Genesis 47:31

Jacob ¹  said, “Swear to me that you will do so.” ²  So Joseph ³  gave him his word. ⁴  Then Israel bowed down ⁵  at the head of his bed. ⁶ 

"Swear to me," he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

He said, "Swear to me." So he swore to him. Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.

"Swear that you will do it," Jacob insisted. So Joseph gave his oath, and Jacob bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

Israel said, "Promise me." Joseph promised. Israel bowed his head in submission and gratitude from his bed.

And he said, Take an oath to me; and he took an oath to him: and Israel gave worship on the bed’s head.

And he said, "Swear to me"; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself on the head of his bed.

Then he said, "Swear to me." And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.

Jacob ¹  said, “Swear to me that you will do so.” ²  So Joseph ³  gave him his word. ⁴  Then Israel bowed down ⁵  at the head of his bed. ⁶ 

¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Heb “swear on oath to me.” The words “that you will do so” have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Heb “swore on oath to him.”

⁵ 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.

⁶ 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).