Keraia
Genesis 49

Genesis 49:11

Jacob Blesses His Sons · Genesis 49:1–28
Read Genesis 49

Translations

Modern
He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
Traditional
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:
Literal
Binding his donkey to the vine, and the colt of his donkey to the choice vine; he washed in the wine his garment, and in the blood of grapes his robe.
Latin
Ligans ad vineam pullum suum, et ad vitem, o fili mi, asinam suam, lavabit in vino stolam suam et in sanguine uvæ pallium suum.

Original

Hebrew
English
He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.

Notes

Genesis 49:11–12

  • These descriptions describe the abundance of the Messiah’s kingdom (see Isaiah 61:6–7; 65:21–25; Zechariah 3:10). When the Messiah arrives, the earth will be like paradise, full of beauty and abundance.

  • He ties his donkey to the vine: Grapevines will be so plentiful that people will use them as hitching posts, and wine will be as plentiful as fresh water (see Amos 9:13–14; Zechariah 3:10).

  • His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk: He will be strong and healthy, as will be the time of his rule. The miracle of turning water into wine was the first sign from Jesus that the Messiah had arrived (John 2:1–12). It was a preview of even better things to come.

Genesis 49:8–12

The blessing for Judah is the most notable. In this message, Jacob said that Judah would be strong like a lion and would defeat his enemies. His brothers would also honor and praise him (compare 29:35; see, for example, Ruth 4:11–12; 1 Samuel 18:6–7; Psalms 2, 45, 72; Isaiah 11:1–13).

Genesis 49:1–28

By faith, and as one who speaks for God, Jacob looked ahead to Israel’s future in the land and beyond to a greater future still.

At the end of the time of the patriarchs (the early fathers of Israel), he spoke about what would happen to each tribe. He did this as he considered each of his sons, one by one, just as Noah had done earlier (compare 9:25–27).

The character and actions of each ancestor affected the lives of their descendants (Exodus 20:5–6; 34:6–7; Numbers 14:18; Jeremiah 32:18).

Glossary

Book of Exodus Concubinage, Concubines Genesis, Book of Jacob Judah (Person) Judah, Tribe of Patriarchs, Period of the Poetry, Biblical Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

Topics

Blessing: Temporal, from God Children: Male: Received the Blessing of Their Father Before his Death Death: Scenes of Death of Jacob Garments: (Washed in Wine) Abundance God: Providence of Jacob: His Final Prophetic Benedictions Upon his Sons: Judah Judah: Son of Jacob: Prophetic Benediction of his Father Upon Parents: Paternal Blessings of Jacob Patriarchal Government: Exercised in Blessing and Cursing Their Children the Domestic Donkey: Often Fed on Vine-Leaves the Tribe of Judah: Predictions Respecting The Tribes of Israel: Predictions Respecting Each of The Vine: Young Cattle Fed on Its Leaves and Tender Shoots Wine was Made of The Juice of the Grape Wine: Made from Grapes Wine: Places Celebrated For: Possessions of Judah