Genesis 48:21

And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

And Israel {H3478} said {H559} unto Joseph {H3130}, Behold, I die {H4191}: but God {H430} shall be with you, and bring you again {H7725} unto the land {H776} of your fathers {H1}.

Isra'el then said to Yosef, "You see that I am dying, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your ancestors.

Then Israel said to Joseph, โ€œLook, I am about to die, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.

And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God will be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

Commentary

Genesis 48:21 captures a profound moment as Jacob, also known as Israel, delivers his final words of faith and prophecy to his son Joseph on his deathbed in Egypt. This verse serves as a powerful testament to God's enduring faithfulness and the certainty of His covenant promises, even in the face of human mortality.

Context of Genesis 48:21

At this point in the Book of Genesis, Jacob is nearing the end of his life, dwelling in Egypt where Joseph had brought his family to escape a severe famine. Chapter 48 specifically details Jacob's blessing of Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, whom he elevates to the status of his own sons, ensuring they receive a full tribal inheritance in Israel. Amidst these blessings, Jacob looks beyond his own passing, reminding Joseph of God's unwavering commitment to their family and the future of the nation of Israel. This setting underscores the transition of leadership and the continuity of God's plan through generations, even as the patriarchs pass away.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Faithfulness and Presence: Jacob's declaration, "God shall be with you," is a powerful affirmation of God's constant presence and guidance for His people. It's a reminder that God's plan does not cease with the death of His servants but continues through those who follow. This theme echoes throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's promise to never leave nor forsake His own.
  • Covenant Promises to the Land: The phrase "bring you again unto the land of your fathers" directly references the Abrahamic covenant, which promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants. Despite being in Egypt, Jacob held firm to the prophetic assurance that God would lead his family back to their rightful inheritance. This promise was central to the identity and future of the nation of Israel, as seen in the later Exodus from Egypt.
  • Hope Beyond Death: Jacob faces his mortality ("Behold, I die") with an unwavering confidence in God's future actions. His faith transcends his physical end, demonstrating a profound trust in God's sovereign control over life, death, and the destiny of His people.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "God" used here is Elohim, a plural noun often used with a singular verb, signifying God's majesty and power. Jacob's use of "God shall be with you" (ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ื ื™ึดื”ึฐื™ึถื” ืขึดืžึธึผื›ึถื, Elohim yihyeh immakhem) is a declaration of divine presence and favor, a common blessing and assurance found throughout the Old Testament. The "land of your fathers" (ืึถืจึถืฅ ืึฒื‘ึนืชึตื™ื›ึถื, eretz avoteikhem) specifically refers to Canaan, the promised land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, underscoring the ancestral and covenantal right to that territory.

Practical Application

Genesis 48:21 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Unchanging Promises: Like Jacob, we are called to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem contrary or when we face the end of our own lives or significant transitions. God's faithfulness endures through generations.
  • God's Presence in Life's Transitions: This verse reminds us that God is with us through every major transition, including facing death or significant changes. His presence provides comfort and assurance.
  • A Legacy of Faith: Jacob's final words were not of despair but of hope rooted in God's future actions. This encourages us to leave a legacy of faith and trust in God for those who come after us.

Jacob's dying words to Joseph are a powerful reminder that God's plan and presence extend beyond individual lives, ensuring the fulfillment of His divine purposes for His people.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 50:24 (6 votes)

    And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

  • Genesis 46:4 (6 votes)

    I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up [again]: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

  • Genesis 26:3 (4 votes)

    Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

  • Genesis 28:15 (4 votes)

    And, behold, I [am] with thee, and will keep thee in all [places] whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done [that] which I have spoken to thee of.

  • Hebrews 7:23 (3 votes)

    And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

  • Hebrews 7:25 (3 votes)

    Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

  • Hebrews 7:3 (3 votes)

    Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.