Genesis 49:28

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

Translations

Modern
These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this was what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.
Traditional
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
Literal
All these are two and ten tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them, and he blessed them—each one according to his own blessing, he blessed them.
Latin
Omnes hi in tribubus Israël duodecim: hæc locutus est eis pater suus, benedixitque singulis benedictionibus propriis.

Original

Hebrew
English
These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this was what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.

Notes

These prophecies cover a wide range, predicting the future of various tribes in general terms. Individuals could receive great blessings from God through faith and obedience, no matter what happened to their clan.

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).

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Jacob Blessing Symbolic Numbers

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Book of Exodus Concubinage, Concubines Genesis, Book of Jacob Patriarchs, Period of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

Topics

Children: Male: Received the Blessing of Their Father Before his Death Death: Scenes of Death of Jacob Parents: Paternal Blessings of Jacob Patriarchal Government: Exercised in Blessing and Cursing Their Children The Jews: Divided Into Twelve Tribes The Tribes of Israel were Twelve in Number Tribes