Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 47:31

"And he said, Swear unto me: and he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed`s head." — Genesis 47:31 (ASV)

Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head. —The Septuagint, followed by the Epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 11:21) and the Syriac, read, on the top of his staff. The word in the Hebrew, without vowels, may mean either bed or staff. As we have mentioned above (Genesis 22:14), the points indicating the vowels were added in later times. While valuable as representing a very ancient tradition, these points are nevertheless not of final authority. The rendering, however, of the Authorised Version is the most satisfactory. It was scarcely worth mentioning that Jacob bowed before Joseph, leaning on his staff; but the picture of the aged patriarch leaning back upon his bed, content and happy in his son’s promise, and giving thanks to God for the peace of his approaching end, is one full of pathos and dignity.