New Living Translation
Genesis 49:27
27“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, devouring his enemies in the morning and dividing his plunder in the evening.”
Genesis 49:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
- New International Version (NIV)“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil."
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil.”
Context of Genesis 49:27
25May the God of your father help you; may the Almighty bless you with the blessings of the heavens above, and blessings of the watery depths below, and blessings of the breasts and womb. 26May my fatherly blessings on you surpass the blessings of my ancestors, reaching to the heights of the eternal hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, who is a prince among his brothers. “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, devouring his enemies in the morning and dividing his plunder in the evening.” 28These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said as he told his sons good-bye. He blessed each one with an appropriate message. 29Then Jacob instructed them, “Soon I will die and join my ancestors. Bury me with my father and grandfather in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.
Read all of Genesis 49Genesis 49:27 word by word
בִּנְיָמִין֙ זְאֵ֣ב יִטְרָ֔ף בַּבֹּ֖קֶר יֹ֣אכַל עַ֑ד וְלָעֶ֖רֶב יְחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁלָֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
- shall ravinטָרַףţâraph · to tearH2963
- a wolfזְאֵבze'êb · wolfH2061
- in the morningבֹּ֫קֶרbôqer · morningH1242
- he shall devourאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- the preyעַד‛ad · preyH5706
- and at nightעֶ֫רֶב‛ereb · eveningH6153
- he shall divideחָלַקchâlaq · to divideH2505
- the spoilשָׁלָלshâlâl · spoilH7998
Cross-references for Genesis 49:27
- Genesis 35:18Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”).
- Genesis 46:21Benjamin’s sons were Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
- Deuteronomy 33:12Moses said this about the tribe of Benjamin: “The people of Benjamin are loved by the Lord and live in safety beside him. He surrounds them continuously and preserves them from every harm.”
- Numbers 23:24These people rise up like a lioness, like a majestic lion rousing itself. They refuse to rest until they have feasted on prey, drinking the blood of the slaughtered!”
- Judges 3:15But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab.
- Judges 20:21But Benjamin’s warriors, who were defending the town, came out and killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.
- 1 Samuel 11:4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the people about their plight, everyone broke into tears.
- 1 Samuel 14:1One day Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to where the Philistines have their outpost.” But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing.
- 1 Samuel 17:1The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim.
- Acts 8:3But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
- Acts 9:1Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.
- Philippians 3:5I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.
- Jeremiah 5:6So now a lion from the forest will attack them; a wolf from the desert will pounce on them. A leopard will lurk near their towns, tearing apart any who dare to venture out. For their rebellion is great, and their sins are many.
- Ezekiel 22:25Your princes plot conspiracies just as lions stalk their prey. They devour innocent people, seizing treasures and extorting wealth. They make many widows in the land.
- Hosea 13:7So now I will attack you like a lion, like a leopard that lurks along the road.
- Zephaniah 3:3Its leaders are like roaring lions hunting for their victims. Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time, who by dawn have left no trace of their prey.
Commentaries on Genesis 49:27
- 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. 27The oracle about Benjamin describes a violent tribe (see Judges 20; 1 Samuel 9:1–2; 19:10; 22:17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 27-3327. shall ravin like a wolf--This tribe in its early history spent its energies in petty or inglorious warfare and especially in the violent and unjust contest (Jud 19:1-20:48), in which it engaged with the other tribes, when, notwithstanding two victories, it was almost exterminated.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 49:27
In the dictionaries
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
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