Hebrews 11:21,Hebrews 11:22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 11:4-31

The apostle, having given us a more general account of the grace of faith, now proceeds to set before us some illustrious examples of it in the Old-Testament times, and these may be divided into two classes:?1. Those whose names are mentioned, and the particular exercise and actings of whose faith are specified. 2. Those whose names are barely mentioned, and an account given in general of the exploits of their faith, which it is left to the reader to accommodate, and apply to the particular... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 11:20-22

11:20-22 It was by faith that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in the things concerning the future. It was by faith that Jacob, when he was dying. blessed each of the sons of Joseph and prayed leaning, on the head of his staff. It was by faith that Joseph, as he came to the end, had his mind the days when the children of Israel would leave Egypt, and gave instructions concerning his bones. One thing links these three examples of faith together. In each case it was the faith of a man to whom... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:21

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying ,.... Which was the usual time of blessing with the patriarchs; and the reason of it was, that what was said might be more attended to and regarded, and more strongly impressed upon the mind; and this is a proof that it was done in faith by Jacob, when there was no appearance of the fulfilment of these things, and it was not likely that he should see them; and this shows the truth of what the apostle says in Hebrews 11:1 , blessed both the sons of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:21

Blessed both the sons of Joseph - That is, Ephraim and Manasseh. See the account and the notes. Genesis 48:5 , etc. Worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff - This subject is particularly considered in the note, See Genesis 47:31 ; (note). It appears, that at the time Joseph visited his father he was very weak, and generally confined to his couch, having at hand his staff; either that with which he usually supported his feeble body, or that which was the ensign of his office,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:21

Verse 21 21.By faith Jacob, etc. It was the Apostle’s object to attribute to faith whatever was worthy of remembrance in the history of the people: as, however, it would have been tedious to recount everything, he selected a few things out of many, such at this. For the tribe of Ephraim was so superior to the rest, that they in a manner did lie down under its shade; for the Scripture often includes the ten tribes under this name. And yet Ephraim was the younger of the two sons of Joseph, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:20-22

Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Each of these patriarchs died in the firm confidence of "things hoped for," and pronounced prophetic blessings upon his descendants accordingly. The patriarchal benedictions were the expressions of a faith in the promises of the covenant, which was strong enough to bear the test of a death-bed. I. ISAAC 'S BLESSING . ( Hebrews 11:20 ) The prophecy here referred to was divinely inspired. It was not the utterance merely of parental love. The Holy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:21

By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. Here two distinct incidents are referred to, both at the close of Jacob's life. That first mentioned, the blessing of the sons of Joseph ( Genesis 48:2 ), closely resembles the dying act of Isaac already spoken of, and has a similar significance. In both cases, too, human intention is overruled, in that the younger son obtains the higher blessing; and each patriarch... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:21

Faith giving serenity and magnanimity in death. "By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying," etc. Let us notice— I. THE IMPORTANT EVENT . "He was a-dying." In any circumstances and in any case death is an important and solemn event. It is so for several reasons. 1. Think of the mysteriousness of death. There is the mystery of the dissolution of the soul from the body. There are the mysteries of Hades. Where is Hades? What is it? What is the mode of human existence there? There is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:21

A blessing for each. The emphatic word here is "both," or, as the Revised Version much better puts it, "each." We see this emphasis at once on reading the narrative in Genesis 48:1-22 . Jacob had a blessing for each of his own sons, but when he comes to Joseph he individually is passed over as it were, because Manasseh and Ephraim cannot be comprehended in a common blessing. All these blessings of Joseph are, of course, to be taken as predictions, having a particular emphasis, solemnity,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:21

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying - Genesis 47:31; Genesis 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 Genesis 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 מטּה miTTah. That word, however,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 11:4-31

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 11:20-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:20-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:21

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