King James Version

What Does Genesis 47:29 Mean?

Genesis 47:29 in the King James Version says “And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace ... — study this verse from Genesis chapter 47 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

Genesis 47:29 · KJV


Context

27

And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

28

And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. the whole: Heb. the days of the years of his life

29

And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

30

But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.

31

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


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now... This passage is part of the Joseph narrative, a masterfully crafted account demonstrating God's sovereign providence working through human choices and circumstances to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The Joseph cycle shows how God transforms evil intentions into instruments of salvation.

Central themes include divine providence orchestrating events toward redemptive ends, the testing and refinement of character through suffering and success, forgiveness overcoming betrayal and injustice, and the preservation of God's covenant people through famine. Joseph's rise from slavery to second-in-command of Egypt illustrates how God exalts the humble and uses seeming disasters for ultimate good.

Theologically, these chapters reveal: (1) God's meticulous sovereignty over all events, even evil human actions; (2) suffering as preparation for future service rather than punishment; (3) forgiveness as reflecting divine character and enabling reconciliation; (4) God's covenant faithfulness across generations ensuring the survival and blessing of His people; (5) how present suffering gains meaning when viewed from the perspective of God's larger purposes. Joseph's words "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (50:20) epitomize biblical theodicy and providence.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?
  2. How should this truth about Jacob's Last Days shape our daily decisions and priorities?
  3. How does this verse fit into the broader biblical story culminating in Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
וַיִּקְרְב֣וּ1 of 27

drew nigh

H7126

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

יְמֵֽי2 of 27

And the time

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

יִשְׂרָאֵל֮3 of 27

that Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

לָמוּת֒4 of 27

must die

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

וַיִּקְרָ֣א׀5 of 27

and he called

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

לִבְנ֣וֹ6 of 27

his son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

לְיוֹסֵ֗ף7 of 27

Joseph

H3130

joseph, the name of seven israelites

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר8 of 27

and said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לוֹ֙9 of 27
H0
אִם10 of 27
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

נָ֨א11 of 27
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

מָצָ֤אתִי12 of 27

unto him If now I have found

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

חֵן֙13 of 27

grace

H2580

graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)

בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ14 of 27

in thy sight

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

שִֽׂים15 of 27

put

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

נָ֥א16 of 27
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

יָֽדְךָ֖17 of 27

I pray thee thy hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

תַּ֣חַת18 of 27
H8478

the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc

יְרֵכִ֑י19 of 27

under my thigh

H3409

the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts; figuratively, a shank, flank, side

וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ20 of 27

and deal

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

עִמָּדִי֙21 of 27
H5978

along with

חֶ֣סֶד22 of 27

kindly

H2617

kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty

וֶֽאֱמֶ֔ת23 of 27

and truly

H571

stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness

אַל24 of 27
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

נָ֥א25 of 27
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

תִקְבְּרֵ֖נִי26 of 27

with me bury

H6912

to inter

בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃27 of 27

me not I pray thee in Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 47:29 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 47:29 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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