Genesis 50:3 - Forerunner Commentary

Genesis 50:3

1 Then Joseph ^afell on his father’s face, and ^bwept over him, and kissed him.

2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to ^aembalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.

3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians ^amourned for him seventy days.

4 Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to ^athe household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying,

5 ^a‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave ^bwhich I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’ ”

6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”

7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,

8 as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen.

9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.

10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they ^amourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. ^bHe observed seven days of mourning for his father.

11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called¹ Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.

12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them.

Verse Comparison: Genesis 50:3

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American Standard Version
And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of embalming: and the Egyptians wept for him three-score and ten days.

Amplified® Bible
Then forty days were devoted [to this purpose] for him, for that is the customary number of days required for those who are embalmed. And the Egyptians wept and bemoaned him [as they would for royalty] for seventy days.

Contemporary English Version
and it took the usual forty days. The Egyptians mourned seventy days for Jacob.

Darby English Version
And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those who are embalmed. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

Good News Bible
It took forty days, the normal time for embalming. The Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

King James Version
And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

New American Standard Bible
Now forty days were required for it, for such is the period required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

New International Version
taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

New King James Version
Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Now forty days they required for it, for such do they consider the period required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

Revised Standard Version
forty days were required for it, for so many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

Young's Literal Translation
and they fulfil for him forty days, for so they fulfil the days of the embalmed, and the Egyptians weep for him seventy days.

New English Translation
They took forty days, for that is the full time needed for embalming.¹ The Egyptians mourned² for him seventy days.³

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