Focused Passage

Genesis 49:13-27

Jacob Blesses His Sons, Exposes Their Character, and Sets the Future Shape of Israel under Prophetic Covenant Word

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

13 Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore and become a harbor for ships; his border shall extend to Sidon.

14 Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds.

15 He saw that his resting place was good and that his land was pleasant, so he bent his shoulder to the burden and submitted to labor as a servant.

16 Dan shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 He will be a snake by the road, a viper in the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward.

18 I await Your salvation, O LORD.

19 Gad will be attacked by raiders, but he will attack their heels.

20 Asher’s food will be rich; he shall provide royal delicacies.

21 Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.

22 Joseph is a fruitful vine—a fruitful vine by a spring, whose branches scale the wall.

23 The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.

24 Yet he steadied his bow, and his strong arms were tempered by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

25 by the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you, with blessings of the heavens above, with blessings of the depths below, with blessings of the breasts and womb.

26 The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the everlasting hills. May they rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince of his brothers.

27 Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Original words

Zebulun זְבוּלֻ֕ן H2074 Noun - proper - masculine singular shall dwell יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן H7931 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . וְהוּא֙ H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular by the seashore לְח֥וֹף H2348 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . יַמִּ֖ים H3220 Noun - masculine plural and become a harbor לְח֣וֹף H2348 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct for ships אֳנִיּ֔וֹת H591 Noun - feminine plural his border וְיַרְכָת֖וֹ H3411 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular shall extend עַל־ H5921 Preposition to Sidon צִידֹֽן׃ס H6721 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

Issachar יִשָּׂשכָ֖ר H3485 Noun - proper - masculine singular [is] a strong גָּ֑רֶם H1634 Noun - masculine singular donkey חֲמֹ֣ר H2543 Noun - masculine singular construct lying down רֹבֵ֖ץ H7257 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular between בֵּ֥ין H996 Preposition the sheepfolds הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתָֽיִם׃ H4942 Article | Noun - md

BSB notes

  • Or saddlebags or hearths
Verse 15

Original words

He saw וַיַּ֤רְא H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular that כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction his resting place מְנֻחָה֙ H4496 Noun - feminine singular was good ט֔וֹב H2896 Adjective - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and that כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction his land הָאָ֖רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular was pleasant נָעֵ֑מָה H5276 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular so he bent וַיֵּ֤ט H5186 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular his shoulder שִׁכְמוֹ֙ H7926 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular to the burden לִסְבֹּ֔ל H5445 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct and submitted וַיְהִ֖י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to labor לְמַס־ H4522 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct as a servant עֹבֵֽד׃ס H5647 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

Dan דָּ֖ן H1835 Noun - proper - masculine singular shall provide justice יָדִ֣ין H1777 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular for his people עַמּ֑וֹ H5971 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular as one כְּאַחַ֖ד H259 Preposition-k | Number - masculine singular construct of the tribes שִׁבְטֵ֥י H7626 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or Dan shall judge his people; Dan means He has judged or He has vindicated.
Verse 17

Original words

He דָן֙ H1835 Noun - proper - masculine singular will be יְהִי־ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular a snake נָחָ֣שׁ H5175 Noun - masculine singular by עֲלֵי־ H5921 Preposition the road דֶ֔רֶךְ H1870 Noun - common singular a viper שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן H8207 Noun - masculine singular in עֲלֵי־ H5921 Preposition the path אֹ֑רַח H734 Noun - common singular that bites הַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙ H5391 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular the horse’s ס֔וּס H5483 Noun - masculine singular heels עִקְּבֵי־ H6119 Noun - masculine plural construct so that its rider רֹכְב֖וֹ H7392 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular tumbles וַיִּפֹּ֥ל H5307 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular backward אָחֽוֹר׃ H268 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

I await קִוִּ֥יתִי H6960 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular Your salvation לִֽישׁוּעָתְךָ֖ H3444 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular O LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Gad גָּ֖ד H1410 Noun - proper - masculine singular will be attacked יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ H1464 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular by raiders גְּד֣וּד H1416 Noun - masculine singular but he וְה֖וּא H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular will attack יָגֻ֥ד H1464 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular their heels עָקֵֽב׃ס H6119 Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raid and also for band of raiders.
Verse 20

Original words

Asher’s מֵאָשֵׁ֖ר H836 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular food לַחְמ֑וֹ H3899 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular will be rich שְׁמֵנָ֣ה H8082 Adjective - feminine singular he וְה֥וּא H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular shall provide יִתֵּ֖ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular royal מֶֽלֶךְ׃ס H4428 Noun - masculine singular delicacies מַֽעֲדַנֵּי־ H4574 Noun - masculine plural construct
Verse 21

Original words

Naphtali נַפְתָּלִ֖י H5321 Noun - proper - masculine singular is a doe אַיָּלָ֣ה H355 Noun - feminine singular set free שְׁלֻחָ֑ה H7971 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular that bears הַנֹּתֵ֖ן H5414 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular beautiful שָֽׁפֶר׃ס H8233 Noun - masculine singular fawns אִמְרֵי־ H561 Noun - masculine plural construct

BSB notes

  • Or gives beautiful words or bears fawns of the fold
Verse 22

Original words

Joseph יוֹסֵ֔ף H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular is a fruitful פֹּרָת֙ H6509 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct vine בֵּ֤ן H1121 Noun - masculine singular a fruitful פֹּרָ֖ת H6509 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct vine בֵּ֥ן H1121 Noun - masculine singular by עֲלֵי־ H5921 Preposition a spring עָ֑יִן H5869 Noun - common singular whose branches בָּנ֕וֹת H1323 Noun - feminine plural scale צָעֲדָ֖ה H6805 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular . . . עֲלֵי־ H5921 Preposition the wall שֽׁוּר׃ H7791 Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey by a spring, with his wild colts beside the wall
Verse 23

Original words

The archers בַּעֲלֵ֥י H1167 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . חִצִּֽים׃ H2671 Noun - masculine plural attacked him with bitterness וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ H4843 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular they aimed at him וָרֹ֑בּוּ H7232 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural in hostility וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ H7852 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

Yet he steadied וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular . . . בְּאֵיתָן֙ H386 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular his bow קַשְׁתּ֔וֹ H7198 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular and his strong arms זְרֹעֵ֣י H2220 Noun - feminine plural construct . . . יָדָ֑יו H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singular were tempered וַיָּפֹ֖זּוּ H6339 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural by the hands מִידֵי֙ H3027 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine dual construct of the Mighty One אֲבִ֣יר H46 Noun - masculine singular construct of Jacob יַעֲקֹ֔ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular in the name of מִשָּׁ֥ם H8033 Preposition-m | Adverb the Shepherd רֹעֶ֖ה H7462 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular the Rock אֶ֥בֶן H68 Noun - feminine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 25

Original words

by the God מֵאֵ֨ל H410 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of your father אָבִ֜יךָ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular who helps you וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ H5826 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular - וְאֵ֤ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and by the Almighty שַׁדַּי֙ H7706 Noun - proper - masculine singular who blesses you וִיבָ֣רְכֶ֔ךָּ H1288 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular with blessings בִּרְכֹ֤ת H1293 Noun - feminine plural construct of the heavens שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ H8064 Noun - masculine plural above מֵעָ֔ל H5921 Preposition with blessings בִּרְכֹ֥ת H1293 Noun - feminine plural construct of the depths תְּה֖וֹם H8415 Noun - common singular vvv רֹבֶ֣צֶת H7257 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular below תָּ֑חַת H8478 Preposition with blessings בִּרְכֹ֥ת H1293 Noun - feminine plural construct of the breasts שָׁדַ֖יִם H7699 Noun - md and womb וָרָֽחַם׃ H7356 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew Shaddai
Verse 26

Original words

The blessings בִּרְכֹ֣ת H1293 Noun - feminine plural construct of your father אָבִ֗יךָ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular have surpassed גָּֽבְרוּ֙ H1396 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition the blessings בִּרְכֹ֣ת H1293 Noun - feminine plural construct of the ancient mountains הוֹרַ֔י H2029 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular . . . עַֽד־ H5704 Preposition and the bounty תַּאֲוַ֖ת H8378 Noun - feminine singular construct of the everlasting עוֹלָ֑ם H5769 Noun - masculine singular hills גִּבְעֹ֣ת H1389 Noun - feminine plural construct May they rest תִּֽהְיֶ֙ין֙ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural on the head לְרֹ֣אשׁ H7218 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of Joseph יוֹסֵ֔ף H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular on the brow וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד H6936 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of the prince נְזִ֥יר H5139 Noun - masculine singular construct of his brothers אֶחָֽיו׃פ H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or of my ancestors
Verse 27

Original words

Benjamin בִּנְיָמִין֙ H1144 Noun - proper - masculine singular is a ravenous wolf זְאֵ֣ב H2061 Noun - masculine singular . . . יִטְרָ֔ף H2963 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular in the morning בַּבֹּ֖קֶר H1242 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular he devours יֹ֣אכַל H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the prey עַ֑ד H5706 Noun - masculine singular in the evening וְלָעֶ֖רֶב H6153 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular he divides יְחַלֵּ֥ק H2505 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the plunder שָׁלָֽל׃ H7998 Noun - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.