15
He sawוַיַּרְאa resting place,מְנֻחָהthatכִּיit was good,טוֹבand the land,וְאֶת הָאָרֶץthatכִּיit was pleasant;נָעֵמָהso he bentוַיֵּטhis shoulderשִׁכְמוֹto bear burdensלִסְבֹּלand becameוַיְהִיsubject to forced labor.לְמַס עֹבֵד
Genesis 49:15
Study it in the app“He saw a resting place, that it was good, and the land, that it was pleasant; so he bent his shoulder to bear burdens and became subject to forced labor.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 49:15, word by word
- He sawיַּרְאyar
realize
To realize: "he saw that it was good".
Where else “yar” appears- a resting placeמְנֻחָהmenucha
rest, resting place
Rest, a place of rest.
Where else “menucha” appears- it was goodטוֹבtov
good
What is as it should be and gives delight: sound, useful, beautiful or valuable.
Where else “tov” appears- and the landאָרֶץarets
land
A region or nation, above all Israel's.
Where else “arets” appears- it was pleasantנָעֵמָהnaema
be pleasant
Be pleasant, delightful.
Where else “naema” appears- so he bentיֵּטyet
incline
To turn the ear or the heart toward someone or something.
Where else “yet” appears- his shoulderשִׁכְמshichm
shoulder
The part of the body by the neck where a load is carried.
Where else “shichm” appears- to bear burdensסְבֹּלsebol
bear
To carry a weight, or take on others' sorrows.
Where else “sebol” appears- and becameיְהִיyehi
become
To turn into something new, or fall upon someone.
Where else “yehi” appears- subject to forced laborמַסmas
forced labor
Forced labor imposed on a subject people.
Where else “mas” appears- subject to forced laborעֹבֵדoved
enslave
To make others serve, enslave.
Where else “oved” appears
The context
14Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds.
15 · This verse (above)
16Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
To study Genesis 49 in a group
1. What it says
What did Jacob say about Judah and Joseph in his blessings (vv. 8-12, 22-26)?
2. What it means
What does it show that Jacob gave each son a different blessing (v. 28)?
3. How I live it
How can you recognize what is distinct and unique in each person in your family?