Tree of Life Version
Deuteronomy 33:17
17The firstborn ox—majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he gores peoples, all at once, to the ends of the earth. They are the myriads of Ephraim, they are the thousands of Manasseh.’
Deuteronomy 33:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
- New International Version (NIV)In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)A firstborn bull—he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."
- New King James Version (NKJV)His glory is like a firstborn bull, And his horns like the horns of the wild ox; Together with them He shall push the peoples To the ends of the earth; They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.”
Context of Deuteronomy 33:17
15and with the best from the ancient mountains and the bounty of the everlasting hills, 16with earth’s bounty and its fullness and the favor of the One dwelling in the bush. May it come on Joseph’s head, on the crown of the prince among his brothers. The firstborn ox—majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he gores peoples, all at once, to the ends of the earth. They are the myriads of Ephraim, they are the thousands of Manasseh.’ 18For Zebulun he said, ‘Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents. 19Peoples they call to the mountain— there they offer righteous sacrifices. For they suckle the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.’
Read all of Deuteronomy 33Deuteronomy 33:17 word by word
בְּכ֨וֹר שׁוֹר֜וֹ הָדָ֣ר ל֗וֹ וְקַרְנֵ֤י רְאֵם֙ קַרְנָ֔יו בָּהֶ֗ם עַמִּ֛ים יְנַגַּ֥ח יַחְדָּ֖ו אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְהֵם֙ רִבְב֣וֹת אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְהֵ֖ם אַלְפֵ֥י מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- His gloryהָדָרhâdâr · gloryH1926
- the firstlingבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
- of his bullockשׁוֹרshôr · cattleH7794
- and his hornsקֶ֫רֶןqeren · hornH7161
- of unicornsרְאֵםre'êm re'êym rêym rêm · wild oxH7214
- with them he shall pushנָגַחnâgach · to goreH5055
- the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- togetherיָחְדָּוyachad · togetherH3162
- to the endsאֶ֫פֶס'ephes · endH657
- of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- the ten thousandsרְבָבָהrebâbâh · myriadH7233
- of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֫יִם'ephrayim · EphraimH669
- the thousandsאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
- of Manassehמְנַשֶּׁהmenashsheh · ManassehH4519
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 33:17
- 1 Chronicles 5:1The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel—so he is not reckoned as the firstborn in the genealogical record.
- Numbers 23:22God is bringing them from Egypt with the strong horns of the wild ox!
- Numbers 24:8God is bringing him out of Egypt. like the strong horns of a wild ox. He devours nations hostile to him. He will crush their bones. His arrows will pierce them.
- Job 39:9“Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will it spend the night at your manger?
- Psalms 22:21Deliver my soul from the sword— my only one from the power of the dog.
- Psalms 29:6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
- Psalms 92:10For behold, Your enemies, Adonai —behold Your enemies perish— all evildoers are scattered.
- Isaiah 34:7Wild oxen will go down with them, bull calves with mighty steers. So their land will be soaked with blood and their dust greasy with fat.
- 1 Kings 22:11Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says Adonai: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are consumed!”
- 2 Chronicles 18:10Zedekiah son of Henaanah made for himself iron horns and declared, “Thus says Adonai, ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are exterminated!’”
- Psalms 44:5You are my King, O God— command victories for Jacob!
- Genesis 48:19But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will become great. But his younger brother will become greater than he and his seed will be the fullness of the nations.”
- Numbers 26:34These were the families of Manasseh. They numbered 52,700.
- Hosea 5:3I myself have known Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, Ephraim, you are a prostitute— Israel is defiled!
- Hosea 6:4“O Ephraim, what shall I do for you? O Judah, what will I do for you? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud or like dew rising early, vanishing.
- Hosea 7:1“When I would have healed Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, even the wickedness of Samaria, for they practice fraud. So a thief breaks in; a marauding band will raid outside.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 33:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17His glory is like the firstling of his bullock - This similitude is very obscure. A bullock was the most excellent of animals among the Jews, not only because of its acceptableness in sacrifice to God, but because of its great usefulness in agriculture. There is something peculiarly noble and dignified in the appearance of the ox, and his greatest ornament are his fine horns; these the inspired penman has particularly in view, as the following clause…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 Comparing the words of Moses with those of Jacob, it will be seen that the patriarch dwells with emphasis on the severe conflicts which Joseph, i. e., Ephraim and Manasseh, would undergo (compare Genesis 49:23-24); while the lawgiver seems to look beyond, and to behold the two triumphant and established in their power. Deuteronomy 33:17 Rather: “The first-born of his” (i. e. Joseph‘s) “bullock is his glory”: the reference being to Ephraim…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-23Verses 6-23 The order in which the tribes are here blessed, is not the same as is observed elsewhere. The blessing of Judah may refer to the whole tribe in general, or to David as a type of Christ. Moses largely blesses the tribe of Levi. Acceptance with God is what we should all aim at, and desire, in all our devotions, whether men accept us or not, 2Co 5:9. This prayer is a prophecy, that God will keep up a ministry in his church to the end of time. The…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Ephraim is listed first because he received the blessing of the firstborn instead of Manasseh (Genesis 48:8–22). Manasseh was the older son. Normally, the firstborn son received a double portion of the inheritance (compare Deuteronomy 21:17). However, Jacob gave this special blessing to Ephraim, Joseph’s younger son. The blessing of Moses follows the same pattern. He describes Ephraim as having myriads (literally tens of thousands) and Manasseh as having…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1713-17. of Joseph he said--The territory of this tribe, diversified by hill and dale, wood and water, would be rich in all the productions--olives, grapes, figs, &c., which are reared in a mountainous region, as well as in the grain and herbs that grow in the level fields. "The firstling of the bullock and the horns of the unicorn" (rhinoceros), indicate glory and strength, and it is supposed that under these emblems were shadowed forth the triumphs of…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 33:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 33
- 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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