Deuteronomy 33:16

16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among[a] his brothers.

Deuteronomy 33:16 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
16 And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwells in the bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the pate of him who is prince among his brothers.
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 with the best gifts of the earth and its bounty, and the favor of the one who appeared in the burning bush. May these blessings rest on Joseph’s head, crowning the brow of the prince among his brothers.
The Message Bible (MSG)
16 The best of Earth's exuberant gifts, the smile of the Burning-Bush Dweller. All this on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the consecrated one among his brothers.
American Standard Version (ASV)
16 And for the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof, And the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. Let [the blessing] come upon the head of Joseph, And upon the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
16 and the most plentiful crops of the earth. May the LORD bless their land with the favor of the one who was in the burning bush. May these blessings come to the tribes of Joseph. May they crown the people who are like princes in Israel.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
16 with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it; and with the favor of Him who appeared in the [burning] bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the prince of his brothers.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
16 May he bless it with the best gifts that fill the earth. May he bless it with the favor of the One who spoke out of the burning bush. Let all of those blessings rest on the head of Joseph. Let them rest on the head of the one who is prince among his brothers.

Deuteronomy 33:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:16

And for the precious things of the earth, and fulness
thereof
Corn of all sorts produced out of the earth, and grass that grows out of it, and cattle that feed upon it; for all which some part of the land of Joseph, particularly Bashan, was famous; as for the oaks that grew on it, so for the pasturage of it, and the cattle it bred, ( Deuteronomy 32:14 ) ; see ( Psalms 22:12 ) ;

and [for] the good will of him that dwelt in the bush;
the angel of the Lord, the Word and Son of God, who appeared to Moses in the bush, and made himself known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and expressed his good will to Israel, by sending Moses to deliver them out of their bondage: and the favour and good will of the same divine Person is here wished for, and which has appeared in his assumption of human nature, obedience, sufferings, and death, ( Luke 2:14 ) . The bush was an emblem of Israel, and the state they were then in, and of the church of Christ; of which (See Gill on Exodus 3:2); and where Christ may be said to dwell, as he did among men, when he was made flesh, and does dwell in the midst of his churches, and in the hearts of his people by faith:

let [the blessing] come upon the head of Joseph;
that is, in all things, as Onkelos; or all these blessings, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem; all before mentioned, let them come openly and visibly, and in great plenty, upon the posterity of Joseph, who was a type of Christ, the head of the righteous, on whom all the blessings of grace are, and from whom they descend to all his spiritual offspring, ( Proverbs 10:6 ) ( Ephesians 1:3 ) ;

and upon the top of the head of him [that was] separated from his
brethren;
when he was sold by them into Egypt; the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem are,

``and was shining in the glory of his brethren;''

that is, when he was a ruler in Egypt, and had honour from his brethren there, and was beautiful and glorious among them, as a Nazarite, as the word here used signifies, see ( Lamentations 4:7 ) ; and may he applied to Christ, who was chosen from among the people, and separated from sinners, and called a Nazarene, ( Psalms 89:19 ) ( Hebrews 7:26 ) ( Matthew 1:23 ) .

Deuteronomy 33:16 In-Context

14 with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield;
15 with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
17 In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
18 About Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents.

Cross References 2

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "of the one separated from"
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