Genesis 47:29

Authorized King James Version

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:

Word-by-Word Analysis

וַיִּקְרְב֣וּ

H7126

drew nigh

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

יְמֵֽי

H3117

And the time

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

יִשְׂרָאֵל֮

H3478

that Israel

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

לָמוּת֒

H4191

must die

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

וַיִּקְרָ֣א׀

H7121

and he called

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

לִבְנ֣וֹ

H1121

his son

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

לְיוֹסֵ֗ף

H3130

Joseph

joseph, the name of seven israelites

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר

H559

and said

to say (used with great latitude)

לוֹ֙

#10

אִם

H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

#11

נָ֨א

H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

#12

מָצָ֤אתִי

H4672

unto him If now I have found

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

#13

חֵן֙

H2580

grace

graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)

#14

בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ

H5869

in thy sight

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

#15

שִֽׂים

H7760

put

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

#16

נָ֥א

H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

#17

יָֽדְךָ֖

H3027

I pray thee thy hand

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

#18

תַּ֣חַת

H8478

the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc

#19

יְרֵכִ֑י

H3409

under my thigh

the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts; figuratively, a shank, flank, side

#20

וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ

H6213

and deal

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

#21

עִמָּדִי֙

H5978

along with

#22

חֶ֣סֶד

H2617

kindly

kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty

#23

וֶֽאֱמֶ֔ת

H571

and truly

stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness

#24

אַל

H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

#25

נָ֥א

H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

#26

תִקְבְּרֵ֖נִי

H6912

with me bury

to inter

#27

בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃

H4714

me not I pray thee in Egypt

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

Analysis

The divine love theme here intersects with God's covenantal faithfulness demonstrated throughout salvation history. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation from covenant love in the Old Testament to agape love in the New. The phrase emphasizing grace relates to the doctrine of soteriology and God's unmerited favor in salvation and connects to the broader scriptural witness about hesed in the Old Testament and agape in the New Testament.

Historical Context

The historical context of the patriarchal period (c. 2000-1500 BCE) and primeval history provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The ancient Near Eastern world with its creation myths, flood narratives, and patriarchal social structures provided the cultural backdrop against which God's revelation stands in stark contrast. The ancient Near Eastern cosmology and patriarchal society would have shaped how the original audience understood grace. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

How might the original audience's understanding of grace differ from modern interpretations, and what bridges can be built between ancient meaning and contemporary application?
In what ways does this verse's emphasis on grace address the problem of evil and suffering in light of God's goodness, and how should the church respond?
What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of divine love, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of theology proper and the doctrine of God?

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