Bible Strands
Genesis 49:33
When Jacob had finished instructing his sons, he pulled his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and he was gathered to his people.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jacob concludes his final instructions to his sons immediately after describing the burial site in Genesis 49:32. He positions himself in the bed, completes his speech, and dies.
The words — The narrative emphasizes וַ/יְכַ֤ל (va/y.Khal, "and he finished") and וַ/יֶּאֱסֹ֥ף (va/i.ye.'e.Sof, "and he gathered"). These verbs literally mark the termination of Jacob's address and the idiomatic description of his death.
The thread — This phrasing directly echoes Genesis 25:8 regarding Abraham and Genesis 35:29 regarding Isaac. Genesis 49:29 also establishes Jacob's prior request to be "gathered to my people" and buried in the purchased cave.
Why it lands — The text simply records the factual conclusion of Jacob's life and the fulfillment of his burial command. It requires the reader to note the consistent biblical pattern for patriarchal death and the completion of Jacob's final instructions.
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 when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
Cross-references
- Genesis 49:29 Then Jacob instructed them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.
- Genesis 25:8 And at a ripe old age he breathed his last and died, old and contented, and was gathered to his people.
- Genesis 35:29 Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
- Genesis 15:5 And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”
- Genesis 25:17 Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
- Genesis 49:1 Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come:
- Genesis 49:24 Yet he steadied his bow, and his strong arms were tempered by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
- Joshua 24:27 And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God.”
- Job 5:26 You will come to the grave in full vigor, like a sheaf of grain gathered in season.
- Job 14:10 But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?