Deep Dive

Genesis 49:23

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The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 23

This chapter is a prophecy; the likest to it we have yet met with was that of Noah, Gen 9:25, etc. Jacob is here upon his death-bed, making his will. He put it off till now, because dying men's words are apt to make deep impressions, and to be remembered long: what he said here, he could not say when he would, but as the Spirit gave him utterance, who chose this time, that divine strength might be perfected in his weakness. The twelve sons of Jacob were, in their day, men of renown, but the twelve tribes of Israel, which descended and were denominated from them, were much more renowned; we find their names upon the gates of the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:12. In the prospect of this their dying father says something remarkable of each son, or of the tribe that bore his name. Here is, I. The preface (Gen 49:1, Gen 49:2). II. Th prediction concerning each tribe (v. 3-28). III. The charge repeated concerning his burial (Gen 49:29-32). IV. His death (Gen 49:33).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 23

בַּעַל (baʻal, H1167) — a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in… חֵץ (chêts, H2671) — properly, a piercer, i.e. an arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God)… מָרַר (mârar, H4843) — to be (causatively, make) bitter (literally or figuratively) רָבַב (râbab, H7232) — to shoot an arrow שָׂטַם (sâṭam, H7852) — properly, to lurk for, i.e. persecute

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Genesis 37:24rank 5

and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, with no water in it.

Psalms 118:13rank 4

I was pushed so hard I was falling, but the LORD helped me.

Genesis 37:4rank 3

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Psalms 64:3rank 3

who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

Genesis 37:28rank 3

So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Genesis 37:18rank 2

Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him.

Genesis 42:21rank 2

Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

Acts 14:22rank 2

strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

John 16:33rank 2

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

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