Genesis 49:31

KJV

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

KJV (with Strong's)

There they buried {H6912} Abraham {H85} and Sarah {H8283} his wife {H802}; there they buried {H6912} Isaac {H3327} and Rebekah {H7259} his wife {H802}; and there I buried {H6912} Leah {H3812}.

Complete Jewish Bible

there they buried Avraham and his wife Sarah, there they buried Yitz'chak and his wife Rivkah, and there I buried Le'ah -

Berean Standard Bible

There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried, and there I buried Leah.

American Standard Version

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah—

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 49:31, part of Jacob's final instructions to his sons, specifies the occupants of the ancestral burial site at the Cave of Machpelah: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah. This verse underscores the patriarchs' deep connection to the promised land, their unwavering faith in God's covenant promises, and the continuity of the lineage through which those promises would be fulfilled.

### CONTEXT
Genesis 49:31 is part of Jacob's final instructions and prophecies to his twelve sons before his death in Egypt. Having lived out his final years in the land of Goshen, Jacob's deepest desire was not to be buried in Egypt, but to be laid to rest with his ancestors in the [Cave of Machpelah](/genesis/23-19 "Learn about Abraham's purchase of the Cave of Machpelah in Genesis 23:19") in Canaan. This verse serves as a historical affirmation, reminding his sons and us who already occupy this significant family tomb, reinforcing the gravity of Jacob's request detailed in [Genesis 49:29-30](/genesis/49-29-30 "Read Jacob's command to be buried with his fathers in Genesis 49:29-30"). The fulfillment of Jacob's wish is recorded in [Genesis 50:13](/genesis/50-13 "Read about Jacob's burial in Genesis 50:13"), completing the patriarch's journey back to his ancestral home.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
The verse meticulously lists the esteemed residents of the Cave of Machpelah, a burial site of immense significance to the patriarchal family. Jacob, on his deathbed, recounts who is interred there, emphasizing the lineage and the sacredness of the promised land.

* **Abraham and Sarah:** The foundational patriarch and matriarch, whose burial at Machpelah, purchased by Abraham from Ephron the Hittite ([Genesis 23:19](/genesis/23-19 "Explore Abraham's purchase of the Cave of Machpelah in Genesis 23:19")), marked the first tangible claim to the promised land. Their presence signifies the beginning of the covenant lineage.
* **Isaac and Rebekah:** The second generation of the covenant line, continuing the legacy and demonstrating the ongoing divine election through their progeny. Their burial here solidifies the generational transfer of God's promises.
* **Leah:** Jacob's first wife, and the mother of six of his sons, including Judah, from whom the messianic line would eventually come. Jacob's specific mention, "and there I buried Leah," is poignant. It highlights a personal act of burial, perhaps indicating a deep, if complex, affection and a desire to be united with her in death, despite his greater love for Rachel. Rachel, his beloved wife, was buried separately near Bethlehem ([Genesis 35:19](/genesis/35-19 "Read about Rachel's burial near Bethlehem in Genesis 35:19")), a fact that underscores Leah's unique position in Jacob's final thoughts regarding the ancestral tomb.

The repeated use of the Hebrew word *sham* (שָׁם), meaning "there," throughout the verse ("*There* they buried Abraham... *there* they buried Isaac... and *there* I buried Leah") serves to powerfully emphasize the singular importance and designated nature of the Cave of Machpelah. This repetition underscores the sacredness of this specific location as the resting place for the foundational figures of Israel's lineage and a tangible link to God's covenant promises concerning the land.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **Covenant Continuity and Lineage:** The precise listing of buried patriarchs and matriarchs underscores the unbroken continuity of God's covenant promises through generations, from Abraham to Jacob. The burial site itself becomes a physical testament to the enduring nature of God's faithfulness to His chosen line.
* **Significance of the Promised Land:** The patriarchs' insistence on burial in Canaan, even when they died elsewhere (like Jacob in Egypt), highlights the profound spiritual and physical importance of the promised land. It was not merely territory but the place of God's covenant blessings, the future inheritance, and the hope of a nation.
* **Faith Beyond Death:** The desire to be interred in Machpelah reflects a profound faith that transcended their earthly lives. It was an act of hope, believing in God's faithfulness to His promises, even when the full realization of those promises (like the complete inheritance of the land) was yet to come. This demonstrates a trust in God's future work, including resurrection.
* **Family and Identity:** The shared burial place reinforces the concept of a unified family, bound by covenant and common destiny. It speaks to the importance of heritage and roots in the formation of Israel's identity as God's chosen people.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 49:31 serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring significance of heritage and the unwavering nature of God's promises. Just as the patriarchs held onto the promise of the land even in death, believers today are called to find comfort and hope in God's unchanging character and His ultimate faithfulness to His word. This verse prompts us to reflect on our own spiritual heritage, recognizing that we are part of a larger story of faith, built upon the faithfulness of those who came before us. While the physical location of our burial may not hold the same covenantal significance as Machpelah, this passage directs our hope toward our ultimate resting place: the promise of eternal life and resurrection for those who trust in God's covenant through Christ.

### FAQ
**Why is the Cave of Machpelah so important?**

Answer: The Cave of Machpelah holds immense significance as the burial site purchased by Abraham ([Genesis 23:19](/genesis/23-19 "Learn about Abraham's purchase of the Cave of Machpelah in Genesis 23:19")) as a permanent possession in the land of Canaan. It represents the patriarchs' first tangible claim to the promised land and serves as a physical anchor for God's covenant promises regarding the land and their descendants. It symbolizes the continuity of the covenant line and the enduring hope in God's faithfulness to His people.

**Why does Jacob specifically mention burying Leah, but not Rachel?**

Answer: Jacob's specific mention of burying Leah ("and there I buried Leah") is poignant because Rachel, his beloved wife, was buried separately near Bethlehem ([Genesis 35:19](/genesis/35-19 "Read about Rachel's burial near Bethlehem in Genesis 35:19")) after dying in childbirth. By emphasizing Leah's burial in Machpelah, Jacob highlights her status as a matriarch of the covenant line, buried alongside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah. It may reflect a deep, complex bond with Leah, or simply a factual recounting of who was in the ancestral tomb, distinguishing her from Rachel who was not.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The patriarchs' deep longing to be buried in the promised land, exemplified by Jacob's final instructions regarding Machpelah, points forward to a greater hope and a more profound fulfillment in Christ. Their faith in God's promise of the land, though partially realized, ultimately prefigures the spiritual inheritance of all believers in Christ—a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells ([2 Peter 3:13](/2_peter/3-13 "Read about the new heavens and new earth in 2 Peter 3:13")). The physical resting place in Machpelah, a symbol of God's faithfulness to a specific lineage, finds its ultimate reality in Christ, who is the true "seed" of Abraham ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Explore Christ as Abraham's seed in Galatians 3:16")) and the one through whom all God's promises find their "Yes" and "Amen" ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "Read about God's promises in Christ in 2 Corinthians 1:20")). Moreover, the patriarchs' hope for a future in the land, even beyond death, subtly anticipates the resurrection life secured by Christ, who conquered death and offers eternal life in the true promised land, the heavenly kingdom.

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.