Jacob commits his final arrangements to God and trusts Joseph to honor them.
In Genesis 47:31 we read, “He said, ‘Swear to me.’ So he swore to him. Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.” (v.31) This verse captures the closing moments of a tender exchange between a father and his son. Here, “He” refers to Jacob—also called Israel, a man born around 2006 BC who became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the context just before this verse, Jacob implores his son Joseph (born around 1915 BC) to promise that he will not bury him in Egypt but rather in the land of Canaan, the region along the eastern Mediterranean known for its central role in biblical history. When Jacob says, “Swear to me” (v.31), he is emphasizing the deep importance of returning his remains to the soil that God promised to his ancestors.
Once Joseph agrees, the verse states, “So he swore to him” (v.31), signifying Joseph’s respect and obedience toward his father’s final wishes. Joseph’s life had taken him from Canaan to Egypt because of his brothers’ betrayal, yet he rose to power as second in command to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:41). Still, his heart is transparent in his willingness to carry out his father’s request. The promise reflects their unwavering faith in God’s covenant to dwell in the Promised Land—a belief in the same promise that God later fulfills through the nation’s exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:40-41), and eventually through the coming of Jesus Christ, who inaugurated a spiritual kingdom extending beyond any geographical boundary (John 4:21-23).
Finally, we read, “Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed” (v.31). This underscores Jacob’s humbleness and gratitude toward God for allowing him to ensure his burial in the land of promise. Jacob’s physical act of bowing shows that he continues to acknowledge God’s sovereignty even in his final days. His worship echoes an unbroken lineage of faith that finds full expression in Jesus (Hebrews 11:21), reminding readers that confidence in God’s promises can stand strong even when facing death.
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Genesis 47:31 meaning
In Genesis 47:31 we read, “He said, ‘Swear to me.’ So he swore to him. Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.” (v.31) This verse captures the closing moments of a tender exchange between a father and his son. Here, “He” refers to Jacob—also called Israel, a man born around 2006 BC who became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the context just before this verse, Jacob implores his son Joseph (born around 1915 BC) to promise that he will not bury him in Egypt but rather in the land of Canaan, the region along the eastern Mediterranean known for its central role in biblical history. When Jacob says, “Swear to me” (v.31), he is emphasizing the deep importance of returning his remains to the soil that God promised to his ancestors.
Once Joseph agrees, the verse states, “So he swore to him” (v.31), signifying Joseph’s respect and obedience toward his father’s final wishes. Joseph’s life had taken him from Canaan to Egypt because of his brothers’ betrayal, yet he rose to power as second in command to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:41). Still, his heart is transparent in his willingness to carry out his father’s request. The promise reflects their unwavering faith in God’s covenant to dwell in the Promised Land—a belief in the same promise that God later fulfills through the nation’s exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:40-41), and eventually through the coming of Jesus Christ, who inaugurated a spiritual kingdom extending beyond any geographical boundary (John 4:21-23).
Finally, we read, “Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed” (v.31). This underscores Jacob’s humbleness and gratitude toward God for allowing him to ensure his burial in the land of promise. Jacob’s physical act of bowing shows that he continues to acknowledge God’s sovereignty even in his final days. His worship echoes an unbroken lineage of faith that finds full expression in Jesus (Hebrews 11:21), reminding readers that confidence in God’s promises can stand strong even when facing death.