The Meaning of Deuteronomy 33:16 Explained

Deuteronomy 33:16

KJV: And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.

YLT: And by precious things -- of earth and its fulness, And the good pleasure Of Him who is dwelling in the bush, -- Let it come for the head of Joseph, And for the crown of him Who is separate from his brethren.

Darby: And by the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof. And let the good will of him that dwelt in the bush Come upon the head of Joseph, Upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.

ASV: And for the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof, And the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, And upon the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And for the precious things  of the earth  and fulness  thereof, and [for] the good will  of him that dwelt  in the bush:  let [the blessing] come  upon the head  of Joseph,  and upon the top of the head  of him [that was] separated  from his brethren. 

What does Deuteronomy 33:16 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 33:16 mean?

And with the precious things of the earth and its fullness and the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush Let [the blessing] come on the head of Joseph and on the crown of the head of him [who was] separate from his brothers
וּמִמֶּ֗גֶד אֶ֚רֶץ וּמְלֹאָ֔הּ וּרְצ֥וֹן שֹׁכְנִ֖י סְנֶ֑ה תָּב֙וֹאתָה֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹסֵ֔ף וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד נְזִ֥יר אֶחָֽיו

וּמִמֶּ֗גֶד  And  with  the  precious  things 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶגֶד  
Sense: excellence.
אֶ֚רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וּמְלֹאָ֔הּ  and  its  fullness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: מְלֹא  
Sense: fullness, that which fills.
וּרְצ֥וֹן  and  the  favor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רָצֹון  
Sense: pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will.
שֹׁכְנִ֖י  of  Him  who  dwelt 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
סְנֶ֑ה  in  the  bush 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סְנֶה  
Sense: a bush, thorny bush.
תָּב֙וֹאתָה֙  Let  [the  blessing]  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative, third person feminine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לְרֹ֣אשׁ  on  the  head 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
יוֹסֵ֔ף  of  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד  and  on  the  crown  of  the  head 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קָדְקֹד  
Sense: head, crown of head, top of head, hairy crown, scalp.
נְזִ֥יר  of  him  [who  was]  separate  from 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נָזִיר  
Sense: consecrated or devoted one, Nazarite.
אֶחָֽיו  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.