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

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

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

15He 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.

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

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

18I await Your salvation, O LORD.

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

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

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

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

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

24Yet 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,

25by 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.

26The 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.

27Benjamin 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

Zebulunזְבוּלֻ֕ןH2074Noun - proper - masculine singularshall dwellיִשְׁכֹּ֑ןH7931Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .וְהוּא֙H1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singularby the seashoreלְח֥וֹףH2348Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .יַמִּ֖יםH3220Noun - masculine pluraland become a harborלְח֣וֹףH2348Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructfor shipsאֳנִיּ֔וֹתH591Noun - feminine pluralhis borderוְיַרְכָת֖וֹH3411Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularshall extendעַל־H5921Prepositionto Sidonצִידֹֽן׃סH6721Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

Issacharיִשָּׂשכָ֖רH3485Noun - proper - masculine singular[is] a strongגָּ֑רֶםH1634Noun - masculine singulardonkeyחֲמֹ֣רH2543Noun - masculine singular constructlying downרֹבֵ֖ץH7257Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularbetweenבֵּ֥יןH996Prepositionthe sheepfoldsהַֽמִּשְׁפְּתָֽיִם׃H4942Article | Noun - md

BSB notes

  • Or saddlebags or hearths
Verse 15

Original words

He sawוַיַּ֤רְאH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthatכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionhis resting placeמְנֻחָה֙H4496Noun - feminine singularwas goodט֔וֹבH2896Adjective - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand thatכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionhis landהָאָ֖רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularwas pleasantנָעֵ֑מָהH5276Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularso he bentוַיֵּ֤טH5186Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularhis shoulderשִׁכְמוֹ֙H7926Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularto the burdenלִסְבֹּ֔לH5445Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructand submittedוַיְהִ֖יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto laborלְמַס־H4522Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructas a servantעֹבֵֽד׃סH5647Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

Danדָּ֖ןH1835Noun - proper - masculine singularshall provide justiceיָדִ֣יןH1777Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularfor his peopleעַמּ֑וֹH5971Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularas oneכְּאַחַ֖דH259Preposition-k | Number - masculine singular constructof the tribesשִׁבְטֵ֥יH7626Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

Heדָן֙H1835Noun - proper - masculine singularwill beיְהִי־H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singulara snakeנָחָ֣שׁH5175Noun - masculine singularbyעֲלֵי־H5921Prepositionthe roadדֶ֔רֶךְH1870Noun - common singulara viperשְׁפִיפֹ֖ןH8207Noun - masculine singularinעֲלֵי־H5921Prepositionthe pathאֹ֑רַחH734Noun - common singularthat bitesהַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙H5391Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe horse’sס֔וּסH5483Noun - masculine singularheelsעִקְּבֵי־H6119Noun - masculine plural constructso that its riderרֹכְב֖וֹH7392Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singulartumblesוַיִּפֹּ֥לH5307Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularbackwardאָחֽוֹר׃H268Noun - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

I awaitקִוִּ֥יתִיH6960Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularYour salvationלִֽישׁוּעָתְךָ֖H3444Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularO LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Gadגָּ֖דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singularwill be attackedיְגוּדֶ֑נּוּH1464Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularby raidersגְּד֣וּדH1416Noun - masculine singularbut heוְה֖וּאH1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singularwill attackיָגֻ֥דH1464Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulartheir heelsעָקֵֽב׃סH6119Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

Asher’sמֵאָשֵׁ֖רH836Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singularfoodלַחְמ֑וֹH3899Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularwill be richשְׁמֵנָ֣הH8082Adjective - feminine singularheוְה֥וּאH1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singularshall provideיִתֵּ֖ןH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularroyalמֶֽלֶךְ׃סH4428Noun - masculine singulardelicaciesמַֽעֲדַנֵּי־H4574Noun - masculine plural construct
Verse 21

Original words

Naphtaliנַפְתָּלִ֖יH5321Noun - proper - masculine singularis a doeאַיָּלָ֣הH355Noun - feminine singularset freeשְׁלֻחָ֑הH7971Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singularthat bearsהַנֹּתֵ֖ןH5414Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularbeautifulשָֽׁפֶר׃סH8233Noun - masculine singularfawnsאִמְרֵי־H561Noun - masculine plural construct

BSB notes

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

Original words

Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףH3130Noun - proper - masculine singularis a fruitfulפֹּרָת֙H6509Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular constructvineבֵּ֤ןH1121Noun - masculine singulara fruitfulפֹּרָ֖תH6509Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular constructvineבֵּ֥ןH1121Noun - masculine singularbyעֲלֵי־H5921Prepositiona springעָ֑יִןH5869Noun - common singularwhose branchesבָּנ֕וֹתH1323Noun - feminine pluralscaleצָעֲדָ֖הH6805Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular. . .עֲלֵי־H5921Prepositionthe wallשֽׁוּר׃H7791Noun - 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 archersבַּעֲלֵ֥יH1167Noun - masculine plural construct. . .חִצִּֽים׃H2671Noun - masculine pluralattacked him with bitternessוַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּH4843Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singularthey aimed at himוָרֹ֑בּוּH7232Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralin hostilityוַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּH7852Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

Yet he steadiedוַתֵּ֤שֶׁבH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular. . .בְּאֵיתָן֙H386Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularhis bowקַשְׁתּ֔וֹH7198Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularand his strong armsזְרֹעֵ֣יH2220Noun - feminine plural construct. . .יָדָ֑יוH3027Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singularwere temperedוַיָּפֹ֖זּוּH6339Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralby the handsמִידֵי֙H3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine dual constructof the Mighty Oneאֲבִ֣ירH46Noun - masculine singular constructof Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בH3290Noun - proper - masculine singularin the name ofמִשָּׁ֥םH8033Preposition-m | Adverbthe Shepherdרֹעֶ֖הH7462Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe Rockאֶ֥בֶןH68Noun - feminine singular constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 25

Original words

by the Godמֵאֵ֨לH410Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof your fatherאָבִ֜יךָH1Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularwho helps youוְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּH5826Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular-וְאֵ֤תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand by the Almightyשַׁדַּי֙H7706Noun - proper - masculine singularwho blesses youוִיבָ֣רְכֶ֔ךָּH1288Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularwith blessingsבִּרְכֹ֤תH1293Noun - feminine plural constructof the heavensשָׁמַ֙יִם֙H8064Noun - masculine pluralaboveמֵעָ֔לH5921Prepositionwith blessingsבִּרְכֹ֥תH1293Noun - feminine plural constructof the depthsתְּה֖וֹםH8415Noun - common singularvvvרֹבֶ֣צֶתH7257Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularbelowתָּ֑חַתH8478Prepositionwith blessingsבִּרְכֹ֥תH1293Noun - feminine plural constructof the breastsשָׁדַ֖יִםH7699Noun - mdand wombוָרָֽחַם׃H7356Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew Shaddai
Verse 26

Original words

The blessingsבִּרְכֹ֣תH1293Noun - feminine plural constructof your fatherאָבִ֗יךָH1Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularhave surpassedגָּֽבְרוּ֙H1396Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural. . .עַל־H5921Prepositionthe blessingsבִּרְכֹ֣תH1293Noun - feminine plural constructof the ancient mountainsהוֹרַ֔יH2029Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular. . .עַֽד־H5704Prepositionand the bountyתַּאֲוַ֖תH8378Noun - feminine singular constructof the everlastingעוֹלָ֑םH5769Noun - masculine singularhillsגִּבְעֹ֣תH1389Noun - feminine plural constructMay they restתִּֽהְיֶ֙ין֙H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine pluralon the headלְרֹ֣אשׁH7218Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףH3130Noun - proper - masculine singularon the browוּלְקָדְקֹ֖דH6936Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof the princeנְזִ֥ירH5139Noun - masculine singular constructof his brothersאֶחָֽיו׃פH251Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or of my ancestors
Verse 27

Original words

Benjaminבִּנְיָמִין֙H1144Noun - proper - masculine singularis a ravenous wolfזְאֵ֣בH2061Noun - masculine singular. . .יִטְרָ֔ףH2963Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularin the morningבַּבֹּ֖קֶרH1242Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularhe devoursיֹ֣אכַלH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe preyעַ֑דH5706Noun - masculine singularin the eveningוְלָעֶ֖רֶבH6153Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularhe dividesיְחַלֵּ֥קH2505Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe plunderשָׁלָֽל׃H7998Noun - 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.