Genesis 47:29 - The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don’t bury me in Egypt,
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What does "Genesis 47:29" mean?
This verse is from Genesis 47:29, and it describes Jacob (also known as Israel) nearing the end of his life. Let's break down the meaning:
"The time came near that Israel must die..." This is a straightforward statement indicating that Jacob's death was approaching.
"...and he called his son Joseph..." Jacob summons his son Joseph, who held a high position of power in Egypt as the Pharaoh's vizier (second-in-command). This shows Joseph's status and Jacob's respect for him.
"...and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight..." Jacob is establishing a basis for his request. He reminds Joseph that he hopes he's been a good father and that Joseph respects him.
"...please put your hand under my thigh..." This is a significant gesture. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, placing one's hand under another's thigh was a way of making a solemn oath. It's a request for Joseph to swear an oath to him. The thigh (specifically, the loins) was considered the seat of procreation and thus symbolized future generations. By swearing on this part of the body, Joseph was invoking his lineage and making a binding promise.
"...and deal kindly and truly with me." This clarifies the nature of the oath. Jacob wants Joseph to act with both kindness (chesed in Hebrew, which implies loyalty, faithfulness, and loving-kindness) and truth (emet in Hebrew, implying honesty and reliability). It's not just about fulfilling a simple request, but about acting with integrity and compassion.
"Please don’t bury me in Egypt..." This is the core of Jacob's request. He doesn't want to be buried in Egypt. Egypt was a foreign land, associated with idolatry and not the land promised to his ancestors. Jacob wanted to be buried in the land of Canaan, the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and himself. Burial in the ancestral land was important for connecting him to his heritage, his faith, and the covenant God had made with his family. It symbolized his hope for resurrection and a future in the promised land.
In essence, this verse depicts a father on his deathbed making a very serious request of his powerful son. He wants Joseph to swear an oath to bury him not in the land of his exile, Egypt, but in the promised land of Canaan with his ancestors. This act is deeply symbolic of Jacob's faith, his connection to his heritage, and his hope for the future of his descendants in the land God had promised them. It highlights the importance of land, lineage, and faith in the context of the Genesis narrative.
Genesis 47:29 - The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don’t bury me in Egypt,
What does "Genesis 47:29" mean?
This verse is from Genesis 47:29, and it describes Jacob (also known as Israel) nearing the end of his life. Let's break down the meaning:
"The time came near that Israel must die..." This is a straightforward statement indicating that Jacob's death was approaching.
"...and he called his son Joseph..." Jacob summons his son Joseph, who held a high position of power in Egypt as the Pharaoh's vizier (second-in-command). This shows Joseph's status and Jacob's respect for him.
"...and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight..." Jacob is establishing a basis for his request. He reminds Joseph that he hopes he's been a good father and that Joseph respects him.
"...please put your hand under my thigh..." This is a significant gesture. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, placing one's hand under another's thigh was a way of making a solemn oath. It's a request for Joseph to swear an oath to him. The thigh (specifically, the loins) was considered the seat of procreation and thus symbolized future generations. By swearing on this part of the body, Joseph was invoking his lineage and making a binding promise.
"...and deal kindly and truly with me." This clarifies the nature of the oath. Jacob wants Joseph to act with both kindness (chesed in Hebrew, which implies loyalty, faithfulness, and loving-kindness) and truth (emet in Hebrew, implying honesty and reliability). It's not just about fulfilling a simple request, but about acting with integrity and compassion.
"Please don’t bury me in Egypt..." This is the core of Jacob's request. He doesn't want to be buried in Egypt. Egypt was a foreign land, associated with idolatry and not the land promised to his ancestors. Jacob wanted to be buried in the land of Canaan, the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and himself. Burial in the ancestral land was important for connecting him to his heritage, his faith, and the covenant God had made with his family. It symbolized his hope for resurrection and a future in the promised land.
In essence, this verse depicts a father on his deathbed making a very serious request of his powerful son. He wants Joseph to swear an oath to bury him not in the land of his exile, Egypt, but in the promised land of Canaan with his ancestors. This act is deeply symbolic of Jacob's faith, his connection to his heritage, and his hope for the future of his descendants in the land God had promised them. It highlights the importance of land, lineage, and faith in the context of the Genesis narrative.