The Meaning of Genesis 49:6 Explained

Genesis 49:6

KJV: O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

YLT: Into their secret, come not, O my soul! Unto their assembly be not united, O mine honour; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will eradicated a prince.

Darby: My soul, come not into their council; Mine honour, be not united with their assembly; For in their anger they slew men, And in their wantonness houghed oxen.

ASV: O my soul, come not thou into their council; Unto their assembly, my glory, be not thou united; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hocked an ox.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

O my soul,  come  not thou into their secret;  unto their assembly,  mine honour,  be not thou united:  for in their anger  they slew  a man,  and in their selfwill  they digged down  a wall. 

What does Genesis 49:6 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 49:6 mean?

Their council not let enter my soul to their assembly let be united my honor for in their anger they slew a man and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox
בְּסֹדָם֙ אַל־ תָּבֹ֣א נַפְשִׁ֔י בִּקְהָלָ֖ם תֵּחַ֣ד כְּבֹדִ֑י כִּ֤י בְאַפָּם֙ הָ֣רְגוּ אִ֔ישׁ וּבִרְצֹנָ֖ם עִקְּרוּ־ שֽׁוֹר

בְּסֹדָם֙  Their  council 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: סׄוד  
Sense: council, counsel, assembly.
תָּבֹ֣א  let  enter 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
נַפְשִׁ֔י  my  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
בִּקְהָלָ֖ם  to  their  assembly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: קָהָל  
Sense: assembly, company, congregation, convocation.
תֵּחַ֣ד  let  be  united 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָחַד  
Sense: to join, unite, be joined, be united.
כְּבֹדִ֑י  my  honor 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
בְאַפָּם֙  in  their  anger 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
הָ֣רְגוּ  they  slew 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: הָרַג  
Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
אִ֔ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וּבִרְצֹנָ֖ם  and  in  their  self-will 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: רָצֹון  
Sense: pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will.
עִקְּרוּ־  they  hamstrung 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָקַר 
Sense: to pluck up, root up.
שֽׁוֹר  an  ox 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁור  
Sense: ox, bull, a head of cattle.