Genesis 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:

Genesis 47:29 (KJV)

Context

Jacob, also called Israel, had lived a long and eventful life. In Genesis 47, he and his family had settled in Egypt because of a severe famine in Canaan. Joseph, the son he had believed to be dead but was later reunited with, had become a high-ranking official and had provided for his family during the famine.

As Jacob’s death drew near, he called Joseph to make a special request. The act of placing Joseph’s hand under Jacob’s thigh was a solemn gesture used in ancient times to seal an oath. By this action, Jacob sought a binding promise from his son.

Meaning

Jacob asked Joseph to “deal kindly and truly” with him, a phrase that means faithful, loyal love grounded in the covenant relationship. His request was not merely for a burial place but for assurance that Joseph would honor his dying wish. Jacob did not want to be buried in Egypt; he desired to be laid to rest in Canaan, the land God had promised to his forefathers.

This desire reflected Jacob’s faith in God’s promises and his identification with the covenant given to Abraham and Isaac. By choosing Canaan for his burial, Jacob declared that his hope rested not in Egypt’s wealth or security but in the future fulfillment of God’s word to his descendants.

Biblical connections

This request sets the stage for what follows. In Genesis 48, Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons, and in Genesis 49:29-32, he charges all his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah. These passages show that Jacob’s request was not an isolated wish but a consistent testimony of his trust in God’s promises until the very end.

Application

Jacob’s example teaches the importance of honoring the final wishes of loved ones and of staying connected to one’s spiritual heritage. His request also reminds believers that how we face death can be a witness to our faith. Jacob wanted his burial to point others to the covenant promises, even while living in a foreign land.

Reflection

Jacob’s request was more than a concern about a burial site. It was a declaration that God’s promises are certain and worth living for. His example encourages believers to hold fast to those promises and to live with an eternal perspective, trusting that God’s plans extend beyond present circumstances.