There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

GENESIS 49:31KJV
Know the Bible

Genesis 49:31 (KJV)

What does Genesis 49:31 mean?

Genesis 49:31 records Jacob explaining where his family members are buried: Abraham and his wife Sarah, Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and Jacob’s own wife Leah. Jacob is telling his sons that these ancestors are all buried together in the same place.

Jacob is speaking to his sons as he nears death, giving instructions and sharing family history. He names the burial place as the family tomb, which is the cave of Machpelah near Hebron. This verse highlights the importance of family heritage and the continuity of the promises given to the patriarchs.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 49:31

  • "buried" (קָבַר, qāvar): This word appears several times in the verse, emphasizing the act of laying someone to rest in a specific, honored place. The repetition underlines the significance of the family tomb as a shared resting place for the patriarchs and matriarchs.
  • "wife" (אִשָּׁה, ishah): The term is used for both Sarah and Rebekah, showing their recognized status as wives of the patriarchs. This highlights the importance of these women in the family line and in the covenant story.

Why Genesis 49:31 matters

  • Genesis 49:31 clarifies that Leah, not Rachel, was buried in the family tomb, which is a detail sometimes overlooked in the broader story of Jacob’s wives.
  • The verse connects the burial site to the earlier patriarchs, reinforcing the theme of God’s promises being passed down through generations.
  • By naming each person buried there, Jacob emphasizes the unity and shared legacy of the family, which is central to the unfolding story of Israel.

Where else these words appear

“Rebekah” Hebrew H7259 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 22:23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
  • Genesis 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
  • Genesis 26:35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

“Sarah” Hebrew H8283 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 17:15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
  • Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
  • Genesis 21:7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

“Leah” Hebrew H3812 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 29:16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
  • Genesis 30:11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
  • Genesis 31:14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?

“Isaac” Hebrew H3327 · used in 101 verses

  • Genesis 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
  • Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
  • Genesis 35:27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.