The Meaning of Genesis 49:11 Explained

Genesis 49:11

KJV: Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

YLT: Binding to the vine his ass, And to the choice vine the colt of his ass, He hath washed in wine his clothing, And in the blood of grapes his covering;

Darby: He bindeth his foal to the vine, And his ass's colt to the choice vine; He washeth his dress in wine, And his garment in the blood of grapes.

ASV: Binding his foal unto the vine, And his ass's colt unto the choice vine; He hath washed his garments in wine, And his vesture in the blood of grapes:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Binding  his foal  unto the vine,  and his ass's  colt  unto the choice vine;  he washed  his garments  in wine,  and his clothes  in the blood  of grapes: 

What does Genesis 49:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 49:1-13 - Jacob Foretells The Future Of His Sons
Once more Joseph visited his father's dying-bed. This was the third time and the last. He stood as one of twelve strong bearded men, gathered around the aged form, whose face was shadowed by death, but aglow with the light of prophecy. How intense their silent awe as they heard their names called one by one, by the old man's trembling voice, speaking with difficulty! The character of each was delineated with unerring insight: the outstanding incidents of their past history enumerated and their future forecasted. The scene was an anticipation of the final judgment, where men shall hear their lives reviewed and the sentence passed. Shiloh means Peace-Giver. What a fragrant name for our Lord! What wonder that He shall gather the nations to His cross and throne! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 49

1  Jacob calls his sons to bless them
3  Their blessing in particular
29  He charges them about his burial
33  He dies

What do the individual words in Genesis 49:11 mean?

Binding to the vine - his donkey and to the choice vine the colt of his donkey He washed in wine his garments and in the blood of grapes - his clothes
אֹסְרִ֤י לַגֶּ֙פֶן֙ [עירה] (עִיר֔וֹ) וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה בְּנִ֣י אֲתֹנ֑וֹ כִּבֵּ֤ס בַּיַּ֙יִן֙ לְבֻשׁ֔וֹ וּבְדַם־ עֲנָבִ֖ים [סותה] (סוּתֽוֹ)

אֹסְרִ֤י  Binding 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: אָסַר  
Sense: to tie, bind, imprison.
לַגֶּ֙פֶן֙  to  the  vine 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: גֶּפֶן  
Sense: vine, vine tree.
[עירה]  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
(עִיר֔וֹ)  his  donkey 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: he-ass, male ass.
וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה  and  to  the  choice  vine 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שֹׂרֵק  
Sense: choice species of vine, choice grapes.
בְּנִ֣י  the  colt 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֲתֹנ֑וֹ  of  his  donkey 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָתֹון  
Sense: she-ass, she-donkey.
כִּבֵּ֤ס  He  washed 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּבַס  
Sense: to wash (by treading), be washed, perform the work of a fuller.
בַּיַּ֙יִן֙  in  wine 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַיִן  
Sense: wine.
לְבֻשׁ֔וֹ  his  garments 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לָבוּשׁ 
Sense: clothing, garment, apparel, raiment.
וּבְדַם־  and  in  the  blood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
עֲנָבִ֖ים  of  grapes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵנָב  
Sense: grape(s).
[סותה]  - 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
(סוּתֽוֹ)  his  clothes 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: סוּת  
Sense: garment, vesture.