The Meaning of Genesis 49:22 Explained

Genesis 49:22

KJV: Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

YLT: Joseph is a fruitful son; A fruitful son by a fountain, Daughters step over the wall;

Darby: Joseph is a fruitful bough; A fruitful bough by a well; His branches shoot over the wall.

ASV: Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a fountain; His branches run over the wall.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Joseph  [is] a fruitful  bough,  [even] a fruitful  bough  by a well;  [whose] branches  run  over the wall: 

What does Genesis 49:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 49:13-27 - Joseph Specially Blessed
The position of Zebulun and the following tribes in the land of promise is accurately foretold. Compare the allotments of Joshua 18:1-28. Notice the exclamation of the dying man in Genesis 49:18. Such a spirit of waiting cannot be disappointed. See Isaiah 26:8-9. Joseph's blessing is pre-eminently beautiful: Fruitful! This is mentioned twice, reminding us of John 15:8. But fruitfulness is only possible where there is the wall for separation, and the well for communion. When these are present, the branches droop over the wall with clusters of blessings to a thirsty world. Let us seek divine strength and ask that the mighty hands of the God of Jacob may be placed under our own poor weak hands! See Psalms 141:1. The separated life is the crowned life. To the heart of the dying man came the memory of his native land and its mountains. What mountains are to a country, God is to His people! [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 49:22 mean?

Vine a fruitful Joseph [is] a fruitful by a well his branches run over the wall
בֵּ֤ן פֹּרָת֙ יוֹסֵ֔ף פֹּרָ֖ת עֲלֵי־ עָ֑יִן בָּנ֕וֹת צָעֲדָ֖ה עֲלֵי־ שֽׁוּר

בֵּ֤ן  Vine 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
פֹּרָת֙  a  fruitful 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: פָּרָה 
Sense: to bear fruit, be fruitful, branch off.
יוֹסֵ֔ף  Joseph  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
פֹּרָ֖ת  a  fruitful 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: פָּרָה 
Sense: to bear fruit, be fruitful, branch off.
עָ֑יִן  a  well 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
בָּנ֕וֹת  his  branches 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
צָעֲדָ֖ה  run 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: צָעַד  
Sense: to step, march, stride.
עֲלֵי־  over 
Parse: Preposition
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.
שֽׁוּר  the  wall 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּרָה  
Sense: wall.