Category: A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 50
What does Genesis Chapter 50 mean? Immediately following Jacob’s death (Genesis 49:33), Joseph weeps openly and falls on his father’s body, kissing his face. This death hits him hard. After ordering Jacob’s body to be embalmed—likely meaning mummified—by the Egyptian doctors, Joseph will set about obeying his father’s final wish…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 49
What does Genesis Chapter 49 mean? Before he dies, Jacob urgently seeks to complete two important pieces of business with his twelve sons. First, he wishes to give a prophetic message appropriate to each. While these are titled “blessings,” not all are positive. These are presented more as predictions than…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 48
What does Genesis Chapter 48 mean? After settling in Egypt (Genesis 47), Jacob gives a major portion of his family blessing to Joseph’s two oldest sons: Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob had talked about dying for many years (Genesis 37:35; 47:9), but now he truly nears the end of his days. If…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 47
What does Genesis Chapter 47 mean? The last several chapters explained how Joseph, Jacob’s son by Rachel (Genesis 46:19), came to bring his family to live in Egypt. Genesis 47 begins with Joseph’s family appearing before Pharaoh at court in a formal audience. Joseph selects five of his brothers to represent the…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 46
What does Genesis Chapter 46 mean? Genesis 46 can be divided into three sections: Jacob’s final encounter with the Lord, a count of all of Jacob’s descendants at or around this time, and Jacob’s reunion with his son Joseph in the land of Egypt. Jacob and his large family set out…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 45
What does Genesis Chapter 45 mean? Genesis 45 is a chapter filled with revelations. It begins with Joseph revealing his identity to his terrified brothers. It ends with those brothers revealing that their father’s beloved son Joseph is not dead; he is living as a ruler in Egypt. While the events…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 44
What does Genesis Chapter 44 mean? The last chapter seemed to be a happy ending. Eleven of Jacob’s sons are on their way back to Canaan with everything they came for. They have the grain they need to avoid starvation. They have Simeon, released from prison after being held as…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 43
What does Genesis Chapter 43 mean? The previous chapter ended with Jacob’s insistence that he would not allow his beloved youngest son Benjamin to be taken to Egypt with his brothers (Genesis 42:38). He was willing to leave Simeon in prison there (Genesis 42:19–20, 24) rather than risk seeing Benjamin come…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 42
What does Genesis Chapter 42 mean? Genesis 42 begins with Jacob sending his ten oldest sons to Egypt to buy grain for the family. It ends with him refusing to send his youngest son back as part of a second trip. Severe famine has gripped the region, just as Joseph had…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 41
What does Genesis Chapter 41 mean? After years in prison, Joseph is finally restored as his circumstances are dramatically reversed. Prior to this, he has spent quite some time unjustly jailed; he has been forgotten even by those he has helped (Genesis 40:14–15, 23). Pharaoh, king of Egypt, experiences two troubling…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 40
What does Genesis Chapter 40 mean? Joseph continues to languish in a special prison attached to the house of the captain of the guard (Genesis 39:11–20). While Joseph’s former master held that position (Genesis 39:1), Scripture does not use the name Potiphar from this point forward. It’s unclear if Potiphar…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 39
What does Genesis Chapter 36 mean? Genesis returns from describing the scandalous family history of Judah in chapter 38. Here, Scripture resumes a focus on Joseph, sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37:26–28). Joseph is purchased by a powerful Egyptian official, the captain of the guard. Though…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 38
What does Genesis Chapter 38 mean? The events of Genesis 38 likely take place during Joseph’s time as a slave in Egypt (Genesis 37:26–28) and some time before he is reunited with his brothers (Genesis 45:1–3). After this passage, the text will return to a focus on Joseph (Genesis 39:1). Judah moves…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 37
What does Genesis Chapter 37 mean? Beginning with this chapter, Genesis takes up the story of Jacob’s son Joseph. Joseph, just 17, is both deeply loved and deeply hated. Described as the son of Jacob’s old age, as well as being the firstborn of Jacob’s beloved late wife Rachel, Joseph…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 36
What does Genesis Chapter 36mean? Genesis 36 consists of a list of Esau’s offspring, focusing primarily on genealogy and the rulers of Edom, the nation that came from Esau. The chapter is inserted in Genesis between the generations of Isaac (Genesis 25:19), ending with his death in the previous chapter (Genesis…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 35
What does Genesis Chapter 35 mean? As Jacob was fleeing Canaan (Genesis 27:42) to go live with his uncle Laban, God appeared to him (Genesis 28:10–13). After that meeting, Jacob vowed to make the Lord his God and to recognize that location as “Bethel:” the house of God. After growing…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 34
What does Genesis Chapter 34 mean? Jacob and his family have settled within sight of the city of Shechem. They’ve purchased the land they occupy outside of the city from the city’s ruler, Hamor (Genesis 33:18–19). These “Israelites” have found a home. Eventually, though, things go terribly wrong between the…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 33
What does Genesis Chapter 33 mean? Jacob made extensive preparations to meet his estranged brother, Esau, as recorded in the prior chapter. After all the waiting and wondering, the moment has finally arrived. Esau has come. Will he bring violence or peace? Jacob makes one last-minute strategic choice before approaching…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 32
What does Genesis Chapter 32 mean? Jacob has resolved his conflict with Laban and now returns to the land of Canaan. He faces another unresolved conflict, however. He must pass near the region where his twin brother Esau lives to return home. After being met by some angels of God…
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A Verse by Verse Study in the Book of Genesis, (ESV) with Irv Risch, Chapter 31
What does Genesis Chapter 31 mean? Genesis 31 is a long, eventful chapter that follows Jacob from his last days in a twenty-year career as Laban’s servant. It ends with Jacob standing with his wives and children, as a free man, in the borderlands of the promised land of Canaan. It’s…
Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded 