John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 11:21

"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff." — Hebrews 11:21 (ASV)

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. Since, however, it would have been tedious to recount everything, he selected a few things out of many, such as this. For the tribe of Ephraim was so superior to the rest, that they in a manner lay 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 when Jacob blessed him and his brother, they were both young. What did Jacob observe in the younger to prefer him to the firstborn? No, when he did so, his eyes were dim with age, so that he could not see. Nor did he lay his right hand by chance on the head of Ephraim, but he crossed his hands, so that he moved his right hand to the left side.

Besides, he assigned to them two portions, as though he was now the Lord of that land from which famine had driven him away. There was nothing here agreeable to reason; but faith ruled supreme. If, then, the Jews wish to have any standing, they should glory in nothing else but faith.

And worshipped on the top, etc. This is one of those places from which we may conclude that the vowel points were not formerly used by the Hebrews, for the Greek translators could not have made such a mistake as to put staff here for a bed if the mode of writing was then the same as now.

No doubt Moses spoke of the head of his couch when he said על ראש המטה, but the Greek translators rendered the words On the top of his staff, as though the last word was written mathaeh.

The Apostle did not hesitate to apply to his purpose what was commonly received. He was indeed writing to the Jews, but those who were dispersed into various countries had changed their own language for Greek. We know that the Apostles were not so scrupulous in this respect as not to accommodate themselves to the unlearned, who still needed milk. In this there is no danger, provided readers are always brought back to the pure and original text of Scripture.

But, in reality, the difference is very small, for the main thing was that Jacob worshipped, which was an evidence of his gratitude. He was therefore led by faith to submit himself to his son.