Genesis 49:17

Genesis 49:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
• New International Version (NIV)Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse’s heels So that its rider shall fall backward.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Dan will be a snake beside the road, a poisonous viper along the path that bites the horse’s hooves so its rider is thrown off.

Context of Genesis 49:17

15He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant at forced labor. 16"Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward. 18I wait for your salvation, O Lord. 19"Raiders shall raid Gad, but he shall raid at their heels.

Genesis 49:17 word by word

יְהִי־דָן֙ נָחָ֣שׁ עֲלֵי־דֶ֔רֶךְ שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן עֲלֵי־אֹ֑רַח הַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙ עִקְּבֵי־ס֔וּס וַיִּפֹּ֥ל רֹכְב֖וֹ אָחֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Danדָּןdân · DanH1835
• shall be a serpentנָחָשׁnâchâsh · serpentH5175
• by the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
• an adderשְׁפִיפֹןshephîyphôn · horned viperH8207
• in the pathאֹ֫רַח'ôrach · wayH734
• that bitethנָשַׁךְnâshak · to biteH5391
• the horseסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
• heelsעָקֵב‛âqêb ‛iqqebâh · heelH6119
• so that his riderרָכַבrâkab · to rideH7392
• shall fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• backwardאָחוֹר'âchôr 'âchôr · backH268

Cross-references for Genesis 49:17

• Judges 14:1Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines.
• Judges 16:22But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
• Judges 18:22When they had gone a distance from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the people of Dan.
• 1 Chronicles 12:35Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle.

Commentaries on Genesis 49:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Dan shall be a serpent - The original word is נחש nachash, and we have seen on Genesis 3 that this has a great variety of significations. It is probable that a serpent is here intended, but of what kind we know not; yet as the principal reference in the text is to guile, cunning, etc., the same creature may be intended as in Genesis 3. A cerastes upon the track - The word שפיפון shephiphon, which is nowhere else to be found in the Bible, is thus…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. 13-18Verses 13-18 Concerning Zebulun: if prophecy says, Zebulun shall be a haven of ships, be sure Providence will so plant him. God appoints the bounds of our habitation. It is our wisdom and duty to accommodate ourselves to our lot, and to improve it; if Zebulun dwell at the heaven of the sea, let him be for a haven of ships. Concerning Issachar: he saw that the land was pleasant, yielding not only pleasant prospects, but pleasant fruits to recompense his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17Dan (meaning "judge") was meant to bring justice. But the tribe chose betrayal, like a snake by the road, striking in a dangerous and unexpected way (see Judges 18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1817. Dan--"a judge." a serpent ... an adder--A serpent, an adder, implies subtlety and stratagem; such was pre-eminently the character of Samson, the most illustrious of its judges.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 49:17

• Adder
• Dan
• Death
• Jacob
• Parents
• Serpent

In the dictionaries

• Dan
• Adder
• Bless
• Blood
• Devour
• Fierce
• Raven
• Rouse
• Serpent
• Shoot

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