The Meaning of Genesis 49:33 Explained

Genesis 49:33

KJV: And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

YLT: And Jacob finisheth commanding his sons, and gathereth up his feet unto the bed, and expireth, and is gathered unto his people.

Darby: And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered his feet into the bed, and expired, and was gathered to his peoples.

ASV: And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when Jacob  had made an end  of commanding  his sons,  he gathered up  his feet  into the bed,  and yielded up the ghost,  and was gathered  unto his people. 

What does Genesis 49:33 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 49:28-33 - Jacob's Last Directions And Death
Jacob gave a final charge as to his burial in Machpelah-that his dust at least should be there to welcome his children and children's children, when they came thither in due course, as God had promised. Then the weary pilgrim gathered up those tired feet, which had paced out their last mile, into the bed, and gave up his spirit to God. When we are told that he was gathered to his people it must mean more than that his dust mingled with their dust in the place of burial. There are great gatherings of loving friends awaiting us on the other side. See Hebrews 11:40. At the ladder-scene in Bethel, God had told him that He would not leave him till He had done what He promised, and surely not one good thing had failed. Life may be hard and sad, but God will end it rightly. Be of good cheer and trust! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 49

1  Jacob calls his sons to bless them
3  Their blessing in particular
29  He charges them about his burial
33  He dies

What do the individual words in Genesis 49:33 mean?

And when had finished Jacob commanding - his sons then he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people
וַיְכַ֤ל יַעֲקֹב֙ לְצַוֺּ֣ת אֶת־ בָּנָ֔יו וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף רַגְלָ֖יו אֶל־ הַמִּטָּ֑ה וַיִּגְוַ֖ע וַיֵּאָ֥סֶף אֶל־ עַמָּֽיו

וַיְכַ֤ל  And  when  had  finished 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent.
יַעֲקֹב֙  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
לְצַוֺּ֣ת  commanding 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בָּנָ֔יו  his  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף  then  he  drew  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
רַגְלָ֖יו  his  feet 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
אֶל־  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַמִּטָּ֑ה  the  bed 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִטָּה  
Sense: couch, bed, bier.
וַיִּגְוַ֖ע  and  breathed  his  last 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּוַע  
Sense: to expire, die, perish, give up the ghost, yield up the ghost, be dead, be ready to die.
וַיֵּאָ֥סֶף  and  was  gathered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
עַמָּֽיו  his  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.