Genesis 49:16
Genesis 49:16 in Multiple Translations
Dan shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
¶ Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan will be the judge of his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall iudge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan doth judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel;
“Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall judge his people like another tribe in Israel.
Dan, although your tribe will be small, their leaders will rule their people just like the leaders of other tribes of Israel will rule their people.
Then Jacob said, “Dan’s tribe will have their own bosses, just like all the other tribes of the Israel nation. Those bosses from Dan’s tribe, they will be good and fair to the people.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 49:16
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 49:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
דָּ֖ן
יָדִ֣ין
עַמּ֑/וֹ
כְּ/אַחַ֖ד
שִׁבְטֵ֥י
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
דָּ֖ן
Dân
H1835
Dan
N-proper
יָדִ֣ין
dîyn
H1777
to judge
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
עַמּ֑/וֹ
ʻam
H5971
Amaw
N-ms | Suff
כְּ/אַחַ֖ד
ʼechâd
H259
one
Prep | Adj
שִׁבְטֵ֥י
shêbeṭ
H7626
tribe
N-mp
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
Israel
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 49:16
דָּ֖ן
Dân
H1835
"Dan"
N-proper
Dan was a son of Jacob and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Dan was known for its skills in warfare and is mentioned in the book of Genesis.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Dan living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.6; son of: Israel (H3478) and Bilhah (H1090A); brother of: Naphtali (H5321); half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); father of: Hushim (H2366B) § Dan = "a judge" 1) the 5th son of Jacob, the 1st of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid 2) the tribe descended from Dan, the son of Jacob 3) a city in Dan, the most northern landmark of Palestine
Usage: Occurs in 63 OT verses. KJV: Daniel See also: Genesis 14:14; Judges 13:25; Jeremiah 4:15.
יָדִ֣ין
dîyn
H1777
"to judge"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To judge or plead a cause is the meaning of this Hebrew word, used to describe acting as a judge or governing.
Definition: 1) to judge, contend, plead 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to act as judge, minister judgment 1a2) to plead a cause 1a3) to execute judgment, requite, vindicate 1a4) to govern 1a5) to contend, strive 1b) (Niphal) to be at strife, quarrel Aramaic equivalent: din (דִּין "to judge" H1778)
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: (come) with a straight course. See also: Genesis 6:3; Psalms 72:2; Psalms 7:9.
עַמּ֑/וֹ
ʻam
H5971
"Amaw"
N-ms | Suff
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Definition: This name means nation, people
Usage: Occurs in 1655 OT verses. KJV: folk, men, nation, people. See also: Genesis 11:6; Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 17:9.
כְּ/אַחַ֖ד
ʼechâd
H259
"one"
Prep | Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.
Definition: 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Usage: Occurs in 739 OT verses. KJV: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, See also: Genesis 1:5; Exodus 36:26; Numbers 7:70.
שִׁבְטֵ֥י
shêbeṭ
H7626
"tribe"
N-mp
This word means a stick or staff, but also a clan or tribe, and can refer to a symbol of authority or a tool for punishing. It is used in the Bible to describe the rods used by shepherds or the scepters of kings.
Definition: : tribe 1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe 1a) rod, staff 1b) shaft (of spear, dart) 1c) club (of shepherd's implement) 1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority) 1e) clan, tribe
Usage: Occurs in 178 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe. See also: Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 24:2; Psalms 2:9.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
"Israel"
N-proper
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently § Israel = "God prevails" 1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel 2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob 2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split 2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah 2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile
Usage: Occurs in 2231 OT verses. KJV: Israel. See also: Genesis 32:29; Exodus 13:18; Exodus 40:38.
Study Notes — Genesis 49:16
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 49:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 49:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 49:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 49:16
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 49:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 49:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 49:16
- Cambridge Bible on Genesis 49:16
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 49:16
- Sermons on Genesis 49:16
Context — Jacob Blesses His Sons
14Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds.
15He saw that his resting place was good and that his land was pleasant, so he bent his shoulder to the burden and submitted to labor as a servant.
16Dan shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
17He will be a snake by the road, a viper in the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward. 18I await Your salvation, O LORD.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 30:6 | Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 33:22 | Concerning Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s cub, leaping out of Bashan.” |
| 3 | Judges 18:26–27 | So the Danites went on their way, and Micah turned to go back home, because he saw that they were too strong for him. After they had taken Micah’s idols and his priest, they went to Laish, to a tranquil and unsuspecting people, and they struck them with their swords and burned down the city. |
| 4 | Judges 13:2 | Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children. |
| 5 | Judges 13:24–25 | So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him at Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. |
| 6 | Judges 15:20 | And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines. |
| 7 | Judges 18:1–2 | In those days there was no king in Israel, and the tribe of the Danites was looking for territory to occupy. For up to that time they had not come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. So the Danites sent out five men from their clans, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. “Go and explore the land,” they told them. The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night. |
| 8 | Numbers 10:25 | Finally, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard, serving as the rear guard for all units, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command. |
Genesis 49:16 Summary
Genesis 49:16 tells us that the tribe of Dan will be a source of justice for the people of Israel. This means that they will help keep people safe and make sure everyone is treated fairly, which is a key part of God's character, as seen in verses like Psalm 37:28. Just like Dan, we can also be a source of justice and righteousness in our own communities by following God's commands and trusting in His sovereignty, as promised in Jeremiah 29:11. By doing so, we can reflect the love and justice of God to those around us, and point them to the ultimate source of justice, Jesus Christ, as seen in verses like John 1:17.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for Dan to provide justice for his people?
This verse, Genesis 49:16, indicates that the tribe of Dan will be a source of justice and righteousness for the people of Israel, as seen in other verses like Deuteronomy 33:22, where Dan is compared to a lion, symbolizing strength and courage.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the blessing of Jacob?
Genesis 49:16 is part of the blessing of Jacob, where he prophesies over each of his sons, and in this case, Dan is promised to be a source of justice, which is a key theme throughout the Bible, as seen in verses like Psalm 89:14, where justice and righteousness are the foundation of God's throne.
What is the significance of Dan being one of the tribes of Israel?
As stated in Genesis 49:16, Dan being one of the tribes of Israel emphasizes his importance and role within the nation, similar to other verses like Genesis 30:6, where Dan is first introduced as one of the sons of Jacob, and his tribe will play a significant part in the history of Israel.
How does this verse point to the coming Messiah?
While Genesis 49:16 does not directly mention the Messiah, the theme of justice and righteousness is a key aspect of Jesus' ministry, as seen in verses like Isaiah 9:7, where the Messiah is promised to establish justice and righteousness forever.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for me to provide justice in my own community, and how can I reflect the character of God in this way?
- How can I, like Dan, be a source of strength and courage for those around me, especially in times of need?
- What are some ways that I can seek justice and righteousness in my own life, and how can I trust God to guide me in this process, as promised in Proverbs 2:9?
- How does the promise of Dan providing justice for his people encourage me to trust in God's sovereignty and provision, as seen in verses like Romans 8:28?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 49:16
Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. There is an elegant paronomasia, or an allusion to the name of Dan in those words, which signifies to judge, and the sense of them is, there
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 49:16
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 49:16
i.e. Rule and govern them. Though he be the son of my concubine, yet he shall not be subject to any other tribe, but shall have an absolute power within himself. What is said of him is to be understood of the rest of the sons of the concubines, and hereby all difference between the sons of the wives and concubines is taken away. It is said of Dan, because he is the first mentioned of that sort. As the rest of the tribes do, having distinct governments and governors amongst them. See ,16.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 49:16
Genesis 49:16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.Ver. 16. Dan shall judge.] Here is an allusion to his name in the original; q.d., the Judger shall judge. This is a high honour, to sit in the seat of judicature, and no less a burden: Fructus honos oneris, fructus honoris onus. They that are called to this office must neither spare the great for might, nor the mean for misery; as they must have nothing to lose, so nothing to get neither; they must be above all price or sale; and straining out all self-affections, see to it that "justice, justice" - as Moses speaks, Deuteronomy 16:20, marg.; that is, pure justice, without mud - run down as a mighty torrent.
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 49:16
(16, 17) Dan.—In passing on to the sons of the handmaids it was necessary to assure them of an independent rank among their brethren. The four tribes descended from them did always hold an inferior position, but Jacob by his words to Dan prevented their ever becoming subject states. Playing, then, upon the name Dan (a judge), he says that he shall judge his people as a distinct and separate tribe, possessed of all those rights of self-government and tribal independence which this rank implied. It seems also that Dan’s symbol was a serpent, and from this Jacob prophesies that though too weak a tribe to take the foremost place in war, yet that Dan should not be without military importance; and this was especially the case in the days of Samson. The word rendered adder is more exactly the arrow-snake, which lies in wait in the “path,” a narrow track, and springs upon its prey as it passes. A horse bitten in this way would rear and throw its rider, who would then be in the power of his assailant.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 49:16
16. Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel. 17. Dan shall be a serpent on the way, A cerastes upon the track, Biting the heels of the horse, And his rider shall fall backwards. Verse 16. Dan shall judge] Dan, whose name signifies judgment, was the eldest of Jacob's sons by Bilhah, Rachel's maid, and he is here promised an equal rule with those tribes that sprang from either Leah or Rachel, the legal wives of Jacob. Some Jewish and some Christian writers understand this prophecy of Samson, who sprang from this tribe, and judged, or as the word might be translated avenged, the people of Israel twenty years. See Judges 13:2; Judges 15:20.
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 49:16
16. Dan] In this and the following verse we have two independent oracles concerning the tribe of Dan. (1) Genesis 49:16 deals with its position in Israel; (2) Genesis 49:17, with its attitude towards its foes. judge] For the play on the name Dan, see Genesis 30:6. The word “judge” carries with it the sense of “pleading the cause of” and “helping.” Cf. Jeremiah 22:16, “he judged the cause of the poor and needy.” Targum of Onkelos understood a reference to Samson to be contained in the word “judge” (Judges 13-16.). his people] The people of his tribe; not the people of Israel generally. The tribe possessed independence, not supremacy. As one of the tribes] Dan, though smaller than other tribes (cf. Joshua 19:47-48; Judges 1:34-35; Judges 18:11), will not be inferior in position and power, within its own domains, to the other tribes. It seems probable that Dan, standing here after Zebulun and Issachar, represents only the small northern portion of the tribe. Cf.
Judges 18:1; Judges 18:29.
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 49:16
16. Dan shall judge — A play upon the name of Dan, which means a judge, or judging. Comp. Genesis 30:6.
Sermons on Genesis 49:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Ten Shekels and a Shirt (Cleaned Up) by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the difference between 20th century preaching and the preaching of John Wesley. Wesley was known for exalting the holiness of God and deliver |
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Revelation 2:1 Missionary Conf. by J.M. Davies | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the darkness that exists in the world and the importance of following the Lord. They highlight the cost of following the Lord, but also empha |
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The Message of Judges by G. Campbell Morgan | G. Campbell Morgan delivers a powerful sermon on 'The Message of Judges,' emphasizing the deterioration of a nation through religious apostasy, political disorganization, and socia |