Genesis 47:31

Upon the bed’s head. This is an accurate translation of the Hebrew text as vocalized by the Jewish scholars, the Masoretes, in the 7th century of our era. The Jewish translators of the LXX of the 3rd century B.C., however, whose Hebrew text contained no vowels, took the word mth, vocalized by the Masoretes as mittah, “bed,” to be mattah, “staff.” Accordingly, they translated the passage, “Israel bowed himself on the top of his staff.” Since the action of leaning on his staff while doing obeisance to God would be quite as suitable to Jacob’s age and infirmity as turning over and bowing on the head of his bed, and inasmuch as Heb. 11:21 reflects the LXX reading of Gen. 47:31, the latter is probably closer to the meaning of the original than the extant vocalized Hebrew text, and therefore preferable. Whatever the exact position of the patriarch, it was a posture of devotion in which he poured out his soul in grateful adoration to God.