Translations
Original
Notes
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.
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).
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).
Egypt Jacob Judah Blessing Symbolic Numbers The Promise of Dynasty
Glossary
Book of Exodus Concubinage, Concubines Genesis, Book of Jacob Judah (Person) Judah, Tribe of Patriarchs, Period of the Poetry, Biblical Red Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs White
Topics
Blessing: Temporal, from God Children: Male: Received the Blessing of Their Father Before his Death Death: Scenes of Death of Jacob Food: Articles of Milk God: Providence of Jacob: His Final Prophetic Benedictions Upon his Sons: Judah Judah: Son of Jacob: Prophetic Benediction of his Father Upon Milk: Temporal Blessings Parents: Paternal Blessings of Jacob Patriarchal Government: Exercised in Blessing and Cursing Their Children The Diet of the Jews: Articles Used for Milk The Eye: Made Red by Wine the Tribe of Judah: Predictions Respecting The Tribes of Israel: Predictions Respecting Each of Wine: Inflames the Eyes Wine: Places Celebrated For: Possessions of Judah