Genesis 49:22-27

22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.[a]
23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed[b] limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty,[c] who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than[d] the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among[e] his brothers.
27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”

Genesis 49:22-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 49

This chapter contains a prophecy of future things, relating to the twelve sons of Jacob, and to the twelve tribes, as descending from them, and which he delivered to his sons on his death bed, having called them together for that purpose, Ge 49:1,2, he begins with Reuben his firstborn, whose incest he takes notice of, on which account he should not excel, Ge 49:3,4, next Simeon and Levi have a curse denounced on them for their cruelty at Shechem, Ge 49:5,6, but Judah is praised, and good things prophesied of him; and particularly that Shiloh, or the Messiah, should spring from him, the time of whose coming is pointed at, Ge 49:7-12, the predictions concerning Zebulun, Issachar, and Dan, follow, at the close of which Jacob expresses his longing expectation of God's salvation, Ge 49:13-18 and after foretelling what should befall Gad, Asher, and Naphtali, Ge 49:19-21, a large account is given of Joseph, his troubles, his trials, and his blessings, Ge 49:22-26, and Benjamin the youngest son is taken notice of last of all, all the tribes being blessed in their order according to the nature of their blessing, Ge 49:27,28, and the chapter is closed with a charge of Jacob's to his sons to bury him in Canaan, which having delivered, he died, Ge 49:29-33.

Cross References 23

  • 1. Genesis 30:24; Deuteronomy 33:13-17
  • 2. S Genesis 17:6; Psalms 128:3; Ezekiel 19:10
  • 3. Psalms 80:10
  • 4. 1 Chronicles 10:3
  • 5. S Genesis 27:41; S Genesis 37:24
  • 6. Job 29:20
  • 7. Psalms 18:34; Isaiah 63:12
  • 8. Psalms 132:2,5; Isaiah 1:24; Isaiah 10:34; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 49:26; Isaiah 60:16
  • 9. S Genesis 48:15
  • 10. Dt 32:4,15,18,31; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:32; Psalms 18:2,31; Psalms 19:14; Psalms 78:35; Psalms 89:26; Psalms 144:1; Isaiah 17:10; Isaiah 26:4; Isaiah 28:16; Isaiah 30:29; Isaiah 44:8; Habakkuk 1:12
  • 11. S Genesis 28:13
  • 12. Exodus 18:4; Psalms 27:9
  • 13. S Genesis 17:1
  • 14. S Genesis 27:28
  • 15. Isaiah 66:11
  • 16. Deuteronomy 7:13; Deuteronomy 28:4; Psalms 107:38; Proverbs 10:22
  • 17. Habakkuk 3:6
  • 18. 1 Chronicles 5:1; Ezekiel 47:13
  • 19. S Genesis 37:8; Deuteronomy 33:15-16
  • 20. Genesis 35:18; Judges 20:12-13
  • 21. Habakkuk 1:8; Zephaniah 3:3
  • 22. S ver 9
  • 23. Numbers 31:11; Deuteronomy 2:35; Joshua 7:21; Joshua 8:2; Joshua 22:8; Jdg Joshua 8:24

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Or "Joseph is a wild colt," / "a wild colt near a spring," / "a wild donkey on a terraced hill"
  • [b]. Or "archers will attack … will shoot … will remain … will stay"
  • [c]. Hebrew "Shaddai"
  • [d]. Or "of my progenitors," / "as great as"
  • [e]. Or "of the one separated from"
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