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.
Parallel translations
- WEB When Jacob finished charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the spirit, and was gathered to his people.
- BSB When Jacob had finished instructing his sons, he pulled his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and he was gathered to his people.
- 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.
- NASB When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
- 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Having blessed his sons, Jacob lies back, breathes his last, and is gathered to his people.
Overview
Jacob dies in peace and faith, his work of blessing complete and his hope fixed on God's promises. 'Gathered to his people' hints at a continuing existence beyond death, joining the covenant fathers. His faith-filled death points forward to the resurrection hope secured in Christ, who has conquered the grave (Hebrews 11:21-22; 2 Timothy 1:10).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Gen 49:29And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
- Gen 25:8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
- Gen 35:29And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
- Heb 11:13–16These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
- Job 30:23For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
- Heb 11:22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
- Isa 57:1–2The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
- Gen 25:17And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
- Eccl 12:7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
- Josh 24:27–29And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.
- Gen 15:5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
- Gen 49:1And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
- Heb 12:23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
- Luke 2:29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
- Gen 49:24–26But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
- Job 5:26Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
- Acts 7:15So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
- Job 14:10But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 49:33 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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