The Meaning of Deuteronomy 33:7 Explained

Deuteronomy 33:7

KJV: And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.

YLT: And this is for Judah; and he saith: -- Hear, O Jehovah, the voice of Judah, And unto his people do Thou bring him in; His hand hath striven for him, And an help from his adversaries art Thou.

Darby: And this of Judah; and he said, Hear, Jehovah, the voice of Judah, And bring him unto his people; May his hands strive for them; And be thou a help to him against his oppressors.

ASV: And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, Jehovah, the voice of Judah, And bring him in unto his people. With his hands he contended for himself; And thou shalt be a help against his adversaries.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And this [is the blessing] of Judah:  and he said,  Hear,  LORD,  the voice  of Judah,  and bring  him unto his people:  let his hands  be sufficient  for him; and be thou an help  [to him] from his enemies. 

What does Deuteronomy 33:7 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 33:7 mean?

And this of Judah and he said Hear Yahweh the voice of Judah and to his people Bring him his hands let be sufficient for him and a help against his enemies may You be -
וְזֹ֣את לִֽיהוּדָה֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ שְׁמַ֤ע יְהוָה֙ ק֣וֹל יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֶל־ עַמּ֖וֹ תְּבִיאֶ֑נּוּ יָדָיו֙ רָ֣ב ל֔וֹ וְעֵ֥זֶר מִצָּרָ֖יו תִּהְיֶֽה ס

וְזֹ֣את  And  this 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
לִֽיהוּדָה֮  of  Judah 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וַיֹּאמַר֒  and  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שְׁמַ֤ע  Hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
ק֣וֹל  the  voice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
יְהוּדָ֔ה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וְאֶל־  and  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
עַמּ֖וֹ  his  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
תְּבִיאֶ֑נּוּ  Bring  him 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
יָדָיו֙  his  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
רָ֣ב  let  be  sufficient 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
ל֔וֹ  for  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
וְעֵ֥זֶר  and  a  help 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵזֶר  
Sense: help, succour.
מִצָּרָ֖יו  against  his  enemies 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צַר 
Sense: narrow, tight.
תִּהְיֶֽה  may  You  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation