Genesis 50:3

Verse

taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

American Standard Version (1901)

And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of embalming: and the Egyptians wept for him threescore and ten days.

Bible in Basic English

And the forty days needed for making the body ready went by: and there was weeping for him among the Egyptians for seventy days.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And while they were fulfilling his commands, there passed forty days: for this was the manner with bodies that were embalmed, and Egypt mourned for him seventy days.

Free Bible Version

This took a full 40 days, the normal time for the process, and the Egyptians mourned for him for 70 days.

Geneva Bible 1599

So fourtie dayes were accomplished (for so long did the dayes of them that were enbaumed last) and the Egyptians bewayled him seuentie dayes.

King James (Authorized) Version

And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

One Unity Resource Bible

Forty days were fulfilled for him, for that is how many the days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians [people from Abode of slavery] wept for him for seventy days.

Translation for Translators

So the morticians did that. It took 40 days to embalm Jacob’s body, because that is the amount of time that was always required for them to embalm a body. And the people of Egypt mourned for 70 days because of Jacob’s death.

Unlocked Literal Bible

They took forty days, for that was the full time for embalming. The Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

Noah Webster Bible

And forty days were fulfilled for him; (for so are fulfilled the days of those who are embalmed:) and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

World English Bible

Forty days were used for him, for that is how many days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for Israel for seventy days.

Young's Literal Translation

and they fulfil for him forty days, for so they fulfil the days of the embalmed, and the Egyptians weep for him seventy days.

Context

Mourning and Burial for Jacob

²And Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him,³taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

Summary

In Genesis 50:3, we see Joseph honoring his father Jacob by embalming his body according to Egyptian customs. This act of embalming was a way to show respect and care for the deceased, as well as to preserve the body for an extended period. Joseph's actions reflect his deep love and reverence for his father, highlighting the importance of honoring and caring for family members even after death. This verse also serves as a reminder of the cultural practices and traditions of the time, shedding light on the customs of ancient Egypt.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Forty days - The body it appears required this number of days to complete the process of embalming; afterwards it lay in natron thirty days more, making in the whole seventy days, according to the preceding accounts, during which the mourning was continued.