Genesis 47:29-31
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Jacob's request to be buried in Canaan isn't just about his final resting place; it's a profound statement of faith and a strategic act to keep the promise of the land alive in his family's hearts, even as they are physically settled in Egypt. This final charge serves as a powerful anchor, reminding his descendants of their true inheritance and their eventual return.
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, 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.” And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jacob, now very old and living in Egypt with his large family during a severe famine, is nearing the end of his life. He calls for his favorite son, Joseph, to secure a final promise regarding his burial, emphasizing his desire to be laid to rest in the land of his fathers, Canaan, rather than in Egypt.
Why would Jacob ask Joseph to place his hand under his thigh? This ancient gesture held profound meaning, signifying a deep and solemn commitment.
Jacob's request for Joseph to put his hand under his thigh is an ancient form of oath-taking, deeply rooted in the patriarchal culture. It wasn't just a formality; it symbolized a profound connection to lineage and covenant.
A Sacred Promise
This act bound Joseph not just to his father, but to the generations before and the promises of God. It was a way to ensure the most solemn promise was made, connecting the present act to the faithfulness of the past.
Legacy and Land
For Jacob, this oath was about more than just burial. It was a powerful affirmation of his identity as a sojourner, tethered to the Promised Land, and a way to impress upon Joseph the importance of this covenantal connection for the future of their family.
Jacob's dying wish to be buried in Canaan, not Egypt, speaks volumes about his enduring faith and his vision for his people's future.
Jacob's final command, 'Bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt,' was more than a personal preference; it was a strategic act of faith and a testament to God's promises.
Faith in the Promise
Egypt was a place of provision and safety during a famine, but it was not their eternal home. Jacob's desire to be buried in Canaan, the land God had promised to his descendants, underscored his unwavering belief in that future inheritance. It was a declaration that his ultimate hope lay beyond their present circumstances.
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A Seed of Hope
By insisting on burial in Canaan, Jacob planted a spiritual seed among his children. Even while their bodies were in Egypt, their hearts and future were to remain oriented towards the land God had given them. This act would serve as a constant reminder of their identity and destiny, fueling their hope for deliverance and return.
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.
shaba' · Hebrew Verb
To take an oath, calling upon God as a witness to the truthfulness of a promise or the sincerity of an intention, often involving a commitment to consequences if the oath is broken. It is a solemn act that establishes a covenantal or binding obligation between parties.
Yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
The name given to Jacob by God, meaning 'God strives' or 'he struggles with God.' It represents the patriarch of the twelve tribes and is frequently used to denote the covenant community of God's people.
shachah · Hebrew Verb
A physical act of reverence, submission, or worship, often involving bending the body or prostrating oneself. It signifies humble acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty, authority, or a higher status of another person.
Jacob's dying request to be buried in Canaan, not Egypt, underscores his unwavering faith and hope in God's promise of that land for his descendants, even as they were flourishing in Egypt.
c. 1700 BC
Jacob's family immigrates to Egypt
Due to a severe famine in Canaan, Jacob and his entire family, numbering about 70 people, migrated to Egypt. Joseph, who had risen to a high position of power, arranged for them to settle in the fertile region of Goshen.
c. 1700-1680 BC
Israelites settle and prosper in Goshen
During their 17 years in Egypt, the Israelites lived in Goshen, prospered, and multiplied greatly, becoming a distinct and growing community within Egypt.
c. 1683 BC— this verse
Jacob's final days and death
As Jacob (Israel) senses his end approaching, he calls for his son Joseph to make him swear a solemn oath regarding his burial.
This passage establishes the symbolic gesture of placing a hand under the thigh as a solemn oath, deeply connecting to Jacob's request for Joseph to swear by this ancient rite.
Hebrews 11:13This New Testament passage echoes Jacob's sentiment of being a 'stranger and a pilgrim,' highlighting the spiritual significance of his desire to be buried in the Promised Land rather than in Egypt.
Joshua 24:32This verse shows the fulfillment of Jacob's request, as Joseph's bones were carried out of Egypt and buried in Shechem, demonstrating God's faithfulness to Jacob's dying wish.
Deuteronomy 31:14Similar to Jacob calling Joseph to his bedside, Moses is summoned by God to prepare for his death, emphasizing the solemnity and importance of final instructions from leaders.
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 request to be buried in Canaan isn't just about his final resting place; it's a profound statement of faith and a strategic act to keep the promise of the land alive in his family's hearts, even as they are physically settled in Egypt. This final charge serves as a powerful anchor, reminding his descendants of their true inheritance and their eventual return.
Jacob, now very old and living in Egypt with his large family during a severe famine, is nearing the end of his life. He calls for his favorite son, Joseph, to secure a final promise regarding his burial, emphasizing his desire to be laid to rest in the land of his fathers, Canaan, rather than in Egypt.
Jacob, now very old and living in Egypt with his large family during a severe famine, is nearing the end of his life. He calls for his favorite son, Joseph, to secure a final promise regarding his burial, emphasizing his desire to be laid to rest in the land of his fathers, Canaan, rather than in Egypt.
"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, but l…" — Jacob's request to be buried in Canaan isn't just about his final resting place; it's a profound statement of faith and a strategic act to keep the promise of the land alive in his family's hearts, e…
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Last reviewed October 2026
