As a student who has recently completed my Hebrew class, I’ve realized that the hardest work has just begun. While I no longer have assignments, tests, or quizzes to turn in for a grade—and I don’t have the frequent interaction with classmates who are studying the same thing and exchanging notes and ideas—I’ve tapped into a new level of discipline. I’ve set out to read a few verses in Hebrew each day and translate them into English slowly and carefully.
Today, I decided to translate Genesis chapter 50, verses 1 and 2, from the Hebrew into English. And I discovered something incredible. After translating verse 2, my word-for-word translation reads: “Joseph ordered the servants’ doctors to embalm his father, and the doctors embalmed Israel.”
What’s significant about this is that the name used for Jacob in verse 2 switches to “Israel.” Though both names were used for him throughout his life, name changes in the Bible are almost always significant in relation to the characterization of a passage. In reviewing the Jacob narrative, we see that much of his life was marked by deception and striving—fighting for a position he didn’t realize he already had. He went from a life of stealing, deceiving, and trying to earn the blessing by his own efforts, to ultimately becoming the blessed, chosen one of God, meant to represent a future nation called and redeemed by God.
What struck me in translating this verse is that it specifically says Joseph ordered the Egyptian doctors to embalm “Israel”. This means Joseph—though a Hebrew through and through—was educated in Egyptian culture and customs. He rose through the ranks to become second only to Pharaoh and fully understood the meaning and spiritual symbolism of embalming in Egypt. Despite being a Hebrew, he was not ignorant of Egyptian rituals and what they represented, especially spiritually—even when applied to his own Hebrew father.
In Egypt, embalming was not something everyone could afford. It was an elite practice—an act of honor and reverence, rich with layered symbolism. First, embalming in Egyptian culture symbolized victory over death and preparation for eternity. That means that Egypt—a powerful nation and future oppressor of Israel—was the very culture used here to declare, through the embalming of their patriarch, that the Hebrew people were destined to overcome death and inherit eternal life (John 3:16).
The spiritual implications of this are stunning. Embedded within Joseph’s decision is a subtle prophecy, declaring something much deeper: that Israel—God’s people—was not only chosen but eternally victorious. Embalming also represented a rejection of bodily decay, and this directly points us to Jesus, whose body did not see decay in the grave but rose three days later. And for those of us who have trusted in Him, we now cling to the promises He made—that whoever believes in Him will also receive eternal life.
Another powerful layer of embalming is that it signified divine association. For the Egyptians, to be embalmed was to be connected to the divine in a permanent way. And this speaks to our future reality: not only will we live forever, but we will dwell forever with the Lord (Psalm 23:6) (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Embalming also symbolized dignity and remembrance. As Christians, we’ve been told that we’ll experience suffering, trials, and persecution that tempt us to abandon our faith. But for the Egyptians, embalming conferred eternal honor. That’s a hopeful image for those of us who feel misunderstood and rejected for bearing the name and mark of Christ (Romans 8:18) (Matthew 5:10-12).
Further still, embalming symbolized a transformation into a glorified state. The Egyptians believed the embalmed were no longer bound by the lowly state of their earthly bodies—they were now glorified. Scripture echoes this repeatedly, especially in the New Testament, which promises that in heaven, we’ll receive new, glorified bodies—free from sickness, pain, and sorrow. (Philippians 3:20–21)
But perhaps the most profound meaning embalming carried in Egypt was this: it was a declaration that the person would rise again. It meant death had not conquered them. Their life would continue, and they would one day be resurrected (Romans 6:5). And despite the many theological differences between the Egyptians and Hebrews, Joseph—who had been immersed in Egyptian language, customs, and beliefs—was unafraid to engage with a pagan ritual that affirmed a truth pointing to his own God.
This is significant. It reminds us that we don’t need to fear pagan spiritual practices, but rather discern the truths buried within them—truths that ultimately belong to God. Because all truth is God’s truth. Even the most esoteric or seemingly occult practices will one day bow to the supremacy of Jesus Christ and confirm His Lordship.
And we can take heart in knowing that we already see glimpses of that reality now. Joseph was wise enough to recognize that the spiritual longing of the Egyptians—a desire for eternal life, dignity, transformation, and resurrection—was fully realized in the God of his fathers. That bold hope gave him the courage to make a bold decision: to have the Egyptian doctors embalm his father Israel.
Glory to God!