Discovery BoxGenesis 22:16 
Context22:16 and said, “‘I solemnly swear by my own name,’ 1 decrees the Lord, 2 ‘that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,
Genesis 25:33
Context25:33 But Jacob said, “Swear an oath to me now.” 3 So Esau 4 swore an oath to him and sold his birthright 5 to Jacob.
Genesis 47:31
Context47:31 Jacob 6 said, “Swear to me that you will do so.” 7 So Joseph 8 gave him his word. 9 Then Israel bowed down 10 at the head of his bed. 11
Genesis 50:25
Context50:25 Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He said, “God will surely come to you. Then you must carry my bones up from this place.”
1 tn Heb “By myself I swear.”
2 tn Heb “the oracle of the
3 tn Heb “Swear to me today.”
4 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Esau) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 sn And sold his birthright. There is evidence from Hurrian culture that rights of inheritance were occasionally sold or transferred. Here Esau is portrayed as a profane person who would at the moment rather have a meal than the right to inherit. He will soon forget this trade and seek his father’s blessing in spite of it.
6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Heb “swear on oath to me.” The words “that you will do so” have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 tn Heb “swore on oath to him.”
10 sn The Hebrew verb normally means “bow down,” especially in worship or prayer. Here it might simply mean “bend low,” perhaps from weakness or approaching death. The narrative is ambiguous at this point and remains open to all these interpretations.
11 tc The MT reads מִטָּה (mittah, “bed, couch”). The LXX reads the word as מַטֶּה (matteh, “staff, rod”) and interprets this to mean that Jacob bowed down in worship while leaning on the top of his staff. The LXX reading was used in turn by the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 11:21).
