Thematic Bible
Genesis 49:1 (show verse)
Jacob called for his sons. He said: Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the future.
Genesis 49:2 (show verse)
Come together and listen, sons of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel.
Genesis 49:3 (show verse)
Reuben, you are my firstborn; you are my strength and the first child of my manhood. You are the proudest and strongest of all my sons.
Genesis 49:4 (show verse)
You are like a raging flood. But you will not be the most important, for you slept with my concubine. You dishonored your father's bed.
Genesis 49:5 (show verse)
Simeon and Levi are brothers. They use their weapons to commit violence.
Genesis 49:6 (show verse)
I will not join in their secret talks. I will not take part in their meetings. They killed people in anger. They crippled bulls for sport.
Genesis 49:7 (show verse)
A curse is on their anger, because it is so fierce. And a curse is on their fury, because it is so cruel. I will scatter them throughout the land of Israel. I will disperse them among its people.
Genesis 49:8 (show verse)
Judah, your brothers will praise you. You hold your enemies by the neck. Your brothers will bow down before you.
Genesis 49:9 (show verse)
Judah is like a lion, killing his victim and returning to his den. He is like a lion stretching out and lying down. No one dares disturb him.
Genesis 49:10 (show verse)
The royal scepter shall not depart from Judah. His descendants will always rule. Nations will bring him tribute and bow in obedience before him. This, until Shiloh comes and all will obey him.
Genesis 49:11 (show verse)
He will tie his donkey to a grapevine, his colt to the best vine. He will wash his clothes in wine, his garments in the blood of grapes.
Genesis 49:12 (show verse)
His eyes are darker than wine. His teeth are whiter than milk.
Genesis 49:13 (show verse)
Zebulun will live by the coast. He will have ships by the coast. His border will go as far as Sidon.
Genesis 49:14 (show verse)
Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags.
Genesis 49:15 (show verse)
When he sees that his resting place is good and that the land is pleasant, he will bend his back to the burden and will become a slave laborer.
Genesis 49:16 (show verse)
Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
Genesis 49:17 (show verse)
Dan will be a snake on a road, a viper on a path that bites a horse's heels so that its rider falls backwards.
Genesis 49:18 (show verse)
I wait with hope for your salvation, O Jehovah.
Genesis 49:19 (show verse)
Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders. He will strike back at their heels.
Genesis 49:20 (show verse)
Asher's food will be rich. He will provide delicacies fit for a king.
Genesis 49:21 (show verse)
Naphtali is a deer set free with beautiful fawns (words).
Genesis 49:22 (show verse)
Joseph is a fruitful tree, a fruitful tree by a spring, with branches climbing over a wall.
Genesis 49:23 (show verse)
Archers provoked him, shot at him, and harassed him.
Genesis 49:24 (show verse)
His bow stayed steady! His arms remained limber because of the help of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
Genesis 49:25 (show verse)
because of the God of your father who helps you, because of the Almighty who blesses you from the heavens above, blessings from the deep springs below the ground, blessings from breasts and womb.
Genesis 49:26 (show verse)
The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of the oldest mountains and the riches of the ancient hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the prince among his brothers.
Genesis 49:27 (show verse)
Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning and evening he destroys his enemies.
Genesis 49:28 (show verse)
These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is how Jacob blessed each of them.
Genesis 49:29 (show verse)
Jacob told his sons: Soon I will die. I want you to bury me in Machpelah Cave.
Genesis 49:30 (show verse)
Abraham bought the cave from Ephron the Hittite to use as a burial place. It is near the field of Machpelah. It is also near the town of Mamre in Canaan.
Genesis 49:31 (show verse)
Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried there. Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried there. I also buried Leah there.
Genesis 49:32 (show verse)
The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.
Genesis 49:33 (show verse)
Jacob finished giving these instructions to his sons. He pulled his feet into his bed. He took his last breath and joined his ancestors in death.