How Many Israelites Went to Egypt Before the Exodus?
According to Genesis 46:27, a total of 70 people from Jacob’s family went to Egypt when Joseph invited them during the famine. However, another verse in Exodus 1:5 states a slightly different number. Let’s break it down:
1. The Biblical Count of Those Who Entered Egypt
📖 Genesis 46:27 (ESV) – “All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.”
📖 Exodus 1:5 (ESV) – “All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.”
However, in Acts 7:14, Stephen mentions 75 people, which comes from the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament.
2. Why the Difference in Numbers (70 vs. 75)?
The difference between 70 and 75 is due to how some versions count additional family members:
- The Hebrew Masoretic Text (used in most English Bibles) records 70.
- The Greek Septuagint (LXX) includes Joseph’s grandchildren, making the number 75.
Breakdown of the 70 from Genesis 46:
✔ 66 direct descendants of Jacob (excluding Joseph and his sons).
✔ Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh (already in Egypt) = 3 more.
✔ Total: 70 people in Egypt.
Breakdown of the 75 from the Septuagint:
✔ The Greek version includes Joseph’s additional grandchildren, making it 75 instead of 70.
3. How Many Israelites Were There by the Time of the Exodus?
- Over 400 years, the Israelites grew into a massive nation.
- Exodus 12:37 states that 600,000 Israelite men (not counting women and children) left Egypt.
- With families included, estimates suggest the total Israelite population may have been around 2-3 million people by the time of the Exodus.
Summary: How Many Israelites Went to Egypt?
✔ 70 people (Hebrew text) or 75 people (Greek text) originally entered Egypt.
✔ Over 400 years, they multiplied into millions.
✔ This fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:5) that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars.
Would you like more details on how the Israelites grew so quickly in Egypt? 😊