Genesis 47:31

“He said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. Then Israel bowed down upon the head of the bed.”
Genesis 47:31 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

He said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Swearהִשָּׁבְעָהto me.”לִיAnd he sworeוַיִּשָּׁבַעto him.לוֹThen Israelוַ יִשְׂרָאֵלbowed downיִּשְׁתַּחוּuponעַלthe headרֹאשׁof the bed.הַמִּטָּה

Quotation · Hebrews 11:21

Go to Hebrews 11:21

Hebrews uses without a formula the words of the Septuagint of Genesis 47:31: “he bowed down on the top of his staff.” The vocalized Hebrew says “on the head of the bed”; the consonants (מטה) allow both readings.

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: πίστει Ἰακὼβ ἀποθνῄσκων ἕκαστον τῶν υἱῶν Ἰωσὴφ εὐλόγησεν καὶ προσεκύνησεν ἐπὶ τὸ ἄκρον τῆς ῥάβδου αὐτοῦ

Hebrew (Masoretic text): וַיֹּאמֶר הִשָּׁבְעָה לִי וַיִּשָּׁבַע לוֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה

This passage could not be located with certainty in the transcription of the Septuagint we use, so it is not compared.

Genesis 47:31, word by word

He saidיֹּאמֶרyomer

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “yomer” appears

“Swearהִשָּׁבְעָhishava

swear

To promise with God as witness.

Where else “hishava” appears

Then Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael

Israel

Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.

Where else “yisrael” appears

bowed downיִּשְׁתַּחוּyishtachu

worship

To bow before God in adoration.

Where else “yishtachu” appears

the headרֹאשׁrosh

top

Literally "the head": the highest part, as of a mountain.

Where else “rosh” appears

of the bedמִּטָּהmita

bed

Bed; a couch.

Where else “mita” appears

Translation note

Hebrews 11:21 says “he bowed down upon the top of his staff.” In Hebrew, “bed” (mitta) and “staff” (matte) are written with the same consonants (מטה).

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Quotation · Hebrews 11:21

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Genesis 47:31

³¹He said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. Then Israel bowed down upon the head of the bed.

Hebrews 11:21

²¹By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped leaning on the top of his staff.

The context

30When I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” He said, “I will do as you have said.”

31 · This verse (above)

Read all of Genesis 47

To study Genesis 47 in a group

1. What it says
What did Joseph do for his family and for Egypt during the famine (vv. 11-12, 14-26)?
2. What it means
How does Jacob describe his years to Pharaoh, and what does he do when he arrives and when he leaves (vv. 7-10)?
3. How I live it
How can you help someone in need with what you have?

How to use it