The Meaning of Genesis 50:2 Explained

Genesis 50:2

KJV: And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

YLT: and Joseph commandeth his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father, and the physicians embalm Israel;

Darby: And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. And the physicians embalmed Israel.

ASV: And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Joseph  commanded  his servants  the physicians  to embalm  his father:  and the physicians  embalmed  Israel. 

What does Genesis 50:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 50:1-3 - Jacob's Last Directions And Death
Jacob gave a final charge as to his burial in Machpelah-that his dust at least should be there to welcome his children and children's children, when they came thither in due course, as God had promised. Then the weary pilgrim gathered up those tired feet, which had paced out their last mile, into the bed, and gave up his spirit to God. When we are told that he was gathered to his people it must mean more than that his dust mingled with their dust in the place of burial. There are great gatherings of loving friends awaiting us on the other side. See Hebrews 11:40. At the ladder-scene in Bethel, God had told him that He would not leave him till He had done what He promised, and surely not one good thing had failed. Life may be hard and sad, but God will end it rightly. Be of good cheer and trust! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 50

1  The mourning for Jacob
4  Joseph gets leave of Pharaoh to go to bury him
7  The funeral
15  Joseph comforts his brothers, who crave his pardon
22  His age
23  He sees the third generation of his sons
24  He prophesies unto his brothers of their return
25  He takes an oath of them concerning his bones
26  He dies, and is put into a coffin

What do the individual words in Genesis 50:2 mean?

And commanded Joseph - his servants the physicians to embalm his father So embalmed the physicians Israel
וַיְצַ֨ו יוֹסֵ֤ף אֶת־ עֲבָדָיו֙ הָרֹ֣פְאִ֔ים לַחֲנֹ֖ט אָבִ֑יו וַיַּחַנְט֥וּ הָרֹפְאִ֖ים יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וַיְצַ֨ו  And  commanded 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
יוֹסֵ֤ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֲבָדָיו֙  his  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
הָרֹ֣פְאִ֔ים  the  physicians 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רָפָא  
Sense: to heal, make healthful.
לַחֲנֹ֖ט  to  embalm 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָנַט 
Sense: to embalm, spice, make spicy.
אָבִ֑יו  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וַיַּחַנְט֥וּ  So  embalmed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָנַט 
Sense: to embalm, spice, make spicy.
הָרֹפְאִ֖ים  the  physicians 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רָפָא  
Sense: to heal, make healthful.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.