Hebrews 11:21
New International Version
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

New Living Translation
It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

English Standard Version
By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.

Berean Standard Bible
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

Berean Literal Bible
By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped on the top of his staff.

King James Bible
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

New King James Version
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

New American Standard Bible
By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

NASB 1995
By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

NASB 1977
By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

Legacy Standard Bible
By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and WORSHIPED, leaning ON THE TOP OF HIS STAFF.

Amplified Bible
By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed in worship, leaning on the top of his staff.

Christian Standard Bible
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

American Standard Version
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

Contemporary English Version
Later, when Jacob was about to die, he leaned on his walking stick and worshiped. Then because of his faith he blessed each of Joseph's sons.

English Revised Version
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
While Jacob was dying, faith led him to bless each of Joseph's sons. He leaned on the top of his staff and worshiped God.

Good News Translation
It was faith that made Jacob bless each of the sons of Joseph just before he died. He leaned on the top of his walking stick and worshiped God.

International Standard Version
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons "and worshipped while leaning on the top of his staff."

Majority Standard Bible
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

NET Bible
By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff.

New Heart English Bible
By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed down over the top of his staff.

Webster's Bible Translation
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

Weymouth New Testament
Through faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and, leaning on the top of his staff, worshipped God.

World English Bible
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped on the top of his staff.

Berean Literal Bible
By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped on the top of his staff.

Young's Literal Translation
by faith Jacob dying -- each of the sons of Joseph did bless, and did bow down upon the top of his staff;

Smith's Literal Translation
By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons; and worshipped, upon the extremity of his rod.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
By faith Jacob dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and adored the top of his rod.

Catholic Public Domain Version
By faith, Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and he reverenced the summit of his rod.

New American Bible
By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and “bowed in worship, leaning on the top of his staff.”

New Revised Standard Version
By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, “bowing in worship over the top of his staff.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
By faith Jacob, when be was dying, blessed both of the sons of Joseph, and he worshipped, leaning upon the head of his staff.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
By faith, when Jacob was dying, he blessed each one of the sons of Joseph and bowed on the top of the staff.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped on the top of his staff.

Godbey New Testament
By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each one of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, on the hilt of his staff.

Haweis New Testament
By faith, dying Jacob blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed down in adoration upon the top of his staff.

Mace New Testament
by faith Jacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped leaning upon the top of his staff.

Weymouth New Testament
Through faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and, leaning on the top of his staff, worshipped God.

Worrell New Testament
By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and he worshiped leaning on the top of his staff.

Worsley New Testament
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped leaning on the top of his staff.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.…

Cross References
Genesis 48:1-20
Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. / When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed. / Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there He blessed me ...

Genesis 47:29-31
When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, / but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.” / “Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.

Genesis 49:1-28
Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come: / Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel. / Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. ...

Genesis 27:27-29
So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. / May God give to you the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth—an abundance of grain and new wine. / May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”

Genesis 28:1-4
So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded. / “Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. / May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples. ...

Genesis 32:24-32
So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak. / When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled. / Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” ...

Genesis 35:9-12
After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. / And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob, you will no longer be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel.” So God named him Israel. / And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you. ...

Genesis 46:1-4
So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. / And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob. / “I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. ...

Genesis 50:24-25
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” / And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

Exodus 1:1-7
These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: / Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; / Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; ...

1 Kings 1:47
The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,

Matthew 8:11
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 1:33
and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

Luke 20:37-38
Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ / He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”

John 4:12
Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?”


Treasury of Scripture

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.

faith.

Genesis 48:5-22
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine…

and worshipped.

Genesis 47:31
And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.

Jump to Previous
Bless Blessed Blessing Bow Bowing Death Dying Faith Head Jacob Joseph Joseph's Leaning Staff Supported Top Worship Worshiped Worshipped
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Bless Blessed Blessing Bow Bowing Death Dying Faith Head Jacob Joseph Joseph's Leaning Staff Supported Top Worship Worshiped Worshipped
Hebrews 11
1. What faith is.
6. Without faith we cannot please God.
7. The examples of faithfulness in the fathers of old time.














By faith Jacob
The phrase "By faith Jacob" introduces us to the patriarch Jacob, whose life was marked by a journey of faith. The Greek word for faith, "pistis," implies a deep trust and confidence in God. Jacob's faith was not perfect, but it was persistent. His life, filled with struggles and divine encounters, reflects a growing reliance on God's promises. This faith is the same that believers are called to emulate, trusting in God's plan even when the path is unclear.

when he was dying
This phrase highlights the context of Jacob's actions—at the end of his life. The Greek word "apothnēskō" means to die or to be near death. Jacob's faith was not just a youthful zeal but a mature, enduring trust that persisted until his final moments. It reminds us that faith is a lifelong journey, and the culmination of a life lived in faith is often most powerfully expressed in our final acts and words.

blessed each of Joseph’s sons
Jacob's blessing of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, is a significant act of faith. The Greek word "eulogeo" means to bless or to speak well of. In the cultural and historical context, a patriarchal blessing was a powerful declaration of God's favor and future promises. Jacob, by faith, saw beyond his immediate circumstances and spoke into the future of his descendants, trusting in God's covenant promises to Abraham and Isaac.

and worshiped
The act of worship here is profound. The Greek word "proskyneō" means to bow down or to prostrate oneself in reverence. Jacob's worship, even in his frailty, signifies a heart fully surrendered to God. It is a reminder that true worship is not confined to a place or a moment but is a lifestyle of reverence and submission to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and grace.

as he leaned on the top of his staff
This phrase paints a vivid picture of Jacob's physical weakness juxtaposed with his spiritual strength. The staff, or "rhabdos" in Greek, symbolizes both his journey and his dependence on God. Throughout his life, Jacob had leaned on God, and now, in his old age, he physically leans on his staff as he worships. This imagery serves as a powerful metaphor for the Christian life—leaning on God through every trial and triumph, trusting Him to guide and sustain us.

(21) Both the sons.--Rather, each of the sons. The separate character of the two blessings is thus brought out (Genesis 48:14-19). (See the last Note.) In the case of the two events mentioned in this verse the order of time is reversed, probably that the blessing of Jacob may immediately follow the similar record of Hebrews 11:20.

And worshipped.--The incident referred to will be found in Genesis 47:31. After receiving from Joseph a promise, confirmed by oath, that he shall be buried with his fathers, "Israel bowed himself upon" (or, worshipped towards) "the bed's head." In the LXX. and in the Targums the words are understood as denoting an act of worship. The Greek translators have taken the last word of the Hebrew verse to denote "staff" (Genesis 32:10), not "bed," the words which bear these different meanings differing very slightly in form. The whole clause is given here as it stands in the LXX., the difference between the renderings being immaterial for the purpose which the writer had in view. The quotation of the familiar words serves to recall the scene, and brings before us Israel's thankful and devout satisfaction when assured that he should rest with his fathers in the land of Canaan; by this, at the point of death, he expressed his faith in the promise by which Abraham and his seed received Canaan as their inheritance.

Verse 21. - By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. Here two distinct incidents are referred to, both at the close of Jacob's life. That first mentioned, the blessing of the sons of Joseph (Genesis 48:2), closely resembles the dying act of Isaac already spoken of, and has a similar significance. In both cases, too, human intention is overruled, in that the younger son obtains the higher blessing; and each patriarch accepts alike the Divine intimation to this effect, thus further evincing faith in a power and a will above his own. The latter part of the verse, "and worshipped," etc., is quoted from Genesis 47:31, and refers to a previous instance of the dying Jacob's faith, in his charge to Joseph to bury him with his fathers in the land of promise. The reversal in the text of the historical order of the two instances may be because the one referred to first is cognate with the instance of Isaac's faith which has gone before, the other with that of Joseph's which follows. For the benedictions of Isaac and Jacob, when a-dying, expressed faith in revelations made to them about the several races of their future seed; the deathbed charges of Jacob and Joseph expressed faith in the chosen seed's inheritance of the Promised Land. Though in the verse before us Jacob's charge to Joseph, with a view to this inheritance, is not mentioned, yet the quotation from the account of it in Genesis, "and worshipped," etc., would be sufficient, in this concise summary of instances, to recall it to the mind of readers, and so intimate the writer's meaning. The variation of the LXX., which is here followed as usual, from the Massoretic text, in reading "staff" instead of "bed," is due to the ambiguity of the Hebrew word, which has one meaning or the other according to its pointing. "Bed" seems more likely to have been intended, inasmuch as the bed on which the patriarch lay is twice again mentioned (Genesis 48:2; Genesis 49:33) in the account of the closing scene; and we find also a similar expression used of David in his old age (1 Kings 1:47). Bat the variation is unimportant, the essence of the passage being in the word translated "bowed himself," which in the Hebrew as well as the Greek certainly expresses an act of worship. The only difference is that, according to one rendering, this worship was expressed by his bowing over the staff on which he leant as he sat upon the bed (Genesis 48:2); according to the other, by his turning round to prostrate himself with his head upon the pillow. The view of some of the Fathers, who, adopting the LXX. rendering and supposing the staff to be Joseph's, regard the act as expressing reverence to Joseph himself, in fulfillment of Gem 38:5-11, has little probability in its favor, and is controverted by St. Augustine. But so Chrysostom, and apparently Theodoret. And suitably to this idea, the Vulgate has in Hebrews, "et adoravit fastigium virgae ejus," though in Genesis, "adoravit Israel Deum, conversus ad lectuli caput." Quite untenable, and only worthy of mention because of the use that has been made of it in support of image-worship, is the idea that Joseph's staff was surmounted by some sacred image which Jacob adored.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
By faith
Πίστει (Pistei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

Jacob,
Ἰακὼβ (Iakōb)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2384: Of Hebrew origin; Jacob, the progenitor of the Israelites.

when he was dying,
ἀποθνῄσκων (apothnēskōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 599: To be dying, be about to die, wither, decay. From apo and thnesko; to die off.

blessed
εὐλόγησεν (eulogēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2127: (lit: I speak well of) I bless; pass: I am blessed. From a compound of eu and logos; to speak well of, i.e. to bless.

each
ἕκαστον (hekaston)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1538: Each (of more than two), every one. As if a superlative of hekas; each or every.

of
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Joseph’s
Ἰωσὴφ (Iōsēph)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2501: Joseph, a proper name. Of Hebrew origin; Joseph, the name of seven Israelites.

sons
υἱῶν (huiōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

worshiped
προσεκύνησεν (prosekynēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4352: From pros and a probable derivative of kuon; to fawn or crouch to, i.e. prostrate oneself in homage.

[as he leaned] on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

top
ἄκρον (akron)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 206: The end, extremity. Neuter of an adjective probably akin to the base of akmen; the extremity.

of
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

staff.
ῥάβδου (rhabdou)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4464: A rod, staff, staff of authority, scepter. From the base of rhapizo; a stick or wand.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob when he was dying (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 11:20
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