Keraia
Genesis 49

Genesis 49:6

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

Translations

Modern
May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim.
Traditional
O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
Literal
Into their council let not my soul enter; to their assembly let not my honor be united; for in their anger they killed a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
Latin
In consilium eorum non veniat anima mea, et in cœtu illorum non sit gloria mea: quia in furore suo occiderunt virum, et in voluntate sua suffoderunt murum.

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim.

Notes

Genesis 49:5–7

  • Simeon and Levi were violent and lawless. Instead of seeking justice, they allowed their uncontrolled anger to control them and ignored the value of life (34:24–29).

  • I will disperse them: Simeon's land mostly became part of Judah's (Joshua 19:1, 9). Levi was given a more honorable future because the Levites became the priestly tribe (see Exodus 32:25–29). But they did not have their own region (Joshua 21).

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).

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Jacob Blessing Symbolic Numbers

Glossary

Birthright Book of Exodus Concubinage, Concubines Curse, Cursed Genesis, Book of Jacob Levi (Person) Patriarchs, Period of the Poetry, Biblical Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs Tribe of Levi

Topics

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Saints Deprecate Anger: Avoid Those Given To Anger: Simeon and Levi, on Account of the Humbling of Their Sister, Dinah Anger: Sinful: Simeon and Levi Children: Male: Received the Blessing of Their Father Before his Death Company: Evil Death: Scenes of Death of Jacob Fellowship with the Wicked Hamor: Murdered by the Sons of Jacob Jacob: His Final Prophetic Benedictions Upon his Sons: Simeon and Levi Levi: Avenges the Seduction of Dinah Levi: Jacob's Prophecy Regarding Parents: Paternal Blessings of Jacob Parents: Paternal Reproaches Patriarchal Government: Exercised in Blessing and Cursing Their Children Self-Will and Stubbornness: Simeon and Levi Self-Will: Simeon and Levi Simeon: Son of Jacob with Levi Avenges Upon the Shechemites the Seduction of Dinah Simeon: Son of Jacob: Jacob's Denunciation of the Tribe of Simeon: Predictions Respecting The Tribes of Israel: Predictions Respecting Each of Walls of Houses: Could be Easily Dug Through