Genesis 47:30 kjv

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.

Genesis 47:30 nkjv

but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place." And he said, "I will do as you have said."

Genesis 47:30 niv

but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried." "I will do as you say," he said.

Genesis 47:30 esv

but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place." He answered, "I will do as you have said."

Genesis 47:30 nlt

When I die, please take my body out of Egypt and bury me with my ancestors." So Joseph promised, "I will do as you ask."

Genesis 47 verses

Genesis 47 30 Meaning

Genesis 47:30 conveys Jacob’s dying wish for his son Joseph to promise solemnly to bury him not in Egypt, but in the burial place of his ancestors in the land of Canaan. This request underscores Jacob's enduring faith in God’s covenant promise of the land to Abraham, Isaac, and himself, asserting his identity as a sojourner whose ultimate hope lay in God's promises rather than in the temporary comforts of Egypt.

Genesis 47 30 Context

Genesis chapter 47 primarily details the final arrangement for Jacob and his family in Egypt. Pharaoh graciously provides the land of Goshen, and Joseph skillfully manages the famine by consolidating power and wealth for Pharaoh while sustaining his family and the Egyptian populace. As the chapter concludes, Jacob senses his end approaching. He summons Joseph and, preceding his deathbed blessings, requests a solemn oath regarding his burial. This immediate context sets the scene for Jacob's final wishes and reflects his continued trust in God’s covenant promises, even from afar in Egypt, signaling a turning point from a life in Egypt to a renewed focus on the promised land of Canaan.

Genesis 47 30 Word analysis

• But when: Transition from the life in Egypt to Jacob’s dying wish, signaling a crucial moment for Jacob.

• I lie down: (shakab, שָׁכַב) - A common biblical euphemism for death, conveying a peaceful cessation of life's toil.

• with my fathers: ('im 'abotay, עִם אֲבֹתַי) - This idiom implies not just physical burial next to them but joining them in the realm of the departed (Sheol/Abraham's bosom), culturally signifying continuity and peace among one's kin. It also points to the lineage of the covenant.

• you shall carry me out: (nasa' me'eretz mitzrayim, נָשָׂא מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם) - A specific directive to Joseph, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling this physical act. It demonstrates the trust Jacob places in Joseph and highlights the spiritual imperative to leave Egypt.

• of Egypt: (me'eretz mitzrayim, מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם) - Significant; Jacob explicitly rejects Egypt as his final resting place despite the wealth and comfort it offered. This acts as a theological polemic against Egyptian religious beliefs and burial practices, affirming Israel's distinct identity and future outside Egypt.

• and bury me: (qavar 'oti, קָבַר אוֹתִי) - The simple command for internment, contrasting with Egyptian mummification.

• in their burial place: (biqburatam, בִקְבֻרָתָם) - Refers to the Cave of Machpelah near Mamre in Canaan (Gen 23, 25, 49). This is the land promised to Abraham and his descendants, making Jacob’s burial there an act of faith in God’s covenant fulfillment.

• And he said, "I swear it.": (anokhi e'eseh, אָנֹכִי אֶעֱשֶׂה - lit. "I will do it"). While not the specific word for "swear," this phrase, combined with the action of Joseph putting his hand under Jacob’s thigh (v.29), constitutes a solemn, covenantal oath in the ancient Near East, akin to a legal bond. It signifies deep commitment and fidelity to the promise made.

• "I lie down with my fathers": This phrase transcends mere physical burial; it signifies a peaceful return to the family and spiritual heritage tied to the covenant God. It echoes throughout the Bible as a common phrase for a king or patriarch dying.

• "carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place": This phrase encapsulates Jacob's lifelong identity as a sojourner whose ultimate hope was in God’s promised land, not the temporary haven of Egypt. It sets a theological precedent for the future Exodus, highlighting God's faithfulness to lead His people out of bondage and into their inheritance.

Genesis 47 30 Bonus section

Jacob's instruction foreshadows the eventual Exodus, where the entire nation of Israel would likewise "carry" themselves out of Egypt and eventually enter the promised land. His physical removal from Egypt served as a microcosm of God's greater redemptive plan for His people. The patriarchs' burial in Machpelah was a recurring testament to God's unfailing promise, reinforcing faith in the coming generations. This command from Jacob and its fulfillment by Joseph later on (Gen 50:13) became a crucial part of Israel's foundational narrative, teaching future generations about perseverance in faith, trust in divine promises, and a recognition of the temporary nature of earthly comforts when God has a greater, spiritual inheritance planned.

Genesis 47 30 Commentary

Genesis 47:30 is a powerful expression of Jacob’s unwavering faith in God's promises even on his deathbed. His insistence on being buried in Canaan, despite living comfortably in Egypt, transcends a mere familial wish. It's a profound spiritual statement. Jacob, through this request, implicitly rejects Egypt as his true home, signifying that his citizenship and hope remained tethered to God's covenant concerning the land. His desire to "lie down with my fathers" roots him in the lineage of the faithful – Abraham and Isaac – who also awaited the fulfillment of God's promises. Joseph’s solemn oath, confirmed by the ancient gesture of placing his hand under Jacob’s thigh (v.29), signifies a deep commitment to honor this final, significant wish, recognizing its spiritual implications. This act serves as a foretaste of the future Exodus, illustrating that God's people, even when comfortable in the world, must always maintain their gaze on the promised inheritance that only God can provide. Jacob’s request wasn't born of sentimentality, but from faith (Heb 11:21), a declaration that his true inheritance lay in God's faithfulness, pointing forward to an eternal homeland.