The Meaning of Deuteronomy 33:12 Explained

Deuteronomy 33:12

KJV: And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

YLT: Of Benjamin he said: -- The beloved of Jehovah doth tabernacle confidently by him, Covering him over all the day; Yea, between his shoulders He doth tabernacle.

Darby: Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of Jehovah, he shall dwell in safety by him; He will cover him all the day long, And dwell between his shoulders.

ASV: Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of Jehovah shall dwell in safety by him; He covereth him all the day long, And he dwelleth between his shoulders.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[And] of Benjamin  he said,  The beloved  of the LORD  shall dwell  in safety  by him; [and the LORD] shall cover  him all the day  long, and he shall dwell  between his shoulders. 

What does Deuteronomy 33:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 33:1-17 - The Blessing Of The Chosen People
The glorious nature of God is the opening theme here. The reference is to the giving of the Law when, amid fire and the mediation of angels, God descended on Sinai, Psalms 18:7-9; Habakkuk 3:3-4. Oh, that we, too, may sit as pupils in God's school and receive His words, Deuteronomy 33:3.
Though Reuben could not excel, he was not forgotten. Simeon is omitted because of Numbers 25:14. Judah was to receive prosperity in prayer, in work and in war. Some render the benediction thus: "Bring him in safety from his wars!" But our warfare is different, Ephesians 6:12.
Levi receives special blessing. Note r.v. margin: "Thy Thummim and thy Urim are with him whom thou lovest." This is the white diamond-stone flashing with God's "Yes" or dimming with His "No," Revelation 2:17. Exodus 32:26 was never forgotten. See Matthew 25:37. But God forgets our sins, Hebrews 8:12. Benjamin's portion may be yours. The precious things of Joseph's heritage pale to insignificance when contrasted with the riches of God's grace, Ephesians 1:18. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 33

1  The majesty of God
6  The blessings of the twelve tribes
26  The excellence of Israel

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 33:12 mean?

Of Benjamin he said the beloved of Yahweh shall dwell in safety by Him [Who] shelters him all the day long and between His shoulders he shall dwell -
לְבִנְיָמִ֣ן אָמַ֔ר יְדִ֣יד יְהֹוָ֔ה יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָבֶ֖טַח עָלָ֑יו חֹפֵ֤ף עָלָיו֙ כָּל־ הַיּ֔וֹם וּבֵ֥ין כְּתֵיפָ֖יו שָׁכֵֽן ס

לְבִנְיָמִ֣ן  Of  Benjamin 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בִּנְיָמִין 
Sense: Jacob’s and Rachel’s youngest son, Joseph’s full brother.
אָמַ֔ר  he  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְדִ֣יד  the  beloved 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יָדִיד  
Sense: one beloved, beloved adj.
יְהֹוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן  shall  dwell 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
לָבֶ֖טַח  in  safety 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֶּטַח  
Sense: security, safety adv.
עָלָ֑יו  by  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
חֹפֵ֤ף  [Who]  shelters 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָפַף  
Sense: (Qal) to cover, enclose, shelter, shield, surround.
הַיּ֔וֹם  the  day  long 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וּבֵ֥ין  and  between 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
כְּתֵיפָ֖יו  His  shoulders 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּתֵף  
Sense: shoulder, shoulder-blade, side, slope.
שָׁכֵֽן  he  shall  dwell 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation