Genesis 47:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.

NIV: Swear to me,' he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

NASB: And he said, 'Swear to me.' So he swore to him. Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.

CSB: And Jacob said, "Swear to me." So Joseph swore to him. Then Israel bowed in thanks at the head of his bed.

NLT: Swear that you will do it,' Jacob insisted. So Joseph gave his oath, and Jacob bowed humbly at the head of his bed.

KJV: And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.

NKJV: Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.

Jacob believes he is nearing the time of his death. He has called Joseph to make a serious, formal request: that he not be buried in Egypt (Genesis 47:29–30). Instead, he wants his body taken back to Canaan, to the family tomb near Mamre (Genesis 23:17–20), where Abraham and Isaac are buried. At the time Jacob makes this request, the tomb is one of the only pieces of land his family legally owns in Canaan. It is a symbol of God's promise that they will one day own all the land (Genesis 35:12).

Joseph agreed to do as his father asked, but Jacob wants Joseph to swear it to him. Joseph does so now, accepting the responsibility to see this last request is carried out. When the time comes, the dutiful son will make good on his promise (Genesis 50:12–14).

Jacob, called again by his God-given name Israel (Genesis 35:10–11), responds by bowing. Scholars debate the precise arrangement that's being described. It might be that Jacob is weak and slumping over on his bed. However, the very next verse makes note of a time when Jacob was more literally at death's door (Genesis 48:1), so the act depicted here does not seem a sign of physical weakness. A more often-accepted interpretation is that Jacob is worshipping, perhaps by kneeling in his bed.

Genesis 47:27–31 follows an explanation of how a famine brought all Egypt into servanthood under the Pharaoh. That included a standing twenty percent tax. The Israelites, meanwhile, grow and prosper. In the future, this will lead to jealousy and oppression by leaders with no memory of Joseph and his contributions (Exodus 1:8–13). After years of safety in his son's care, Jacob nears death and asks for his body to one day be buried with his ancestors in Canaan.

Genesis 47 begins with Pharaoh interviewing Joseph's brothers and father before granting their request to settle in the region of Goshen in Egypt. Just as Joseph had hoped, his family is secure. The rest of the people of Egypt and Canaan are not. Most run out of money and can no longer buy food from Joseph. On Pharaoh's behalf, Joseph trades food for their livestock and then their land and even their freedom. Nearly all people will be required to pay to Pharaoh 20 percent of their harvest each year from this time forward. After several years, Jacob asks Joseph to swear that he will bury Jacob's body with his fathers in Canaan.

After describing the family's journey from Canaan and their arrival in Egypt in chapter 46, this passage opens on a formal conversation between Pharaoh and Joseph's family. He officially grants their request to settle in Egypt. As the famine continues, citizens of Egypt and Canaan turn over their money, land, and livestock to Joseph in exchange for food. The final three chapters of Genesis explain Jacob's dying blessings, and the passing of both Jacob and Joseph.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.