Genesis 47:31

KJV

And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559}, Swear {H7650} unto me. And he sware {H7650} unto him. And Israel {H3478} bowed {H7812} himself upon the bed's {H4296} head {H7218}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He said, "Swear it to me," and he swore to him. Then Isra'el bowed down at the head of his bed.

Berean Standard Bible

“Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.

American Standard Version

And he said, Swear unto me: and he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 47:31 records the poignant conclusion of a vital exchange between Jacob and his son Joseph, where Jacob secures a solemn oath for his burial in the Promised Land. This verse profoundly encapsulates Jacob’s unwavering faith in God's covenant promises, even as he faces his imminent death, culminating in an act of deep worship and gratitude that underscores his trust in divine faithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jacob's earnest request to Joseph in [Genesis 47:29-30](/genesis/47-29-30 "Jacob's Final Request and Joseph's Oath"). Sensing his impending death, Jacob summons Joseph and makes him promise not to bury him in Egypt, but instead to carry his body back to the land of Canaan, to be laid with his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac, in the cave of Machpelah. Joseph's agreement to this sacred vow leads directly to Jacob's final act of worship recorded in verse 31, providing a powerful narrative resolution to this deeply personal and covenantally significant interaction. The passage sets the stage for Jacob's final blessings upon his sons and the subsequent exodus from Egypt, emphasizing the continuity of God's promises despite the family's temporary sojourn.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the taking of an oath was a profoundly serious and binding commitment, often invoking divine witness to ensure its fulfillment. Jacob's insistence on an oath from Joseph, rather than a mere promise, highlights the immense importance he placed on his burial in Canaan. Burial practices were deeply significant, reflecting beliefs about identity, lineage, and the afterlife. To be buried with one's ancestors in the ancestral land was a powerful statement of belonging and continuity. Furthermore, the act of bowing was a common gesture of respect, homage, or worship. Jacob's specific posture, bowing "upon the bed's head," suggests a physical weakness that necessitated leaning, yet still conveyed profound reverence, akin to the description found in [Hebrews 11:21](/hebrews/11-21 "Jacob's Faith and Worship").
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 47:31 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis and the broader Pentateuch. It powerfully illustrates **covenant faithfulness**, as Jacob's desire for burial in Canaan is a tangible expression of his enduring faith in God's promise of the land to his descendants, a promise reiterated to Abraham ([Genesis 12:7](/genesis/12-7 "God's Promise to Abram")), Isaac ([Genesis 26:3](/genesis/26-3 "God's Promise to Isaac")), and Jacob himself ([Genesis 28:13-15](/genesis/28-13-15 "God's Promise to Jacob at Bethel")). The verse also highlights the theme of **hope beyond death**, as Jacob's focus on his burial place transcends his immediate circumstances and points to a belief in God's ultimate fulfillment of promises, even if it extends beyond one's lifetime. Finally, Jacob's concluding act of worship underscores the theme of **gratitude and reverence** towards God, even in the face of physical decline and impending death.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Israel (Hebrew, _Yisrâʼêl'_):** This name, given to Jacob after his wrestling match with God in [Genesis 32:28](/genesis/32-28 "Jacob Wrestles with God"), means "he will rule as God." Its use here, rather than "Jacob," emphasizes his identity as the patriarch of the covenant people, highlighting the theological significance of his final act. It underscores that this is not merely a personal wish, but an act of faith from the one through whom God's promises to the nation would flow.
* **sware (Hebrew, _shâbaʻ'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to seven oneself," this verb signifies taking an oath, as if by repeating a declaration seven times for emphasis and solemnity. Joseph's act of swearing confirms the binding nature of his commitment to Jacob, demonstrating the gravity with which such promises were made and received in the ancient world, often invoking divine witness.
* **bowed (Hebrew, _shâchâh'_):** This primitive root means "to depress" or "prostrate," especially in homage to royalty or God. While it can denote respect, in this context, given Jacob's advanced age, his impending death, and the fulfillment of his profound desire, it carries a strong connotation of worship and thanksgiving to God. It signifies a humble, reverent posture of adoration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said, Swear unto me."**: Jacob's request for an oath from Joseph is not a mere suggestion but a solemn command, indicating the immense importance he placed on his burial in Canaan. This demand underscores Jacob's profound faith in God's covenant promise of the land, desiring his physical resting place to be a tangible testament to that future hope. It reflects a patriarch securing the continuity of the divine promise through his lineage.
* **"And he sware unto him."**: Joseph's immediate compliance demonstrates deep filial piety and unwavering loyalty to his aging father. Despite his high position as Pharaoh's prime minister, Joseph humbly honors his father's final wish, acknowledging the sacred and binding nature of the oath. This act provides Jacob with the assurance he sought, confirming the solemnity of their agreement.
* **"And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head."**: This culminating act is rich with theological significance. The use of "Israel" rather than "Jacob" emphasizes his identity as the patriarch of God's chosen people. His bowing, likely leaning on his staff as [Hebrews 11:21](/hebrews/11-21 "Jacob's Faith and Worship") clarifies, is an act of profound worship and thanksgiving to God. It signifies his peace in Joseph's promise, his deep trust in God's faithfulness throughout his life, and his final acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over his life and the future of his descendants. It is a beautiful picture of a life concluding in worship, trusting in God's ultimate plan.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Symbolism** and **Irony**. The act of Jacob bowing "upon the bed's head" is symbolic of his profound worship and gratitude, even in physical weakness. It represents a final, powerful affirmation of faith in God's covenant promises, transcending his immediate circumstances of being in a foreign land and facing death. The "bed's head" itself can symbolize the end of his earthly journey, yet his posture points to a hope beyond this life. There is also a subtle **Irony** in Jacob's physical prostration: though he is weak and dying, his spirit is strong, and his act of worship is a powerful demonstration of spiritual vitality and trust in God's ultimate control, even as his body fails. This contrasts his earlier life of striving and wrestling, culminating in a posture of humble submission and gratitude.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 47:31 serves as a powerful theological statement about the enduring nature of God's covenant and the patriarch's unwavering faith. Jacob's insistence on burial in Canaan is not merely a sentimental wish, but a profound act of faith, affirming his belief in God's promise of the land to his descendants. It signifies his conviction that God would indeed bring his people back to the land, and his bones resting there would serve as a tangible sign of this future hope and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises. This act of faith, culminating in worship, underscores that true hope transcends immediate circumstances and even death itself, finding its anchor in the faithfulness of God. It also highlights the sacredness of oaths and the importance of filial piety within the covenant community.

* [Genesis 15:18](/genesis/15-18 "God's Covenant with Abram")
* [Hebrews 11:13-16](/hebrews/11-13-16 "The Pilgrims of Faith")
* [Joshua 24:32](/joshua/24-32 "Joseph's Bones Buried in Shechem")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 47:31 offers profound lessons for believers today, serving as a powerful testament to Jacob's enduring faith. Even in the face of death, Jacob looked beyond his immediate circumstances in Egypt to the greater promise of God concerning the land of Canaan. This act reminds us of the importance of maintaining unwavering faith in God's promises, even when they seem distant, delayed, or when life's end approaches. It encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, trusting in God's ultimate plan and His faithfulness to His Word, rather than being consumed by present difficulties or the certainty of physical death. Furthermore, this passage underscores the sacredness of our commitments, the honoring of family bonds, and the profound beauty of concluding one's life in an attitude of worship and gratitude towards God, regardless of physical weakness. It challenges us to consider how our lives, even in their final moments, can bear witness to the faithfulness of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jacob's insistence on burial in Canaan challenge my own perspective on earthly versus eternal hopes?**
* **In what ways can I demonstrate unwavering faith in God's promises, even when circumstances seem contrary or difficult?**
* **What does Jacob's final act of worship teach me about maintaining an attitude of gratitude and reverence towards God, especially during times of weakness or transition?**

### FAQ
**Why was Jacob's burial place so important to him?**

Answer: Jacob's desire to be buried in Canaan, rather than Egypt, was a profound expression of his faith in God's covenant promise of the land to his descendants. It was not merely a sentimental wish but a theological statement. By desiring burial in Canaan, Jacob affirmed his belief that God would indeed bring his people back to the land, and his resting place would serve as a tangible sign of this future hope and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and himself. This commitment is further emphasized by Joseph's later instruction for his own bones to be carried out of Egypt, as recorded in [Genesis 50:25](/genesis/50-25 "Joseph's Final Request").

**What does 'bowed himself upon the bed's head' signify?**

Answer: The phrase "bowed himself" (Hebrew: *shâchâh*) primarily denotes an act of worship or reverence. While Jacob was on his deathbed, likely leaning on his staff for support (as confirmed by [Hebrews 11:21](/hebrews/11-21 "Jacob's Act of Faith")), his bowing was an act of profound gratitude and adoration towards God. It signified his thanksgiving for God's faithfulness throughout his life, for Joseph's promise to bury him in the promised land, and his final act of worship before his passing, demonstrating his trust in God's sovereign plan and his peace in the face of death.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jacob's unwavering faith in God's promise of the land, culminating in his final act of worship, beautifully prefigures the ultimate hope and inheritance found in Christ. While Jacob looked to an earthly promised land as a sign of God's faithfulness, the New Testament reveals that this earthly inheritance points to a greater, heavenly country ([Hebrews 11:13-16](/hebrews/11-13-16 "The Heavenly Country")), a spiritual inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for believers ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "A Living Hope")). Jacob's act of faith, leaning on his staff and worshipping, foreshadows the believer's complete reliance on Christ for salvation and the ultimate rest and inheritance in Him. His desire to be gathered to his people in the promised land finds its true fulfillment in the gathering of all believers into the eternal presence of God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, who is our ultimate rest ([Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28-30 "Come to Me, All Who Labor")) and the "Amen," the faithful and true witness, in whom all God's promises are "Yes" and "Amen" ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "God's Promises are 'Yes' in Christ")). Thus, Jacob's deathbed worship becomes a prophetic echo of the worship due to the One who secures our eternal inheritance.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 1:47

And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.

Hebrews 11:21

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.

Genesis 24:3

And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Genesis 48:1

¶ And it came to pass after these things, that [one] told Joseph, Behold, thy father [is] sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Genesis 48:2

And [one] told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

Genesis 47:29

And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

Genesis 24:26

And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.