Genesis 50:2
ESV
And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.
NIV
Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him,
NASB
Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.
CSB
He commanded his servants who were physicians to embalm his father. So they embalmed Israel.
NLT
Then Joseph told the physicians who served him to embalm his father’s body; so Jacob was embalmed.
KJV
And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
NKJV
And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.
What does Genesis 50:2 mean?
Jacob has died (Genesis 49:33). After kissing his father's face, Joseph commanded Egyptian physicians to embalm his father's body. Egyptian embalming was an extensive process resulting in what we now call mummification. It involved extracting the brain and internal organs, soaking the body in specific liquids, and wrapping it heavily in bandages. Only Jacob and, later, Joseph are described in the Old Testament as having been embalmed.This level of attention was a sign of status in Egypt, something fitting to Joseph's position as the second in command in the nation (Genesis 41:44). Embalming would have kept Jacob's body from decomposing before Joseph and his brothers had the time to lay it to rest in the family burial tomb in Canaan (Genesis 47:29–30).
