Genesis 49 Jacob's blessings

Genesis 49:1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. [kjv]

εκαλεσεν δε ιακωβ τους υιους αυτου και ειπεν συναχθητε ινα αναγγειλω υμιν τι απαντησει υμιν επ εσχατων των ημερων [lxx]

In Genesis 49, Jacob blesses each of his sons and what should happen to them in the "last days". These blessings have been interpreted as prophecies.

This page is a start at looking at some of these blessings, particularly in terms of the LXX (Septuagint) as an interesting comparison to the Hebrew (when they differ).

Genesis 49:1

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KJV: And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

Hebrew: ויקרא יעקב אל בניו ויאמר האספו ואגידה לכם את אשר יקרא אתכם באחרית הימים׃

Greek: εκαλεσεν δε ιακωβ τους υιους αυτου και ειπεν συναχθητε ινα αναγγειλω υμιν τι απαντησει υμιν επ εσχατων των ημερων

Genesis 49:2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. [kjv]

αθροισθητε και ακουσατε υιοι ιακωβ ακουσατε ισραηλ του πατρος υμων [lxx]

Genesis 49:2

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KJV: Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

Hebrew: הקבצו ושמעו בני יעקב ושמעו אל ישראל אביכם׃

Greek: αθροισθητε και ακουσατε υιοι ιακωβ ακουσατε ισραηλ του πατρος υμων

Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: [kjv]

ρουβην πρωτοτοκος μου συ ισχυς μου και αρχη τεκνων μου σκληρος φερεσθαι και σκληρος αυθαδης [lxx]

Genesis 49:3

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KJV: Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

Hebrew: ראובן בכרי אתה כחי וראשית אוני יתר שאת ויתר עז׃

Greek: ρουβην πρωτοτοκος μου συ ισχυς μου και αρχη τεκνων μου σκληρος φερεσθαι και σκληρος αυθαδης

Genesis 49:4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. [kjv]

Genesis 49:4

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KJV: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

Hebrew: פחז כמים אל תותר כי עלית משכבי אביך אז חללת יצועי עלה׃

Greek: εξυβρισας ως υδωρ μη εκζεσης ανεβης γαρ επι την κοιτην του πατρος σου τοτε εμιανας την στρωμνην ου ανεβης

Genesis 49:5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. [kjv]

Genesis 49:5

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KJV: Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

Hebrew: שמעון ולוי אחים כלי חמס מכרתיהם׃

Greek: συμεων και λευι αδελφοι συνετελεσαν αδικιαν εξ αιρεσεως αυτων

Genesis 49:6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. [kjv]

Genesis 49:6

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KJV: O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

Hebrew: בסדם אל תבא נפשי בקהלם אל תחד כבדי כי באפם הרגו איש וברצנם עקרו שור׃

Greek: εις βουλην αυτων μη ελθοι η ψυχη μου και επι τη συστασει αυτων μη ερεισαι τα ηπατα μου οτι εν τω θυμω αυτων απεκτειναν ανθρωπους και εν τη επιθυμια αυτων ενευροκοπησαν ταυρον

Genesis 49:7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. [kjv]

Genesis 49:7

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KJV: Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Hebrew: ארור אפם כי עז ועברתם כי קשתה אחלקם ביעקב ואפיצם בישראל׃

Greek: επικαταρατος ο θυμος αυτων οτι αυθαδης και η μηνις αυτων οτι εσκληρυνθη διαμεριω αυτους εν ιακωβ και διασπερω αυτους εν ισραηλ

Genesis 49:8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. [kjv]

Genesis 49:8

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KJV: Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.

Hebrew: יהודה אתה יודוך אחיך ידך בערף איביך ישתחוו לך בני אביך׃

Greek: ιουδα σε αινεσαισαν οι αδελφοι σου αι χειρες σου επι νωτου των εχθρων σου προσκυνησουσιν σοι οι υιοι του πατρος σου

Genesis 49:9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? [kjv]

Genesis 49:9

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KJV: Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

Hebrew: גור אריה יהודה מטרף בני עלית כרע רבץ כאריה וכלביא מי יקימנו׃

Greek: σκυμνος λεοντος ιουδα εκ βλαστου υιε μου ανεβης αναπεσων εκοιμηθης ως λεων και ως σκυμνος τις εγερει αυτον

Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. [kjv]

ουκ εκλειψει αρχων εξ ιουδα και ηγουμενος εκ των μηρων αυτου εως αν ελθη τα αποκειμενα αυτω και αυτος προσδοκια εθνων [lxx]

A ruler shall not fail from Juda, nor a prince from his loins, until there come the things stored up for him; and he is the expectation of nations. [bs3]

This blessing is usually interpreted as the coming of the Messiah and King.

Details are left as a future topic.

Genesis 49:10

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KJV: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Hebrew: לא יסור שבט מיהודה ומחקק מבין רגליו עד כי יבא שילה ולו יקהת עמים׃

Greek: ουκ εκλειψει αρχων εξ ιουδα και ηγουμενος εκ των μηρων αυτου εως αν ελθη τα αποκειμενα αυτω και αυτος προσδοκια εθνων

Brenton: A ruler shall not fail from Juda, nor a prince from his loins, until there come the things stored up for him; and he is the expectation of nations.

Genesis 49:11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: [kjv]

Genesis 49:11

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KJV: Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

Hebrew: אסרי לגפן עירה ולשרקה בני אתנו כבס ביין לבשו ובדם ענבים סותה׃

Greek: δεσμευων προς αμπελον τον πωλον αυτου και τη ελικι τον πωλον της ονου αυτου πλυνει εν οινω την στολην αυτου και εν αιματι σταφυλης την περιβολην αυτου

Genesis 49:12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. [kjv]

Genesis 49:12

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KJV: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

Hebrew: חכלילי עינים מיין ולבן שנים מחלב׃

Greek: χαροποι οι οφθαλμοι αυτου απο οινου και λευκοι οι οδοντες αυτου η γαλα

Genesis 49:13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. [kjv]

Genesis 49:13

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KJV: Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.

Hebrew: זבולן לחוף ימים ישכן והוא לחוף אניות וירכתו על צידן׃

Greek: ζαβουλων παραλιος κατοικησει και αυτος παρ ορμον πλοιων και παρατενει εως σιδωνος

Genesis 49:14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: [kjv]

Genesis 49:14

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KJV: Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:

Hebrew: יששכר חמר גרם רבץ בין המשפתים׃

Greek: ισσαχαρ το καλον επεθυμησεν αναπαυομενος ανα μεσον των κληρων

Genesis 49:15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. [kjv]

Genesis 49:15

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KJV: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

Hebrew: וירא מנחה כי טוב ואת הארץ כי נעמה ויט שכמו לסבל ויהי למס עבד׃

Greek: και ιδων την αναπαυσιν οτι καλη και την γην οτι πιων υπεθηκεν τον ωμον αυτου εις το πονειν και εγενηθη ανηρ γεωργος

Genesis 49:16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. [kjv]

δαν κρινει τον εαυτου λαον ωσει και μια φυλη εν ισραηλ [lxx]

Dan shall judge his people, as one tribe too in Israel. [bs3]

49:17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. [kjv]

και γενηθητω δαν οφις εφ οδου εγκαθημενος επι τριβου δακνων πτερναν ιππου και πεσειται ο ιππευς εις τα οπισω [lxx]

And let Dan be a serpent in the way, besetting the path, biting the heel of the horse (and the rider shall fall backward), [bs3]

The prophecy for Dan is somewhat enigmatic and unclear.

The Greek for "judge" is that of making a "division". If those making the "division" have power, it may include assessing a penalty and enforcing the penalty.

This "division" is as one of the tribes. When the tribes lose their identity, it is unclear what the "judge" would represent.

Dan means "judge" as in "Daniel".

Genesis 49:16

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KJV: Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

Hebrew: דן ידין עמו כאחד שבטי ישראל׃

Greek: δαν κρινει τον εαυτου λαον ωσει και μια φυλη εν ισραηλ

Brenton: Dan shall judge his people, as one tribe too in Israel.

Genesis 49:17

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KJV: Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

Hebrew: יהי דן נחש עלי דרך שפיפן עלי ארח הנשך עקבי סוס ויפל רכבו אחור׃

Greek: και γενηθητω δαν οφις εφ οδου εγκαθημενος επι τριβου δακνων πτερναν ιππου και πεσειται ο ιππευς εις τα οπισω

Brenton: And let Dan be a serpent in the way, besetting the path, biting the heel of the horse (and the rider shall fall backward),

Genesis 49:18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. [kjv]

Genesis 49:18

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KJV: I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

Hebrew: לישועתך קויתי יהוה׃

Greek: την σωτηριαν περιμενω κυριου

Genesis 49:19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. [kjv]

Genesis 49:19

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KJV: Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

Hebrew: גד גדוד יגודנו והוא יגד עקב׃

Greek: γαδ πειρατηριον πειρατευσει αυτον αυτος δε πειρατευσει αυτων κατα ποδας

Genesis 49:20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. [kjv]

Genesis 49:20

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KJV: Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

Hebrew: מאשר שמנה לחמו והוא יתן מעדני מלך׃

Greek: ασηρ πιων αυτου ο αρτος και αυτος δωσει τρυφην αρχουσιν

Genesis 49:21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. [kjv]

Genesis 49:21

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KJV: Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

Hebrew: נפתלי אילה שלחה הנתן אמרי שפר׃

Greek: νεφθαλι στελεχος ανειμενον επιδιδους εν τω γενηματι καλλος

Genesis 49:22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: [kjv]

Genesis 49:22

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KJV: Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

Hebrew: בן פרת יוסף בן פרת עלי עין בנות צעדה עלי שור׃

Greek: υιος ηυξημενος ιωσηφ υιος ηυξημενος ζηλωτος υιος μου νεωτατος προς με αναστρεψον

Genesis 49:23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: [kjv]

Genesis 49:23

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KJV: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:

Hebrew: וימררהו ורבו וישטמהו בעלי חצים׃

Greek: εις ον διαβουλευομενοι ελοιδορουν και ενειχον αυτω κυριοι τοξευματων

Genesis 49:24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) [kjv]

Genesis 49:24

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KJV: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

Hebrew: ותשב באיתן קשתו ויפזו זרעי ידיו מידי אביר יעקב משם רעה אבן ישראל׃

Greek: και συνετριβη μετα κρατους τα τοξα αυτων και εξελυθη τα νευρα βραχιονων χειρων αυτων δια χειρα δυναστου ιακωβ εκειθεν ο κατισχυσας ισραηλ