Genesis 49

Genesis 49:1

וַיִּקְרָ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב  אֶל־בָּנָ֑יו

And Jacob called his sons,

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙  וְאַגִּ֣ידָה לָכֶ֔ם

And he said,
“Assemble yourselves, so I can tell you

אֵ֛ת  אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם

What shall happen to you

בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים׃

In the future;”

Genesis 49:2

הִקָּבְצ֥וּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ  בְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב

“Gather yourselves and hear,
sons of Jacob;

וְשִׁמְע֖וּ  אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֲבִיכֶֽם׃

And hearken to Israel your father;”

Genesis 49:3

רְאוּבֵן֙  בְּכֹ֣רִי אַ֔תָּה

“Reuben, my firstborn son you were,

כֹּחִ֖י  וְרֵאשִׁ֣ית אוֹנִ֑י

My strength and the starting point
of my generative power:

יֶ֥תֶר שְׂאֵ֖ת  וְיֶ֥תֶר עָֽז׃

Elevated excellence,
and a pre-eminent stronghold;”

Genesis 49:4

פַּ֤חַז כַּמַּ֙יִם֙  אַל־תּוֹתַ֔ר

“Swollen like the waters,
you shall not have priority,

כִּ֥י עָלִ֖יתָ  מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ

Because you mounted
the marriage beds of your father;

אָ֥ז חִלַּ֖לְתָּ  יְצוּעִ֥י עָלָֽה׃ פ

Then you committed profanity,
you mounted my spreading-down space.”

Genesis 49:5

שִׁמְע֥וֹן וְלֵוִ֖י  אַחִ֑ים

“Simeon and Levi,
blood-brothers;

כְּלֵ֥י חָמָ֖ס  מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

Instruments of violence,
selling themselves;”

Genesis 49:6

בְּסֹדָם֙  אַל־תָּבֹ֣א נַפְשִׁ֔י

“Into their secret council,
My inner being will not enter,

בִּקְהָלָ֖ם  אַל־תֵּחַ֣ד כְּבֹדִ֑י

In their assembly,
My glory shall not unite;

כִּ֤י בְאַפָּם֙  הָ֣רְגוּ אִ֔ישׁ

Because in their anger they slayed a person,

וּבִרְצֹנָ֖ם  עִקְּרוּ־שֽׁוֹר׃

And in their pleasure,
they made an ox lame;”

Genesis 49:7

אָר֤וּר אַפָּם֙  כִּ֣י עָ֔ז

Curse-bound is their anger
because it is strong,

וְעֶבְרָתָ֖ם  כִּ֣י קָשָׁ֑תָה

And their rage, because it is harsh;

אֲחַלְּקֵ֣ם בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב

I will divide them in Jacob,

וַאֲפִיצֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס

And I will scatter them amongst Israel.

Genesis 49:8

יְהוּדָ֗ה  אַתָּה֙  יוֹד֣וּךָ אַחֶ֔יךָ

“O Judah, Thee,
your brothers shall praise,

יָדְךָ֖  בְּעֹ֣רֶף אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ

Your hand shall be
on the necks of your enemies;

יִשְׁתַּחֲוּ֥וּ לְךָ֖  בְּנֵ֥י אָבִֽיךָ׃

The sons of your father,
they shall bow themselves down to thee;”

Genesis 49:9

גּ֤וּר אַרְיֵה֙  יְהוּדָ֔ה

“Judah is a lion’s cub,

מִטֶּ֖רֶף  בְּנִ֣י עָלִ֑יתָ

From prey, my son, you have ascended;

כָּרַ֨ע רָבַ֧ץ כְּאַרְיֵ֛ה    וּכְלָבִ֖יא

He crouched and lay stretched out like a lion,
and as a lioness, —

מִ֥י יְקִימֶֽנּוּ׃

Who will want to rouse him?”

Genesis 49:10

לֹֽא־יָס֥וּר שֵׁ֙בֶט֙  מִֽיהוּדָ֔ה

“A sceptre shall not depart from Judah,

וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק  מִבֵּ֣ין רַגְלָ֑יו

And a decree-inscriber from between his feet; —

עַ֚ד  כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣א שילה שִׁיל֔וֹ

Until when Shiloh shall enter the scene,
(Messiah-Son of David-Bringer of Peace),

וְל֖וֹ  יִקְּהַ֥ת עַמִּֽים׃

And to Him belongs obedience of nations;”

Genesis 49:11

אֹסְרִ֤י לַגֶּ֙פֶן֙  עירה עִיר֔וֹ

“Tethering his donkey to the grape vine,

וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה  בְּנִ֣י אֲתֹנ֑וֹ

and the foal of his she-ass,
to the bright-red choice vine;

כִּבֵּ֤ס בַּיַּ֙יִן֙  לְבֻשׁ֔וֹ

He will cleanse his raiment in the wine,

וּבְדַם־עֲנָבִ֖ים סותה סוּתֽוֹ׃

And his vesture in blood of grapes.”

Genesis 49:12

חַכְלִילִ֥י עֵינַ֖יִם  מִיָּ֑יִן

“Red-eyed, from copious wine;

וּלְבֶן־שִׁנַּ֖יִם  מֵחָלָֽב׃ פ

And white-of-teeth, from milk;”

Genesis 49:13

זְבוּלֻ֕ן  לְח֥וֹף יַמִּ֖ים  יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן

“Zebulun, he shall take up residence
at a shore of seas;

וְהוּא֙  לְח֣וֹף אֳנִיּ֔וֹת

And he becomes a haven
for mercantile shipping,

וְיַרְכָת֖וֹ  עַל־צִידֹֽן׃ ס

And his remote side is on Sidon (Fishery).”

Genesis 49:14

יִשָּׂשכָ֖ר  חֲמֹ֣ר גָּ֑רֶם

“Issachar (gotten by hire),
A strong-boned mule,

רֹבֵ֖ץ  בֵּ֥ין הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתָֽיִם׃

Resting between the sheep folds;”

Genesis 49:15

וַיַּ֤רְא מְנֻחָה֙  כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב

“When he perceived a rest that is good,

וְאֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ  כִּ֣י נָעֵ֑מָה

And the land, that was lovely;

וַיֵּ֤ט שִׁכְמוֹ֙  לִסְבֹּ֔ל

Then he inclined his shoulder
to burden-bearing,

וַיְהִ֖י  לְמַס־עֹבֵֽד׃ ס

And he became a willing conscripted slave!”

Genesis 49:16

דָּ֖ן  יָדִ֣ין עַמּ֑וֹ

“Dan, he will judge his people;

כְּאַחַ֖ד  שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

As one of the tribal guides of Israel;”

Genesis 49:17

יְהִי־דָן֙  נָחָ֣שׁ עֲלֵי־דֶ֔רֶךְ

“Dan shall be a serpent on a road,

שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן  עֲלֵי־אֹ֑רַח

A horned viper upon a path;

הַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙  עִקְּבֵי־ס֔וּס

One biting a horse’s heels, —

וַיִּפֹּ֥ל רֹכְב֖וֹ  אָחֽוֹר׃

Then his rider falls backwards;”

Genesis 49:18

לִֽישׁוּעָתְךָ֖  קִוִּ֥יתִי יְהוָֽה׃

“For Thy Salvation, O LORD I await!”

Genesis 49:19

גָּ֖ד  גְּד֣וּד יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ

“Gad (fortunate),
A troop may swarm him,

וְה֖וּא  יָגֻ֥ד עָקֵֽב׃ ס

But he, he can swamp a footprint!”

Genesis 49:20

מֵאָשֵׁ֖ר  שְׁמֵנָ֣ה לַחְמ֑וֹ

“From within Asher (Happiness),
his bread is substantial,

וְה֥וּא יִתֵּ֖ן  מַֽעֲדַנֵּי־מֶֽלֶךְ׃ ס

And he will give out royal dainties.”

Genesis 49:21

נַפְתָּלִ֖י  אַיָּלָ֣ה שְׁלֻחָ֑ה

“Naphtali (my wrestling),
A doe having been freed;

הַנֹּתֵ֖ן  אִמְרֵי־שָֽׁפֶר׃ ס

He will be giving declarations of beauty!”

Genesis 49:22

בֵּ֤ן פֹּרָת֙  יוֹסֵ֔ף

“Joseph is the offspring of a fruitful vine —,

בֵּ֥ן פֹּרָ֖ת  עֲלֵי־עָ֑יִן

The offspring of the fruitful vine
that ascends a spring;

בָּנ֕וֹת  צָעֲדָ֖ה  עֲלֵי־שֽׁוּר׃

The branches march collectively over a wall!”

Genesis 49:23

וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ  וָרֹ֑בּוּ

“And they provoked him,
And they shot at him;

וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ  בַּעֲלֵ֥י חִצִּֽים׃

And  possessors of guided projectiles harassed him;”

Genesis 49:24

וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן֙  קַשְׁתּ֔וֹ

“But his bow remained taut continually,

וַיָּפֹ֖זּוּ  זְרֹעֵ֣י יָדָ֑יו

And the mechanisms of his powers, they were agile;

מִידֵי֙  אֲבִ֣יר יַעֲקֹ֔ב

From the Powers of the Mighty One of Jacob,

מִשָּׁ֥ם רֹעֶ֖ה  אֶ֥בֶן יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

From there is One who Shepherds, —
The Stone of Israel!”

Genesis 49:25

מֵאֵ֨ל אָבִ֜יךָ  וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ

“From the God of your fathers, —
Even He will help you,

וְאֵ֤ת שַׁדַּי֙  וִיבָ֣רְכֶ֔ךָּ

And the Omnipotent-Sufficient One, —
Even He will bless you, —

בִּרְכֹ֤ת שָׁמַ֙יִם֙  מֵעָ֔ל

Blessings of Heaven from above,

בִּרְכֹ֥ת תְּה֖וֹם  רֹבֶ֣צֶת תָּ֑חַת

Blessings of the deep, that lies beneath;

בִּרְכֹ֥ת שָׁדַ֖יִם   וָרָֽחַם׃

Blessings of breasts,
and womb;”

Genesis 49:26

בִּרְכֹ֣ת אָבִ֗יךָ

“The blessings of your fathers,

גָּֽבְרוּ֙  עַל־בִּרְכֹ֣ת הוֹרַ֔י

They are mighty,
above the blessings of my progenitors,

עַֽד־תַּאֲוַ֖ת  גִּבְעֹ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם

Even to the very boundary
of the everlasting hills;

תִּֽהְיֶ֙ין֙  לְרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹסֵ֔ף

They will be for the head of Joseph,

וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד  נְזִ֥יר אֶחָֽיו׃ פ

Even for the crown of the prince of his brothers.”

Genesis 49:27

בִּנְיָמִין֙  זְאֵ֣ב יִטְרָ֔ף

“Benjamin (Son of the Right Hand/Power),
a wolf tearing in pieces, —

בַּבֹּ֖קֶר  יֹ֣אכַל עַ֑ד

In the morning, he devours prey;

וְלָעֶ֖רֶב  יְחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁלָֽל׃

And in the evening, he divides spoil.”

Genesis 49:28

כָּל־אֵ֛לֶּה  שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר

All of these, the tribes of Israel, the twelve:

וְ֠זֹאת  אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר  לָהֶ֤ם אֲבִיהֶם֙

And that is what their father had spoken to them,

וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אוֹתָ֔ם

And he blessed them collectively;

אִ֛ישׁ  אֲשֶׁ֥ר כְּבִרְכָת֖וֹ  בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֹתָֽם׃

Individually,
(which was in accordance with their own blessing),
he had blessed them.

Genesis 49:29

וַיְצַ֣ו אוֹתָ֗ם
And he commanded them,

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙  אֲנִי֙  נֶאֱסָ֣ף אֶל־עַמִּ֔י

And said to them,
“I am about to be gathered to my people:

קִבְר֥וּ אֹתִ֖י  אֶל־אֲבֹתָ֑י

Bury me with my fathers,

אֶל־הַ֨מְּעָרָ֔ה

In the cave,

אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּשְׂדֵ֖ה  עֶפְר֥וֹן הֽ͏ַחִתִּֽי׃

That which is in the field of Ephron the Hittite;”

Genesis 49:30

בַּמְּעָרָ֞ה

“Inside the cave,

אֲשֶׁ֨ר בִּשְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה

That is within the field of Machpelah (the Doubling),

אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־פְּנֵי־מַמְרֵ֖א  בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן

That is facing/opposite Mamre (Hebron),
In the land of Canaan;

אֲשֶׁר֩ קָנָ֨ה אַבְרָהָ֜ם  אֶת־הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה

That which Abraham bought,
Together with the field,

מֵאֵ֛ת  עֶפְרֹ֥ן הַחִתִּ֖י  לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָֽבֶר׃

From Ephron the Hittite,
For a burial place possession;”

Genesis 49:31

שָׁ֣מָּה קֽ͏ָבְר֞וּ  אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֗ם

“There they buried Abraham,

וְאֵת֙  שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ

And Sarah his wife,

שָׁ֚מָּה  קָבְר֣וּ אֶת־יִצְחָ֔ק

There they buried Isaac,

וְאֵ֖ת  רִבְקָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ

And Rebekah his wife;

וְשָׁ֥מָּה קָבַ֖רְתִּי  אֶת־לֵאָֽה׃

And there I buried Leah;” —

Genesis 49:32

מִקְנֵ֧ה הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה

The property consisting of the field

וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ

And the cave that is within it,

מֵאֵ֥ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת׃

From the sons of Heth.”

Genesis 49:33

וַיְכַ֤ל יַעֲקֹב֙  לְצַוֺּ֣ת אֶת־בָּנָ֔יו

And Jacob finished commanding his sons,

וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף רַגְלָ֖יו   אֶל־הַמִּטָּ֑ה

And he withdrew his feet into the bed;

וַיִּגְוַ֖ע   וַיֵּאָ֥סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃

And he passed away,
And he was gathered to his people.


Website translation into English by E.G. Van Gent


The Hebrew Masoretic Text is Unicode/XML version 1.3 Leningrad Codex,
Build 26.4 from tanach.us


Dramatized Modern Hebrew Audio Version, Genesis 49

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