The Meaning of Genesis 49:8 Explained

Genesis 49:8

KJV: Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.

YLT: Judah! thou -- thy brethren praise thee! Thy hand is on the neck of thine enemies, Sons of thy father bow themselves to thee.

Darby: Judah as to thee, thy brethren will praise thee; Thy hand will be upon the neck of thine enemies; Thy father's children will bow down to thee.

ASV: Judah, thee shall thy brethren praise: Thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; Thy father's sons shall bow down before thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Judah,  thou [art he] whom thy brethren  shall praise:  thy hand  [shall be] in the neck  of thine enemies;  thy father's  children  shall bow down  before thee. 

What does Genesis 49:8 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 49:8 mean?

Judah [to] you shall praise your brothers Your hand [shall be] on the neck of your enemies shall bow down before you sons of your father
יְהוּדָ֗ה אַתָּה֙ יוֹד֣וּךָ אַחֶ֔יךָ יָדְךָ֖ בְּעֹ֣רֶף אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ יִשְׁתַּחֲוּ֥וּ‪‬ לְךָ֖ בְּנֵ֥י אָבִֽיךָ

יְהוּדָ֗ה  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
אַתָּה֙  [to]  you 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
יוֹד֣וּךָ  shall  praise 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, second person masculine singular
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
אַחֶ֔יךָ  your  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
יָדְךָ֖  Your  hand  [shall  be] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
בְּעֹ֣רֶף  on  the  neck 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֹרֶף  
Sense: neck, back of the neck, back.
אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ  of  your  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
יִשְׁתַּחֲוּ֥וּ‪‬  shall  bow  down 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
לְךָ֖  before  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
בְּנֵ֥י  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָבִֽיךָ  of  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.