Genesis 49:23

Genesis 49:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
• New International Version (NIV)With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him severely,
• New King James Version (NKJV)The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him.

Context of Genesis 49:23

21Naphtali is a hind let loose; He giveth goodly words. 22Joseph is a fruitful bough; A fruitful bough by a well; [His] branches shoot over the wall. The archers have provoked him, And shot at, and hated him; 24But his bow abideth firm, And the arms of his hands are supple By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob. From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel: 25From the God of thy father, and he will help thee; And from the Almighty, and he will bless thee — With blessings of heaven from above, With blessings of the deep that lieth under, With blessings of the breast and of the womb.

Genesis 49:23 word by word

וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ וָרֹ֑בּוּ וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ בַּעֲלֵ֥י חִצִּֽים׃Read the interlinear

Cross-references for Genesis 49:23

• Genesis 37:4And his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, and they hated him, and could not greet him with friendliness.
• Genesis 39:7And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph, and said, Lie with me!
• Genesis 42:21Then they said one to another, We are indeed guilty concerning our brother, whose anguish of soul we saw when he besought us, and we did not hearken; therefore this distress is come upon us.
• Psalms 64:3Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword, [and] have aimed their arrow, a bitter word;
• Psalms 118:13Thou hast thrust hard at me that I might fall; but Jehovah helped me.
• John 16:33These things have I spoken to you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye have tribulation; but be of good courage: I have overcome the world.
• Acts 14:22establishing the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to abide in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.

Commentaries on Genesis 49:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23The chief archers - חצים בעלי baaley chitstsim, the masters of arrows - Joseph's brethren, who either used such weapons, while feeding their flocks in the deserts, for the protection of themselves and cattle, or for the purpose of hunting; and who probably excelled in archery. It may however refer to the bitter speeches and harsh words that they spoke to and of him, for they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him, Genesis 37:4. Thus they sorely…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-33Verses 1-33 - Jacob Blesses His Sons 5. מכרה mekêrāh “weapon;” related: כיר kārar or כרה kārāh dig. “Device, design?” related: מכר mākar “sell,” in Arabic “take counsel. Habitation.” 10. מחקק mechoqēq “lawgiver, judge, dispenser of laws.” This word occurs in six other places - Numbers 21:18; Deuteronomy 33:21; Jud. Deuteronomy 5:14; Psalm 60:9; Psalm 108:9; Isaiah 33:22; in five of which it clearly denotes ruler, or judge. The meaning “sceptre” is…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-27Verses 22-27 The blessing of Joseph is very full. What Jacob says of him, is history as well as prophecy. Jacob reminds him of the difficulties and fiery darts of temptations he had formerly struggled through. His faith did not fail, but through his trials he bore all his burdens with firmness, and did not do anything unbecoming. All our strength for resisting temptations, and bearing afflictions, comes from God; his grace is sufficient. Joseph became the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-26This message about Joseph is longer and more detailed than the others, because it contains the main blessing(see 1 Chronicles 5:1–2). Jacob gave Joseph many promises of victory and success. Some from the tribe of Ephraim who later won victories in battle include Joshua (Joshua 6, 8, 10, 12) and Deborah (Judges 4). From the tribe of Manasseh, Gideon (Judges 6–8) and Jephthah (Judges 11:1–12:7) were also victorious leaders.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-331. Jacob called unto his sons--It is not to the sayings of the dying saint, so much as of the inspired prophet, that attention is called in this chapter. Under the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit he pronounced his prophetic benediction and described the condition of their respective descendants in the last days, or future times. Ge 49:3, 4. Reuben forfeited by his crime the rights and honors of primogeniture. His posterity never made any figure; no…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 49:23

• Archery
• Death
• Jacob
• Parents
• Persecution

In the dictionaries

• Arrows
• Bless
• Blood
• Devour
• Fierce
• Raven
• Rouse
• Shoot
• Troop
• Unite

Commentaries on Genesis 49

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings