The Meaning of Genesis 49:7 Explained

Genesis 49:7

KJV: Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

YLT: Cursed is their anger, for it is fierce, And their wrath, for it is sharp; I divide them in Jacob, And I scatter them in Israel.

Darby: Cursed be their anger, for it was violent; And their rage, for it was cruel! I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel.

ASV: Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Cursed  [be] their anger,  for [it was] fierce;  and their wrath,  for it was cruel:  I will divide  them in Jacob,  and scatter  them in Israel. 

What does Genesis 49:7 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 49:7 mean?

Cursed [be] their anger for it is strong and their wrath it is cruel I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel -
אָר֤וּר אַפָּם֙ כִּ֣י עָ֔ז וְעֶבְרָתָ֖ם קָשָׁ֑תָה אֲחַלְּקֵ֣ם בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וַאֲפִיצֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל ס

אָר֤וּר  Cursed  [be] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: אָרַר  
Sense: to curse.
אַפָּם֙  their  anger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
עָ֔ז  it  is  strong 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עַז 
Sense: strong, mighty, fierce.
וְעֶבְרָתָ֖ם  and  their  wrath 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עֶבְרָה  
Sense: outpouring, overflow, excess, fury, wrath, arrogance.
קָשָׁ֑תָה  it  is  cruel 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: קָשָׁה  
Sense: to be hard, be severe, be fierce, be harsh.
אֲחַלְּקֵ֣ם  I  will  divide  them 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular, third person masculine plural
Root: חָלַק 
Sense: to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign.
בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב  in  Jacob 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
וַאֲפִיצֵ֖ם  and  scatter  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular, third person masculine plural
Root: פּוּץ 
Sense: to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered.
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל  in  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation