Hebrews 11:21 (GNV)

Passage

By faith Iacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sonnes of Ioseph, and leaning on the ende of his staffe, worshipped God.

Nearby Context

Hebrews 11:19 For he considered that God was able to raise him vp euen from the dead: from whence he receiued him also after a sort.

Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau, concerning things to come.

Hebrews 11:21 By faith Iacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sonnes of Ioseph, and leaning on the ende of his staffe, worshipped God.

Hebrews 11:22 By faith Ioseph when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gaue commandement of his bones.

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses when he was borne, was hid three moneths of his parents, because they sawe he was a proper childe, neither feared they the kings commandement.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "iacob", "dying", "blessed", "both", "sonnes", "ioseph", and "leaning". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "iacob", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "By faith Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau..." into verse 22's "By faith Ioseph when he died made...", so "faith" and "iacob" belong inside that flow. In Hebrews context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "faith" and "iacob" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.