initial hospitality fades, setting the stage for the dramatic shift to come.
The narrative is setting the stage for the Israelites' oppression by highlighting a crucial turning point: the passing of Joseph, his brothers, and their entire generation. This marks the end of a time when they were remembered and favored, paving the way for a new Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph and thus felt no obligation to the Hebrew people.
The narrative is setting the stage for the Israelites' oppression by highlighting a crucial turning point: the passing of Joseph, his brothers, and their entire generation. This marks the end of a time when they were remembered and favored, paving the way for a new Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph and thus felt no obligation to the Hebrew people.
"Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation." — This verse quietly marks the end of an era, not just with Joseph and his brothers, but the entire generation who personally knew Egypt’s kindness. It’s a subtle, yet powerful, transition point where…
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Last reviewed October 2026