Egyptians

Lore & Background

The Egyptians first appear in the narrative when Abram travels to Egypt during a famine. Abram fears that the Egyptians, upon seeing Sarai’s beauty, will kill him to take her (Genesis 12:12). The Egyptians do indeed behold Sarai and find her very fair (Genesis 12:14). Later, an Egyptian woman named Hagar is introduced as Sarai’s handmaid, given to Abram as a wife because Sarai was childless (Genesis 16:1, Genesis 16:3). Hagar bears Ishmael, and later Sarah sees Ishmael mocking (Genesis 21:9). Ishmael is consistently identified as the son of Hagar the Egyptian (Genesis 25:12). Joseph’s story brings the Egyptians into focus again. He is bought by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh (Genesis 39:1). Joseph lives in Potiphar’s house, and the LORD blesses the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake (Genesis 39:2, Genesis 39:5). During the famine, Pharaoh directs the Egyptians to go to Joseph for bread (Genesis 41:55), and Joseph sells grain to the Egyptians (Genesis 41:56). The Egyptians are portrayed as having strict social boundaries: they would not eat bread with Hebrews, considering it an abomination (Genesis 43:32), and they also considered shepherds an abomination (Genesis 46:34). When Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s house hear his weeping (Genesis 45:2). During the famine, the Egyptians sell their land to Joseph for Pharaoh (Genesis 47:20). After Jacob’s death, the Egyptians embalm him and mourn for seventy days (Genesis 50:3), and the Canaanites observe the mourning and call it a grievous mourning to the Egyptians (Genesis 50:11).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray the Egyptians as a distinct ethnic and cultural group with whom the patriarchs interact in various ways. Initially, they are a potential threat to Abram, who fears their violence (Genesis 12:12). Their perception of Sarai’s beauty is noted (Genesis 12:14). Hagar, an Egyptian, becomes a key figure in Abraham’s household, first as a handmaid and then as a wife, and her son Ishmael is part of Abraham’s lineage (Genesis 16:1, Genesis 16:3, Genesis 21:9, Genesis 25:12). In Joseph’s time, Egyptians are shown as slaveholders (Potiphar buys Joseph, Genesis 39:1), but also as recipients of blessing through Joseph (Genesis 39:5). They are governed by Pharaoh, who directs them to Joseph during famine (Genesis 41:55). The Egyptians maintain strict cultural separations: they refuse to eat with Hebrews (Genesis 43:32) and despise shepherds (Genesis 46:34). They also participate in mourning rituals for Jacob (Genesis 50:3, Genesis 50:11). Overall, the Egyptians are depicted as powerful, culturally distinct, and sometimes hostile, yet also as people who can be blessed through God’s servants.

Did You Know?

• The first mention of Egyptians in Genesis is in Abram’s fear that they would kill him for his wife (Genesis 12:12).
• Hagar is the only Egyptian woman named in these passages, and she becomes the mother of Ishmael (Genesis 16:1, Genesis 16:3, Genesis 25:12).
• The Egyptians considered it an abomination to eat bread with Hebrews (Genesis 43:32) and also considered shepherds an abomination (Genesis 46:34).
• The Egyptians embalmed Jacob and mourned for him seventy days (Genesis 50:3).

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (2011), Chapter 11: "Imperial Visions" — Egyptians "Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (2011), Chapter 15: "The Marriage of Science and Empire" — Egyptians "The Egyptian scales of justice are not reversible. There is no justice in Egypt. No reason. Logic committed suicide a while ago. Egypt went crazy. Egypt is ruled by a bunch of lunatics." — Egyptians "We are good fighters but lousy builders. Our last piece of original architecture was during ancient Egypt. What are we known for now?" — Egyptians