Genesis 50 13

Genesis 50:13 kjv

For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.

Genesis 50:13 nkjv

For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place.

Genesis 50:13 niv

They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite.

Genesis 50:13 esv

for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place.

Genesis 50:13 nlt

They carried his body to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. This is the cave that Abraham had bought as a permanent burial site from Ephron the Hittite.

Genesis 50 verses

Genesis 50 13 meaning

Genesis 50:13 details the fulfillment of Jacob's last request: that his sons carry him out of Egypt and bury him in the family burial ground, the cave of Machpelah, in the land of Canaan. This act symbolizes not only profound filial piety but also a powerful reaffirmation of the patriarchs' faith in God's covenant promise of the land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants. The verse precisely locates the burial site by recounting its acquisition by Abraham from Ephron the Hittite as a perpetual possession.

Genesis 50 13 Context

Genesis 50:13 follows the elaborate mourning period for Jacob (Israel) which lasted 70 days for embalming, followed by 7 days of intense public mourning in Canaan, leading to a profound impact on the local Canaanites. This verse marks the physical burial of Jacob. The immediate context is the journey from Egypt, approved by Pharaoh, specifically for this purpose. Joseph, accompanied by his brothers and a large company of Egyptians, fulfilled the sacred oath he had made to his father. The larger historical context highlights the importance of burial sites for ancient peoples, serving as markers of identity, family lineage, and territorial claims. For the patriarchs, being buried in Canaan symbolized their enduring faith in God's covenant to grant the land to their descendants, despite their living as foreigners within it. This act solidified the generational claim to the land of promise.

Genesis 50 13 Word analysis

• For his sons (וַיִּשְׂאוּ בָנָיו – wayyis'û bānāyw – and carried his sons/his sons carried): The primary responsibility and action lie with "his sons," emphasizing filial duty and loyalty. "Sons" (בָנִים - bānim) highlights the generational continuity and their role in upholding Jacob's dying wish, demonstrating respect for the patriarchal authority. This goes beyond mere ritual; it is an act of covenant faithfulness.

• carried him (וַיִּשְׂאוּ – wayyis'û): The verb "carried" signifies a physical undertaking and great effort, especially given the distance from Egypt to Canaan and the ceremonial procession (Gen 50:7-9). It denotes care and the literal conveying of Jacob's body.

• into the land of Canaan (אֶל־אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן – ʾel-ʾeretz Kənāʿan): This phrase is geographically and theologically significant. "Canaan" is the Promised Land, the object of God's covenant with Abraham. Burying Jacob there emphasizes the spiritual inheritance tied to the physical land, even while the Israelites reside outside it. It's an act of claiming the land by burying the patriarch there.

• and buried him (וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ – wayyiqběrû ʾôtô): The act of burial (קָבַר - qābar) is central to the verse. It confirms the fulfillment of Jacob's dying wish (Gen 47:30, 49:29). This solemn act signifies closure and the completion of the earthly journey, deeply tied to the hope of a future.

• in the cave of the field of Machpelah (בִּמְעָרַת שְׂדֵה הַמַּכְפֵּלָה – biməʿāraṯ śəḏēh hamMakpēlâ): This precise designation underscores the sacred and proprietary nature of the site. "Cave of Machpelah" is explicitly linked to Abraham's legal purchase (Gen 23). Its mention confirms that Jacob desired not just any burial in Canaan, but burial specifically with his covenant ancestors. The repetition emphasizes its historical and theological weight.

• before Mamre (עַל־פְּנֵי מַמְרֵא – ʿal-pənê Mamrēʾ): Mamre serves as another specific geographical marker, aiding identification and linking back to where Abraham had pitched his tents (Gen 13:18) and lived for a significant part of his life, further grounding the site in Abrahamic history.

• which Abraham bought (אֲשֶׁר קָנָה אַבְרָהָם – ʾašer qānâ ʾAḇrāhām): This clause provides the crucial legal and historical precedent for the ownership of the burial site. It authenticates the claim to this portion of the land, demonstrating legitimate possession in a foreign land.

• with the field (אֶת־הַשָּׂדֶה – ʾeṯ-haśśāḏeh): This clarifies that Abraham bought the entire field along with the cave, not just the cave, providing clear, unambiguous ownership of a parcel of the Promised Land.

• from Ephron the Hittite (מֵאֵת עֶפְרוֹן הַחִתִּי – mēʾēṯ ʿEfrôn haḤittî): Identifies the specific vendor and confirms the legal transaction documented in Genesis 23. It roots the acquisition in a verifiable, historical exchange, solidifying the legal right to the land, which was important in ancient land claims.

• for a possession of a buryingplace (לַאֲחֻזַּת קָבֶר – laʾaḥuzzaṯ qāḇer): This phrase translates literally to "for a possession/holding of a grave." "Possession" (אֲחֻזָּה – ʾaḥuzzâ) is a strong legal term implying enduring ownership. This first acquisition of a piece of land in Canaan by Abraham for this purpose highlighted his faith in the promised inheritance. It was their one guaranteed, eternal foothold in the land.

• "For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him...": This group of words emphasizes the complete and diligent fulfillment of Jacob's final wishes. It speaks to obedience, honor, and adherence to tradition and faith. The act itself is a physical embodiment of their commitment to their father's request and the spiritual promise.

• "...in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field... for a possession of a buryingplace.": This extensive phrase functions as a definitive legal and theological declaration of the burial site's identity. The detailed specifics reinforce the legitimacy of the ownership and the significance of Machpelah as the resting place of the covenant line (Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, Jacob). It also speaks to the profound faith of the patriarchs, who despite being sojourners, established a permanent anchor in the land God promised. This act reinforces the hope for future possession.

Genesis 50 13 Bonus section

The act of Jacob's sons carrying his body to Canaan resonates powerfully with Joseph's own instructions regarding his bones later in Gen 50:25, where he expresses a similar faith-driven desire to be carried up from Egypt when the Israelites eventually depart. This parallel highlights a consistent patriarchal longing and prophetic declaration that, despite living as foreigners, God would bring their descendants back to the promised land. The specificity of the burial location in Machpelah underscores not only Abraham's foresight in purchasing it but also the enduring spiritual significance of this place for the entire lineage as a visible and constant reminder of God's covenant fidelity concerning the land inheritance. For ancient Israelites, ancestral burial sites reinforced claims to territory and lineage. Being buried in Machpelah connected Jacob not only to his family but to the very beginning of the land promise given to Abraham. The extensive and dignified funeral procession from Egypt, highlighted earlier in the chapter, also served as a powerful public statement to the Canaanites, confirming the continued importance of Israel's connection to that specific land, long before their national exodus.

Genesis 50 13 Commentary

Genesis 50:13 serves as a pivotal verse, meticulously detailing the culmination of Jacob's deeply desired burial in the Promised Land. It is far more than a simple account of burial; it underscores several profound theological themes. Primarily, it showcases the profound faithfulness of God to His covenant promises, as Jacob's remains are laid in the land he and his forefathers believed God would grant them. Secondly, it exemplifies filial piety and covenant continuity, as Joseph and his brothers faithfully execute their father's solemn request, ensuring that Jacob joins his ancestors in this sacred resting place. This act bridges the gap between the sojourn in Egypt and the future return to Canaan, symbolizing a spiritual anchor. Lastly, the specific and repeated reference to the cave of Machpelah and Abraham's original purchase (Gen 23) emphasizes the foundational importance of this tangible claim to the Promised Land. It served as the patriarchs' first physical "possession" within Canaan, a perpetual testament to their faith that God would ultimately give their descendants the entire land. This act confirms Jacob's life-long longing to be part of the divine narrative of inheritance, embodying a patient trust in God's future fulfillment.