Exodus 13:19

ESV Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here."

NIV Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place."

NASB And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, 'God will certainly take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.'

CSB Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites swear a solemn oath, saying, "God will certainly come to your aid; then you must take my bones with you from this place."

NLT Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, 'God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.'

KJV And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

NKJV And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”

What does Exodus 13:19 mean?

This note looks back to something which happened after Israel first settled in Egypt. Joseph's father was Jacob (Genesis 37:3), also named Israel (Genesis 32:28). Through a series of God-ordained events (Genesis 50:20), Joseph became a powerful leader in Egypt. This allowed him to care for his family during a terrible famine. This is how the nation of Israel—Jacob's descendants—came to live in Goshen in Egypt (Genesis 47:5–6, 27). When Joseph died, he knew his family was destined for a Promised Land (Genesis 12:6–7; 15:13–21). He made his growing family promise that they would one day take his remains—his literal bones—into that land when they left Egypt (Genesis 50:24–25).

Over time, Egypt would enslave the Israelites (Exodus 1:8, 11–14). God sent Moses to lead the nation to freedom (Exodus 3:10). Moses also fulfills the promise made to Joseph: he personally carries Joseph's bones as Israel departs Egypt (Exodus 12:40–41). Eventually, those bones would be buried alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 23:19–20; 49:29–33; 50:13; Joshua 24:32).

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