Barnes New Testament Notes

Verse 21. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying. Ge 47:31 Ge 48:1-20. That is, when he was about to die. He saw his death near when he pronounced this blessing on Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph.

And worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. This is an exact quotation from the Septuagint in Ge 47:31. The English version of that place is, "and Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head," which is a proper translation, in the main, of the word

HEBREW

-- mittch. That word, however, with different points --

HEBREW

-- mattch, means, a branch, a bough, a rod, a staff, and the translators of the Septuagint have so rendered it. The Masoretic points are of no authority, and either translation, therefore, would be proper. The word rendered "head" in Ge 47:31 -- "bed's head HEBREW

-- rosh, means, properly, head, but may there mean the top of anything, and there is no impropriety in applying it to the head or top of a staff. The word rendered in Ge 47:31, bowed --

HEBREW

#NAME? {b} "both" Ge 48:5-20 {c} "leaning" Ge 47:31