Torah FeedParashat Vayechi
Genesis 47:28 to 50:26, 85 verses. Next read on Shabbat, December 26, 2026.
Updated September 24, 2026
וַיְחִי
- Book
- Genesis
- Reading
- 47:28 to 50:26
- Verses
- 85
- Position
- 12 of 54
Opening verse
וַיְחִי יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה וַיְהִי יְמֵי־יַעֲקֹב שְׁנֵי חַיָּיו שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים וְאַרְבָּעִים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה׃
And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were a hundred forty and seven years.
Read the full text from the start of the portion: Genesis 47 in Hebrew and English.
Summary
Jacob lives seventeen years in Egypt. Near death he makes Joseph swear to bury him in Canaan, then blesses Joseph's sons, crossing his hands to place the right on the younger Ephraim. He gathers all twelve sons and speaks to each in turn, some in blessing and some in rebuke, describing the character of the tribes to come. He dies and is carried in a great procession to the cave of Machpelah. The brothers fear that Joseph will now take revenge, and he reassures them: you meant it for evil, God meant it for good. Joseph dies at one hundred and ten, asking that his bones be carried up when God brings the people out.
Key moments
- Ephraim and Menashe blessed (48:8 to 48:20)
- Jacob's words to his sons (49:1 to 49:28)
- "God meant it for good" (50:15 to 50:21)
When is Vayechi read?
Upcoming Shabbat readings in the Diaspora calendar:
- Saturday, December 26, 2026
- Saturday, January 15, 2028
- Saturday, December 30, 2028
In some years this portion is read together with its neighbor as a double portion. The dates above include those weeks.