Dear Anthony:

Well, I should mention that I do not advise that you use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. This edition has been rejected by the Vatican for liturgy as it contains several problems concerning translating certain things in a politically correct manner, especially concerning gender.

The Revised Standard Version, 2nd Catholic Edition is the version most used by theologians as it a the most accurate in 20th Century English. Previous to that would be the Douay-Rheims Bible.

The verse more properly translated is: "By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff." The phrase "his staff" is following the terminology of the Greek version of Genesis 47:31 where the Hebrew means "his bed."

The Navarre Bible Commentary states:

Two to gestures of Jacob are combined here. One was when he had finished blessing his sons, the ancestors of the twelve tribes: "he drew up his feet into the bed, and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people" (Genesis 49:32); the other, slightly earlier had to do with the Patriarchs final illness (cf. Genesis 47:31). He had Joseph swear that he would bury him in the promised land; then he took ill and "bowed himself upon the head of his bed". The Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint), by slight change of vowels and one Hebrew word, said that "Jacob bowed reverentially over the head of his staff ". What the sacred writer is stressing here is Jacob's reverence towards God: the end of his life with an act of adoration of God.

There is no misinterpretation here. As usual the Baptists are not well versed in the Bible, despite them saying otherwise. As is stated here, the translation issue was one of Hebrew to Greek made by the sacred writers hundreds of years before the coming of Christ.  "Adored the top of his rod" is an old rendering made in the Douay Rheims, but is not incorrect; one just has to understand the archaic language. It is saying that Jacob gave adoration to God while bowing over the head of his staff (rod). I do the same thing. I have to use a cane. So, when I bow in adoration of God I bow "over my cane" (staff). Though the reference here appears to be that Jacob was bending over the "headboard" of his bed. In any event, Jacob was making an act of adoration to God.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary