Bible Strands
Genesis 47:31
“Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jacob (identified as Israel) instructs Joseph to swear an oath regarding his burial request, and Joseph complies before Jacob bows in worship on his bed. This exchange occurs immediately after Joseph affirms he will carry Jacob’s bones out of Egypt.
The words — הִשָּֽׁבְעָה (hi.sha.ve.'A) means "swear an oath," and וַ/יִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ (va/i.yish.Ta.chu) means "and he bowed down."
The thread — The sworn pledge connects to Genesis 24:3 where Abraham commands a binding oath for Isaac’s wife, while the bowing posture parallels 1 Kings 1:47 where David bows in worship and Hebrews 11:21 where Jacob bows while leaning on his staff.
Why it lands — The text records that covenantal commitments require formal verbal guarantees and that worship follows the execution of delegated duties. A reader must acknowledge that human obedience and sworn agreements serve as the mechanism for fulfilling patriarchal promises.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 1:47 The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,
- Genesis 24:3 and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
- Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
- Genesis 24:26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
- Genesis 47:29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt,
- Genesis 48:1 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
- Genesis 21:23 Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”