What is the meaning of Exodus 1:6?

Now Joseph

“Now Joseph…”

• Joseph’s life had been a divine instrument of preservation (Genesis 45:7; Acts 7:9-10).

• Though exalted in Egypt, he never forgot God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 50:24).

• His dying request concerning his bones (Genesis 50:25; Hebrews 11:22) testified that Egypt was not Israel’s home.

• By beginning Exodus with Joseph’s name, Scripture bridges Genesis’ stories of promise to the unfolding story of redemption in Exodus.

---

and all his brothers

“…and all his brothers…”

• The other sons of Jacob—Reuben through Benjamin—each carried a tribal destiny (Genesis 49:28).

• Their unity in death reminds us that God’s plan encompasses the whole covenant family, not merely a single hero (Exodus 1:1-5).

• The verse quietly affirms that the promises made to all twelve tribes would outlive them (Deuteronomy 7:9).

---

and all that generation

“…and all that generation…”

• A complete turnover of leadership sets the stage for a new historical era (Exodus 1:8).

• God had foretold a lengthy sojourn and oppression (Genesis 15:13-14); the passing of the patriarchal generation moves the clock forward toward that prophecy’s fulfillment.

• Every earthly generation is temporary, but God’s covenantal faithfulness spans them all (Psalm 102:24-28; Acts 7:17).

---

died

“…died.”

• Physical death is the universal consequence of the Fall (Genesis 3:19; Hebrews 9:27).

• The verse’s brevity underscores how swiftly human greatness fades, yet God’s purposes march on (Isaiah 40:7-8).

• Their deaths clear the narrative stage so that God Himself becomes the central actor—preserving Israel under oppression, raising up Moses, and displaying salvation (Exodus 1:7; 2 Timothy 2:9).

---

summary

Exodus 1:6 marks a hinge between eras: Joseph, his brothers, and their peers leave the scene, but God’s covenant promises remain alive. The verse testifies to human mortality, the continuity of God’s redemptive plan, and the certainty that each generation must personally trust and obey the Lord who never changes.