Jacob's final request isn't just about personal preference; it's a profound statement of faith. By asking to be buried in Canaan, he's not just choosing a burial spot, but reaffirming his belief in God's promise of that land, even as his body remains in Egypt. This underscores that for the faithful, our ultimate hope and belonging lie beyond the present circumstances, in the promised inheritance.
And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jacob, nearing the end of his life after settling his family in Egypt during a severe famine, summons his beloved son Joseph for a final, solemn request. This intimate moment occurs after years of prosperity in Egypt, but Jacob's heart remains fixed on the land of promise.
Why would Jacob, on his deathbed, ask his beloved son Joseph to place his hand under his thigh and swear a promise? It wasn't about distrust, but about the immense weight of his final request.
Jacob’s request for Joseph to place his hand under his thigh is an ancient gesture signifying a solemn oath, a deep commitment.
Jacob, settled and comfortable in Egypt, made a striking request: 'Bury me not in Egypt.' What was so important about the soil of Canaan?
Jacob's final command reveals a deep-seated faith and an unwavering hope rooted in God's promises.
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Understand the original words
chen · Hebrew Noun
Grace or acceptance shown to someone, often by a superior to an inferior. It implies a sense of goodwill that results in the granting of a request or favor.
yarek · Hebrew Noun
A solemn gesture in the Old Testament symbolizing an oath sworn upon the covenantal line or the promise of future generations. It invokes the sanctity of the family line and the weight of the pledge being made.
chesed · Hebrew Noun
Often translated as 'hesed,' this encompasses loyal love, covenant faithfulness, and kindness. It describes God's character and the expected response of those within a covenant relationship.
emeth · Hebrew Noun
Truth, reliability, or faithfulness. It signifies a commitment that is firm, dependable, and aligned with reality, reflecting the character of God who is Truth.
Jacob's dying request to be buried in Canaan, rather than Egypt, underscores his enduring faith in God's promise of that land, even as his family was deeply established in Egypt.
c. 1700 BC
Jacob's Family Migrates to Egypt
Jacob and his entire family, numbering around 70 people, migrate from Canaan to Egypt during a severe famine, settling in the fertile region of Goshen at the invitation of Pharaoh, facilitated by Joseph's high position.
c. 1700-1670 BC
Israelites Thrive in Goshen
The family of Jacob, now known as Israelites, prospers in Egypt for several decades, owning land and multiplying greatly, protected by Joseph's influence and Pharaoh's favor.
c. 1657 BC— this verse
Jacob's Final Instructions
As Jacob's life nears its end after 17 years in Egypt, he calls for his son Joseph to extract a solemn oath: Joseph must promise to carry his father's body out of Egypt and bury him in the ancestral tombs in Canaan.
c. 1657 BC
Jacob's Death and Burial
Jacob dies at the age of 147. Joseph, after a period of mourning, secures Pharaoh's permission and carries out his father's wishes, burying him in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan.
c. 1657 BC onwards
Joseph's Continued Service
After Jacob's death, the Egyptians likely feared Joseph's influence. Joseph reassures them, continuing to serve Pharaoh and manage Egypt's affairs, living to see his own great-grandchildren.
This passage describes the same ritualistic oath-taking, with Abraham's servant putting his hand under Abraham's thigh to swear an oath, mirroring Jacob's request to Joseph.
Genesis 50:5-13This passage directly follows Jacob's death and shows Joseph fulfilling his father's final wish, including the detailed account of transporting Jacob's body back to Canaan for burial.
Hebrews 11:13-16The author of Hebrews uses the patriarchs' desire for a heavenly homeland, symbolized by their burial wishes, to illustrate the nature of faith and their pilgrim status.
Deuteronomy 31:1-6Moses, like Jacob, is nearing his death and gives his successor Joshua instructions concerning the future of Israel, highlighting the transfer of leadership and God's promises.
calvinGenesis 47:1-31: "Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen."
- Et dixerunt ad Pharaonem, Ut peregrinaremur in hac terra, venimus, quia non est pascuum pecudibus, quae sunt servis tuis: gravis enim fames est in terra Chenaan: nunc igitur habitent quaeso servi tui in terra Gosen.
5 And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy fat…
clarkeGenesis 47:29: "And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:"
Put - thy hand under my thigh - See Clarke on Genesis 24:2 (note).
Jacob's final request isn't just about personal preference; it's a profound statement of faith. By asking to be buried in Canaan, he's not just choosing a burial spot, but reaffirming his belief in God's promise of that land, even as his body remains in Egypt. This underscores that for the faithful, our ultimate hope and belonging lie beyond the present circumstances, in the promised inheritance.
Jacob, nearing the end of his life after settling his family in Egypt during a severe famine, summons his beloved son Joseph for a final, solemn request. This intimate moment occurs after years of prosperity in Egypt, but Jacob's heart remains fixed on the land of promise.
Jacob, nearing the end of his life after settling his family in Egypt during a severe famine, summons his beloved son Joseph for a final, solemn request. This intimate moment occurs after years of prosperity in Egypt, but Jacob's heart remains fixed on the land of promise.
"And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt," — Jacob's final request isn't just about personal preference; it's a profound statement of faith. By asking to be buried in Canaan, he's not just choosing a burial spot, but reaffirming his belief in G…
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Last reviewed October 2026
