Genesis 49 33

Genesis 49:33 kjv

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.

Genesis 49:33 nkjv

And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 49:33 niv

When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 49:33 esv

When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 49:33 nlt

When Jacob had finished this charge to his sons, he drew his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and joined his ancestors in death.

Genesis 49 verses

Genesis 49 33 meaning

Genesis 49:33 describes the moment of Jacob's death after delivering his final patriarchal blessings and commands to his twelve sons. It portrays his passing as a serene, self-directed act, where he consciously prepared himself, breathed his last, and was then "gathered to his people," a significant phrase indicating not merely physical burial but a spiritual reunion with his ancestors. This verse marks the peaceful culmination of Jacob's life journey and a transition to the next phase of God's covenant plan through his descendants.

Genesis 49 33 Context

Genesis chapter 49 marks the culminating event in Jacob's life: his final address to his twelve sons. Preceding verse 33, Jacob, near death, gathers his sons to prophesy about their future and the destiny of their tribes in Israel (Gen 49:1-28). These "blessings" are effectively a spiritual last will and testament, revealing insights into their character and foretelling their roles within the emerging nation. He concludes this monumental task by giving explicit instructions regarding his burial, desiring to be laid to rest with his fathers Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan (Gen 49:29-32). Verse 33 follows immediately after these commands, demonstrating that Jacob fully completed his patriarchal duties, prophecy, and arrangements before yielding his life. This depicts him as a man in control, exercising his final authority, and passing away with dignity, signifying the peaceful end of the patriarchal age and the setting of the stage for the narrative of Israel's growth in Egypt and ultimate exodus.

Genesis 49 33 Word analysis

• When Jacob finished (כַּכַּלֹּ֣ת יַעֲקֹ֔ב - kakkallōṯ Ya‘ăqōḇ): The Hebrew verb `kalah` (to finish, complete, bring to an end) emphasizes that Jacob concluded all his earthly responsibilities, particularly the solemn act of commanding and blessing his sons. This highlights a deliberate, completed life work, not a sudden demise.
• commanding his sons (לְצַוֺּ֖ת אֶת־בָּנָ֑יו - ləṣawwōṯ ’eṯ-bānāyw): The word `tsavvah` (to command, instruct, appoint, charge) signifies Jacob's exercise of his final patriarchal authority. His last words were not casual but authoritative pronouncements, carrying spiritual weight and predictive power, foundational for the future tribes of Israel.
• he drew his feet (וַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ף רַגְלָיו֙ - wayye’ĕsōp̄ raḡlāyw): The verb `’asap̄` (to gather, withdraw) here indicates Jacob consciously pulling his legs into the bed, an act of self-composed final preparation for death. It shows his mental clarity and control over his own body even in his final moments, a deliberate positioning for rest, symbolizing his readiness.
• into the bed (אֶל־הַמִּטָּ֔ה - ’el-hammiṭṭāh): Refers to his resting place. The act of drawing his feet into the bed highlights a peaceful transition rather than a collapse or struggle, symbolizing a restful going to sleep.
• breathed his last (וַיִּגְוַ֖ע - wayyiḡwa‘): The verb `gava‘` (to expire, breathe one's last, die) is a common biblical term for a natural death. It often carries the connotation of a peaceful departure, rather than a violent or unexpected end.
• and was gathered to his people (וַיֵּאָ֣סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו - wayyē’āsêp̄ ’el-‘ammāyw): This is a profound theological phrase. The verb `’asap̄` is used again, this time in the passive or reflexive sense, meaning "he was gathered." It means more than merely being buried with ancestors; it strongly implies a spiritual continuity beyond physical death, a rejoining of the ancestral community in the afterlife (often understood as Sheol, the common grave or realm of the dead, for Old Testament saints). This concept suggests a continuing existence and communal identity even after death, consistent with the covenantal God's relationship with generations.

• "When Jacob finished commanding his sons... and was gathered to his people": This phrase emphasizes the complete fulfillment of Jacob's life's mission and duties before his departure. His death is depicted not as an abrupt ending but as the natural and prepared conclusion to a life lived under God's providence. The flow from actively commanding to passively being "gathered" encapsulates the transition from earthly agency to eternal rest.
• "he drew his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people": This sequence of actions presents a dignified and peaceful death. Jacob's physical preparation, his final breath, and the subsequent spiritual rejoining of his ancestors underscores a concept of death as a deliberate, natural process orchestrated by God, a testament to God's faithfulness even unto death for those in covenant with Him. It distinguishes Jacob's passing as one of composure and serenity.

Genesis 49 33 Bonus section

The motif of a "good death" is prevalent in the Bible, often marked by the deceased having completed their life's purpose, a sense of peace, and the symbolic "gathering to one's people." This suggests an early biblical understanding of some form of continued existence and communal identity beyond physical dissolution. The very active "drew his feet into the bed" indicates not weakness or sudden failure, but a final act of agency by Jacob. His last act reinforces the authority of the dying patriarchs in delivering blessings, a practice highly respected in the ancient Near East as carrying potent spiritual and legal weight. This peaceful transition highlights the faithful endurance of the covenant line despite the challenging lives of figures like Jacob, concluding a long narrative arc that began with Abraham.

Genesis 49 33 Commentary

Genesis 49:33 encapsulates the concluding chapter of Jacob's significant life. Far from being a random event, his death is depicted with remarkable dignity and control, characteristic of a life aligned with divine purpose. Having faithfully completed his ultimate act of leadership—prophesying over his sons and setting forth the destinies of the tribes of Israel—Jacob consciously prepares himself for death, signaling his readiness and peaceful acceptance. The act of "drawing his feet into the bed" is a tender image of deliberate surrender, an unhurried relinquishing of his earthly hold. This contrasts sharply with many descriptions of death in the ancient world, highlighting Jacob's trust and perhaps even insight into what lay beyond. The culmination is his being "gathered to his people," a recurring biblical phrase that moves beyond mere burial to suggest a spiritual rejoining with a collective community in the afterlife. It reinforces the continuity of God's covenant with generations of believers, promising a peaceful reunion with the faithful who have gone before, ensuring that even in death, God's people remain connected. It implies a rest for the righteous after a life of labor and a fulfillment of divine promise even at life's end.