Exodus 13:19
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This isn't just about fulfilling a dying wish; it's about Joseph's profound faith, embedding the promise of the promised land into his very remains. He ensured his bones would be a tangible reminder, a silent sermon to his people, that God would return them to the land He had promised.
As Israel leaves Egypt, God wisely guides them away from the Philistine route to avoid immediate conflict, which might have caused them to despair and return. Moses then fulfills a solemn promise made generations earlier by Joseph, taking his embalmed bones with them. This act serves as a tangible reminder of God's covenant and the ultimate promise of returning to the land He swore to Abraham.
Why would Moses carry bones? This wasn't just a burial detail; it was a powerful act of faith connected to a solemn oath.
Joseph, even in death, held onto the promise of God. His dying charge to his family to carry his bones out of Egypt wasn't just about his personal resting place. It was a profound act of faith, an anchor to God's promises.
Imagine the Israelites, marching out of Egypt. What were they carrying besides themselves? The physical remains of a patriarch, a symbol of a future they couldn't yet see.
The bones of Joseph were more than just relics; they were a living testament to hope and a catalyst for faith. In the midst of their Egyptian sojourn and their subsequent journey through the wilderness, these bones served a crucial purpose.
Understand the original words
pāqaḏ · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the act of God intervening in human affairs, specifically with the intent to save, judge, or fulfill covenant promises. It signifies God drawing near to his people to execute his divine purposes.
yiśrā'ēl · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant family or nation chosen by God to be his people, bearers of his promises, and witnesses to his name among the nations. It is a title of identity and relationship with the Almighty.
~1805 BC
Joseph's Oath for His Bones
Joseph, nearing death in Egypt, makes the sons of Israel swear to carry his bones with them when God leads them out of Egypt to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Exodus from Egypt
Under Moses' leadership, the Israelites leave Egypt after 400 years of slavery, fulfilling God's promise and Joseph's oath.
c. 1446 BC
Journey to the Wilderness
The Israelites travel from Succoth to Etham, on the edge of the wilderness, guided by God's pillar of cloud and fire.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites enter and begin conquering the Promised Land, eventually settling the land.
c. 1406 BC
Burial of Joseph's Bones
The bones of Joseph are finally laid to rest in the territory of Ephraim at Shechem, fulfilling his dying wish.
This passage records Joseph's dying charge to his family to carry his bones with them when they leave Egypt, directly setting up the fulfillment of that oath in Exodus 13:19.
Joshua 24:32This verse shows the fulfillment of Joseph's oath generations later, as Joshua brings Joseph's bones from Egypt to be buried in Shechem, demonstrating the long-term impact of this promise and act of faith.
Hebrews 11:22The New Testament author highlights Joseph's act of commanding his bones to be carried out of Egypt as a profound expression of faith, linking this physical act to the assurance of God's future promises.
Acts 7:15-16Stephen's speech recounts the migration of Jacob and Joseph's descendants to Egypt and their subsequent burial in Shechem, corroborating the tradition that the patriarchs' bones were carried from Egypt, including Joseph's.
cambridgeExodus 13:19: "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you."
19 . See Genesis 50:25 ; and cf. Joshua 24:32 .
calvinExodus 13:17-22: "And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:"
- And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they r…
This isn't just about fulfilling a dying wish; it's about Joseph's profound faith, embedding the promise of the promised land into his very remains. He ensured his bones would be a tangible reminder, a silent sermon to his people, that God would return them to the land He had promised.
As Israel leaves Egypt, God wisely guides them away from the Philistine route to avoid immediate conflict, which might have caused them to despair and return. Moses then fulfills a solemn promise made generations earlier by Joseph, taking his embalmed bones with them. This act serves as a tangible reminder of God's covenant and the ultimate promise of returning to the land He swore to Abraham.
As Israel leaves Egypt, God wisely guides them away from the Philistine route to avoid immediate conflict, which might have caused them to despair and return. Moses then fulfills a solemn promise made generations earlier by Joseph, taking his embalmed bones with them. This act serves as a tangible reminder of God's covenant and the ultimate promise of returning to the land He swore to Abraham.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Exodus 13:19 is available in the Sola app.
"Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.”" — This isn't just about fulfilling a dying wish; it's about Joseph's profound faith, embedding the promise of the promised land into his very remains. He ensured his bones would be a tangible reminder,…
