How Many Souls Went Into Egypt With Jacob?

How Many Souls Went Into Egypt With Jacob?

One interesting Bible difficulty is how many souls actually went into Egypt with Jacob? The three main passages are:

Genesis 46:26-27 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six; And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.

Exodus 1:5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

Acts 7:14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

How many people moved to Egypt with Jacob when Joseph sent for his father and the rest of his family to come and live with him? Was it 66 people, 70 people, or 75? Can these passages be reconciled?

According to some commentators favouring the Critical Text, the solution can be found in the Septuagint which lists nine more sons of Joseph living with him in Egypt. Hm, 66 descendants of Jacob moving into Egypt, plus 9 more sons makes 75. Problem solved, so they say. But that solution makes the Masoretic Hebrew Text behind our King James Bible faulty. Is there a Biblical solution found within our King James Bible that does not question or correct the Bible and yet still reasonably reconciles the passages in question? There is.

Let’s take an in-depth look at the primary passage and break it down.

Genesis 46:6-7 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

Genesis 46:8-15 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman.

And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.

And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.

And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.

These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.

From the above passage, we see the breakdown of Jacob’s children with Leah - six sons (and their children), and one daughter, Dinah, going with Jacob into Egypt - totalling 33 souls:

Jacob (1 soul)
Reuben - Hanoch, Phallu, Hezron, and Carmi (5 souls)
Simeon - Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul (7 souls)
Levi - Gershon, Kohath, and Merari (4 souls)
Judah - Shelah, Pharez, and Zerah
- Grandchildren through Pharez: Hezron, and Hamul (6 souls)
Issachar - Tola, Phuvah, Job, and Shimron (5 souls)
Zebulon - Sered, Elon, Jahleel (4 souls)
Dinah (1 soul)

Add that all up and that equals 33 people. We know Leah is not included because she was already dead. See Genesis 49:31. So far so good.

Genesis 46:16-18 And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.

And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.

These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.

The sons and granddaughter of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, which came into Egypt with him (16 souls):

Gad - Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli (8 souls)
Asher - Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah
Grandchildren through Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel (8 souls)

16 children and grandchildren through Zilpah. There are reasons to believe Zilpah was also no longer alive. More on that later.

Genesis 46:19-22 The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin.

And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.

These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.

The sons and grandsons of Jacob by Rachel that came into Egypt with him (14 souls):

Joseph - Manasseh, and Ephraim (3 souls) - already in Egypt by this time

Benjamin - Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard (11 souls)

Rachel was already dead by this time, according to Genesis 35:19. So here we see the number agreeing, 14 souls, children and grandchildren through Rachel.

Genesis 46:23-25 And the sons of Dan; Hushim.

And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.

These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven.

The sons of Jacob by Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, that came into Egypt with him (7 souls):

Dan - Hushim (2 souls)
Naphtali - Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem (5 souls)

There are reasons to believe Bilhah is no longer alive, but her children and grandchildren equal 14 souls.

Add all those subtotals up:
33 + 16 + 14 + 7 = 70 souls, exactly like this main passage says.

How do we get the other numbers from these verses? Consider again the starting passages:

Genesis 46:26-27 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six; And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.

Exodus 1:5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

All the souls that came from Jacob and went into Egypt at the same time as Jacob were 66. Joseph was already in Egypt, and he had two children there. So you have 66 souls going into Egypt - plus Jacob, Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim. That equals the 70 total given in the very next verse.

But where does the 75 come from that Stephen mentioned?

Acts 7:14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

When Joseph sent to bring his father up from Canaan to take him into Egypt, 75 souls came altogether with him. Joseph and his family were already in Egypt. Not counting Jacob, 75 people travelled down into Egypt. Subtract the 66 direct descendants already mentioned and you have nine people to account for. That means these nine are not children daughters, or grandchildren of Jacob. Who are they?

These are the wives of his sons. Dinah never married after the events of Genesis 34. Judah’s wife passed away already, according to Genesis 38.

The difference between the 66 descendants and the 75 going into Egypt that Stephen refers to in Acts 7:14 are the surviving wives of his sons and grandsons. We know that out of these 9, Rachel, Leah, Tamar, and Judah's wife were not included. Rachel, Leah, and Judah's wife had passed away (see Genesis 38:12), and Tamar did not remain with or marry Judah (see Genesis 38:26). In light of their advanced age and the fact that Jacob’s actual wives had passed away, it is reasonable to conclude that his daughters’ handmaids (Zilpah and Bilhah) had also passed away prior to this time as well.

Out of eleven sons, 9 still had living spouses (remember Judah’s wife had passed away). We do not know which of the other ten sons was missing a wife by the time they went into Egypt, but it is easy to see that Jacob’s 66 descendants, plus 9 living spouses equals the 75 souls that actually made the journey to live with Joseph in Egypt.

Bible difficulty solved by taking all relevant passages at face value, without consulting questionable commentaries, or correcting the King James Bible with corrupt manuscripts and modern versions. Nor do we need to question Stephen’s inspired sermon in Acts 7. No matter how you look at it, Stephen was not in error with his quotation of Old Testament Bible facts, nor was the Bible at fault in recording exactly what was said. Both line up and reconcile completely with all relevant passages, despite what all critical commentaries and study Bibles have to say.

The King James Bible stands the test of the critic’s pen and still holds sway. Praise the Lord for a Bible we can hold in our hand and boldly declare that it IS in fact the verbally inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God today!

March 18th, 2026
Jerry Bouey

Jesus Christ, Our Cornerstone And Our Headstone

Jesus Christ, Our Cornerstone And Our Headstone

1 Peter 2:6-7 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

Many modern versions translate the phrase, “head of the corner” in 1 Peter 2:7 as “cornerstone.” Of course, the commentaries all follow in their footsteps and treat both of these stones as one. However, there are two unique ideas being presented here, not just one. Knowing what the Bible teaches about both of the terms is actually a blessing to us in our spiritual walks.

The Corner Stone

The phrase “chief corner” is Strong’s #g0204: “akrogōniaios, belonging to the extreme corner, chief corner.”

The Complete Word Study Dictionary defines it as follows: “from ákron (G0206), extreme, and gōnía (G1137), corner. The foundation cornerstone, applied figuratively to Christ who not only sustains the whole structure of the Church, but also unites Jews and Gentiles into one mystical building.”

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary gives these definitions for foundation:

“1. The basis of an edifice; that part of a building which lies on the ground; usually a wall of stone which supports the edifice.
3. The basis or ground work, or any thing; that on which any thing stands, and by which it is supported... Christ is the foundation of the church.”

There are seven direct verses in the Bible that refer to building our lives upon the Lord Jesus Christ as our foundation (several surrounding verses added for context):

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Luke 6:47-49 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

1 Corinthians 3:10-13 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

The Head Stone (ie. Capstone)

1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

Strong’s Concordance defines “head” as “#g2776. κεφαλή kephalē; from the primary κάπτω kaptō (in the sense of seizing); the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively.”

The Complete Word Study Dictionary also defines “head” as “The head, top, that which is uppermost in relation to something.”

The head stone is the final stone that is placed on a building. It is literally the capstone, the stone capping off the construction of a building, such as the temple. As the final stone placed on the building, it literally holds the walls and the roof together, preventing the walls from separating or slowly shifting apart as the building settles. It basically brings stability to the finished structure.

Psalms 118:22-23 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

According to historical and Biblical tradition, Psalm 118:22 refers to the construction of Solomon’s temple. The head stone was the first stone brought to the temple grounds and set to the side during the building of the temple. Over the course of the thirteen years it took Solomon to build his temple, this stone was neglected, despised, left alone, and gradually became overgrown with weeds and debris. But when the temple construction was almost finished, the builders realized the stone which they neglected for all those years was actually an integral part of the finished work. A search was made and the head stone was found, cleaned off, and used to put the final touch on the temple. The construction of God’s temple was at last completed.

The Lord Jesus Christ confirmed that this Psalm actually refers to Biblical history, and declared that just like the head stone was despised and overlooked by so many, even so He was the head stone of the corner - neglected and despised by so many in this world, yet integral to their spiritual lives if they ever hoped to be reconciled to God.

Jesus is the head stone, the capstone, the Saviour who finishes and caps off our spiritual lives. There is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ and His finished work upon the cross of Calvary. What the Lord began in those who trust in Him alone for salvation, He will complete, He will perform and perfect, He will complete eternally.

There are seven references to the “head stone” in the Bible - 6 verses directly referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, and another verse as a type of Him:

1) Psalms 118:22-23 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

2) Zechariah 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

3) Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

4) Mark 12:10-11 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

5) Luke 20:17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

6) Acts 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

7) 1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

Jesus Christ is both the Cornerstone and the Headstone (capstone) of our spiritual lives (Psalm 118:22). As the Cornerstone, He is the sure foundation, the solid foundation, we build everything upon, providing stability and support - the solid Rock that can withstand every storm we face. As the Headstone, He holds all the pieces together and completes what He started in us. He literally holds our very lives together in His hands - from beginning to end. We will never fall apart when He is our Cornerstone and our Headstone.

Just like the Lord Jesus Christ is our Corner Stone and our Head Stone, there are also various other names He has revealed Himself to us in His Word, showing He is all that His people will ever need in this life and in eternity.

Consider the following Seven All-Encompassing Names Of Jesus:

1) The Author and Finisher of our Faith (Hebrews 12:2)

2) The Cornerstone (foundation) and the Chief of the Corner (ie. capstone) (1 Peter 2:6-7)

3) Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8)

4) The Beginning and the Ending (Revelation 1:8)

5) The First and the Last (Revelation 1:11)

6) The Lion and the Lamb (Revelation 5:5-6)

7) The Root and the Offspring of David (Revelation 22:16)

March 10th, 2026
Jerry Bouey

Paved With Love

Paved With Love

Song of Songs 3:7-10

Behold his bed, which is Solomon's;

threescore valiant men are about it,

of the valiant of Israel.

They all hold swords, being expert in war:

every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.

King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.

He made the pillars thereof of silver,

the bottom thereof of gold,

the covering of it of purple,

the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

The whole Song Of Solomon is a love song about fellowship between Solomon and his espoused (ie. engaged) bride. Solomon is a type or picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the espoused bride represents the believer who has placed their faith in Him. Every aspect of this song pictures our relationship and fellowship with the Lord from the moment of coming to Jesus for salvation, and ending with us eagerly awaiting His return to take His bride to the wedding feast and to the mansions He has prepared for her.

The bed/chariot that Solomon is riding in is the vehicle that carried him through this world and brought him to his espoused bride. The description is interesting because his chariot has the same materials and symbolism as the tabernacle and temple - all of which picture the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Dwelt is a Greek word that literally means “tabernacled.” It is Strong’s #4637, “from 4636; to tent or encamp, i.e. (figuratively) to occupy (as a mansion) or (specially), to reside (as God did in the Tabernacle of old, a symbol of protection and communion).” Strong’s #4636 means, “a hut or temporary residence, i.e. (figuratively) the human body (as the abode of the spirit): — tabernacle.”

The Son of God tabernacled among us. His physical body was the temple of God while Jesus Christ was here on earth. This was the vehicle or vessel He came to earth in and dwelt during His earthly ministry (ie. wherein His deity resides - since Jesus’ incarnation, He is now BOTH God and Man forever).

John 2:19-21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.

Song of Songs 3:9-10

King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.

He made the pillars thereof of silver,

the bottom thereof of gold,

the covering of it of purple,

the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

Cedar is an aromatic wood, incorruptible, durable. His chariot is made out of the same wood as the temple. Jesus is the pure, spotless, sinless Son of God.

Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

The pillars are made of silver - silver pictures redemption. The whole reason Jesus was born in Bethlehem was so He could grow up and die for our sins upon the cross - to redeem fallen man.

Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The bottom of this chariot is made of gold - gold pictures deity. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The covering of his chariot is purple - purple represents kingship. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Revelation 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

The midst of this chariot is paved with love. The whole motivation for Jesus going to Calvary was His great love for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

The love of God. The reason for Christ coming down to earth, being born in a manger, dwelling among us, shedding His blood and dying for our sins upon the cross, and rising again from the dead. Nothing can separate His children from His love.

Romans 8:35, 37-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?… Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is the motivation for many a hymn of worship and praise. Consider the following:

The Love Of God

(Words and Music: Frederick M. Lehman)

The love of God is greater far

Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star,

And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care,

God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled,

And pardoned from his sin.

Chorus:

O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure

The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away,

And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,

When men, who here refuse to pray,

On rocks and hills and mountains call,

God’s love so sure, shall still endure,

All measureless and strong;

Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—

The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above,

Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky.

Song of Songs 3:11

Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon

with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him

in the day of his espousals,

and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

One day - hopefully soon - the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back for His bride. 

Song of Songs 8:14

Make haste, my beloved,

and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart

upon the mountains of spices.

Are you ready to meet Him?

Matthew 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Devotional February 28th, 2026

Jerry Bouey