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Hebrews 11

Heb. 11:21 KJV (With Strong’s)

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21
By faith
pistis (Greek #4102)
persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself
KJV usage: assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
Pronounce: pis'-tis
Origin: from 3982
Jacob
Iakob (Greek #2384)
Jacob (i.e. Ja`akob), the progenitor of the Israelites
KJV usage: also an Israelite:--Jacob.
Pronounce: ee-ak-obe'
Origin: of Hebrew origin (03290)
, when he was a dying
apothnesko (Greek #599)
to die off (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: be dead, death, die, lie a-dying, be slain (X with).
Pronounce: ap-oth-nace'-ko
Origin: from 575 and 2348
, blessed
eulogeo (Greek #2127)
to speak well of, i.e. (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper)
KJV usage: bless, praise.
Pronounce: yoo-log-eh'-o
Origin: from a compound of 2095 and 3056
j both
hekastos (Greek #1538)
each or every
KJV usage: any, both, each (one), every (man, one, woman), particularly.
Pronounce: hek'-as-tos
Origin: as if a superlative of ἕκας (afar)
the sons
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
huios (Greek #5207)
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
KJV usage: child, foal, son.
Pronounce: hwee-os'
Origin: apparently a primary word
of Joseph
Ioseph (Greek #2501)
Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
KJV usage: Joseph.
Pronounce: ee-o-safe'
Origin: of Hebrew origin (03130)
; and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
worshipped
proskuneo (Greek #4352)
to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore)
KJV usage: worship.
Pronounce: pros-koo-neh'-o
Origin: from 4314 and a probable derivative of 2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand)
, leaningk upon
epi (Greek #1909)
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
KJV usage: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ep-ee'
Origin: a primary preposition
the top
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
akron (Greek #206)
the extremity
KJV usage: one end... other, tip, top, uttermost participle
Pronounce: ak'-ron
Origin: neuter of an adjective probably akin to the base of 188
of
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
rhabdos (Greek #4464)
a stick or wand (as a cudgel, a cane or a baton of royalty)
KJV usage: rod, sceptre, staff.
Pronounce: hrab'-dos
Origin: from the base of 4474
his
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
staff
rhabdos (Greek #4464)
a stick or wand (as a cudgel, a cane or a baton of royalty)
KJV usage: rod, sceptre, staff.
Pronounce: hrab'-dos
Origin: from the base of 4474
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j
Gen. 48:5‑20• 5And now thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt before I came to thee into Egypt, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon.
 6And thy family which thou hast begotten after them shall be thine: they shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
 7And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was yet a certain distance to come to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem.
 8And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?
 9And Joseph said to his father, They are my sons, whom God has given me here. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, to me, that I may bless them.
 10But the eyes of Israel were heavy from age: he could not see. And he brought them nearer to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
 11And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face; and behold, God has let me see also thy seed.
 12And Joseph brought them out from his knees, and bowed down with his face to the earth.
 13And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near to him.
 14But Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head--now he was the younger--and his left hand on Manasseh's head; guiding his hands intelligently, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
 15And he blessed Joseph, and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God that shepherded me all my life long to this day,
 16the Angel that redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the land!
 17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it was evil in his eyes; and he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
 18And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn: put thy right hand on his head.
 19But his father refused and said, I know, my son, I know: he also will become a people, and he also will be great; but truly his younger brother will be greater than he; and his seed will become the fulness of nations.
 20And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee will Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh! And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. (Gen. 48:5‑20)
k
Gen. 47:31• 31And he said, Swear to me; and he swore to him. And Israel worshipped on the bed's head. (Gen. 47:31)

More on:

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Faith,
Jacob,
Joseph,
Worship

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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faith.
Gen. 48:5‑22• 5And now thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt before I came to thee into Egypt, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon.
 6And thy family which thou hast begotten after them shall be thine: they shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
 7And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was yet a certain distance to come to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem.
 8And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?
 9And Joseph said to his father, They are my sons, whom God has given me here. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, to me, that I may bless them.
 10But the eyes of Israel were heavy from age: he could not see. And he brought them nearer to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
 11And Israel said to Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face; and behold, God has let me see also thy seed.
 12And Joseph brought them out from his knees, and bowed down with his face to the earth.
 13And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near to him.
 14But Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head--now he was the younger--and his left hand on Manasseh's head; guiding his hands intelligently, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
 15And he blessed Joseph, and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God that shepherded me all my life long to this day,
 16the Angel that redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the land!
 17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it was evil in his eyes; and he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
 18And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn: put thy right hand on his head.
 19But his father refused and said, I know, my son, I know: he also will become a people, and he also will be great; but truly his younger brother will be greater than he; and his seed will become the fulness of nations.
 20And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee will Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh! And he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
 21And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I die; and God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
 22And *I* have given to thee one tract of land above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow. (Gen. 48:5‑22)
and worshipped.
Gen. 47:31• 31And he said, Swear to me; and he swore to him. And Israel worshipped on the bed's head. (Gen. 47:31)
• But Jacob's eyes, dim as they were and unable to see naturally, were illuminated then with light divine; so that Joseph's arrangement of his sons according to nature, with Ephraim toward Israel's left and Manasseh toward his right, embarrassed not the patriarch for a moment. For he laid his right hand upon Ephraim's head, albeit the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly or crossing them, for Manasseh was the first-born. It was of God to set Ephraim before Manasseh. But how worthy of grace that he who in his youth used such base means to gain the blessing he valued, should ere he died resist, in calm and believing earnestness, the importunity of his godly and honored son, their own father! (“Hebrews 11:20-22” by W. Kelly)
• He "worshipped upon the top of his staff," clearly leaning on it in his weakness. It is remarkable that this act really preceded the blessing of his grandsons and is recorded in Gen. 47:31, as given in the Septuagint. (“Hebrews 11:20-22” by W. Kelly)
• By faith Jacob, a stranger and feeble, having nothing but the staff with which he had crossed the Jordan, worships God and announces the double portion of the heir of Israel, of the one whom his brethren rejected—a type of the Lord, the heir of all things. This lays the ground of worship. (“Hebrews 11” by J.N. Darby)
• Jacob ends at last his checkered career as a stranger in Egypt. Nevertheless, he was a true saint of God, and his stormy life had a bright sunset. (“Faith Laying Hold of the World to Come: Hebrews 11:8-22” by H. Smith)

J. N. Darby Translation

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21
By faith Jacob when dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped on the top of his staffa.

JND Translation Notes

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a
This follows the LXX translation of Gen. 47.31.

W. Kelly Translation

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21
By faith Jacob when dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped on the top of his staffa.

WK Translation Notes

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a
There is a difference between the Hebrew copies and the sense given by the LXX, it is simply a question of the points of letters between, a "staff," and a "bed," There is no reason to doubt the accuracy of the word "bed" in the Old Testament, nor of the word "staff" in the New Testament. The staff was in his hand while he bowed himself upon the bed’s head. "Israel adored God, turning to the bed’s head," whereas the English Bible simply states that he bowed himself, doubtless in worship, upon the bed’s head.