Genesis 49:15 kjv

And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

Genesis 49:15 nkjv

He saw that rest was good, And that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, And became a band of slaves.

Genesis 49:15 niv

When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor.

Genesis 49:15 esv

He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant at forced labor.

Genesis 49:15 nlt

When he sees how good the countryside is
and how pleasant the land,
he will bend his shoulder to the load
and submit himself to hard labor.

Genesis 49 verses

Genesis 49 15 Meaning

Genesis 49:15 describes the tribal characteristic of Issachar as valuing the comfort of their fertile land and a peaceful existence so greatly that they willingly submitted to servitude or forced labor. Rather than fighting for their autonomy, they chose the easier path of acquiescing to external powers or systems that imposed tribute and labor obligations.

Genesis 49 15 Context

Genesis chapter 49 contains the prophetic blessings or pronouncements of Jacob, nearing his death, upon each of his twelve sons. These pronouncements often foreshadow the future characteristics, destiny, and geographical territories of the tribes that would descend from them. Issachar's blessing is preceded by Zebulun's and followed by Dan's, emphasizing his placement among the brothers and tribes. Historically, the tribe of Issachar later settled in the fertile Jezreel Valley (or Esdraelon plain) in Canaan, a region known for its rich agricultural output but also for its vulnerability to invasion and the passage of armies. This context highlights the potential for ease and comfort from the land but also the ever-present threat of external powers demanding submission or tribute.

Genesis 49 15 Word analysis

• וַיַּרְא (vayyar') - And he saw: This verb indicates a direct perception or observation. It suggests that Issachar made a deliberate assessment or recognized a condition, rather than acting unconsciously. It implies a conscious decision based on perceived advantages.
• מְנוּחָה (menuḥah) - rest / resting place / tranquility: This Hebrew word denotes a state of quietness, repose, or security. In the context of ancient tribal life, it signifies peace, cessation from wandering, and stability in a settled land. While rest can be good (e.g., God rested), here it can imply an undue love for ease.
• כִּי טוֹב (ki ṭōv) - that [it was] good: This phrase expresses a judgment of value, declaring something as pleasing, beneficial, or morally upright. In this verse, it marks Issachar's perception that this rest was desirable and advantageous, forming the basis for his subsequent action.
• וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ (ve'et-hā'āreṣ) - and the land: Refers to the specific territory the tribe of Issachar would inherit or occupy. The focus here is on the physical, geographical entity and its inherent qualities.
• כִּי נָעֵמָה (ki nāʿēmah) - that [it was] pleasant / delightful: This describes the attractive and agreeable nature of the land, reinforcing the reason for Issachar's contentment. It speaks to the fertility, beauty, and comfort offered by their allocated region, likely the Jezreel Valley, which was agriculturally rich.
• וַיֵּט שִׁכְמוֹ (vayyēṭ shikh^emō) - and he bowed his shoulder: The verb "נָטָה" (naṭah) means "to stretch out," "to bend," or "to turn aside." "שֶׁכֶם" (shekhem) means "shoulder," often symbolizing strength or the ability to bear a burden. "Bowing the shoulder" is an idiom for submitting oneself to a load or burden, often a heavy one, signifying a willing (or resigned) acceptance of labor or subservience, like an ox accepting a yoke.
• לָסְבֹּל (lās^ebōl) - to bear / to carry / to endure: This infinitive verb means "to lift" or "to carry a burden." It specifies the purpose of bowing the shoulder – to engage in the act of bearing weight or hardship. It implies a sustained effort, suggesting prolonged labor or tribute.
• וַיְהִי לְמַס־עֹבֵד (vayhī l^emas-ʿōvēd) - and became a servant unto tribute / a forced laborer: This phrase describes the outcome or consequence.
  • מַס (mas) - forced labor / corvée / tribute: This term refers to compulsory labor imposed by a ruler or victor on a subject people or even on one's own populace for public works. It implies a loss of complete freedom or sovereignty.
  • עֹבֵד (ʿōvēd) - worker / servant / laborer: One who works or serves.
  • Combined, לְמַס־עֹבֵד denotes someone engaged in involuntary or obligated work due to taxation or forced submission. This suggests that Issachar's love for comfort led them into a state of regular, involuntary servitude or payment of heavy taxes to powerful entities passing through or bordering their territory.

Words-group analysis:

• "he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant": This phrase highlights Issachar's priority: a preference for ease, tranquility, and the material comfort of their fertile inheritance. It implies a certain passivity and a reluctance to engage in conflict or demanding defense of their territory. Their assessment of what is "good" shapes their future.
• "and bowed his shoulder to bear": This action signifies submission and the voluntary (or inevitable) acceptance of a burden. It visually portrays the act of being yoked or preparing for strenuous work, implying a choice to yield rather than resist. This is a pivotal decision or character trait that defines their future.
• "and became a servant unto tribute": This is the direct result of their choices. The combined phrase emphasizes that their "service" was not freely given but a consequence of the tribute (forced labor/taxes) imposed upon them. It underlines a condition of subservience, indicating that their love for comfort ultimately led to a form of subjugation where their labor or produce was extracted by others.

Genesis 49 15 Bonus section

The seemingly paradoxical characteristics of Issachar – described as a "strong donkey" capable of bearing burdens (Gen 49:14), and yet submitting to servitude – reveal a nuance: their strength was often channeled into endurance of labor rather than military resistance. This trait made them valuable as an agricultural powerhouse for regional powers, but also vulnerable. Some scholars suggest that the phrase "crouching down between the sheepfolds" (v. 14) can also be translated as "between the saddlebags," referring to a beast of burden lying down to accept its load, thus foreshadowing the willing submission in v. 15. The historical fulfillment suggests Issachar was not necessarily enslaved, but rather paid substantial tribute in agricultural goods or provided corvée labor to Canaanite city-states or later to the Northern Kingdom rulers who exploited their fertile plains for revenue. The emphasis is on a trade-off: comfort and material prosperity in exchange for a degree of political subjugation.

Genesis 49 15 Commentary

Genesis 49:15 concisely portrays a tribal character rooted in comfort and agrarian bounty. Issachar, blessed with exceptionally fertile land (likely the Jezreel Valley), valued this peace and pleasantness above all else. This pursuit of "rest" and their appreciation for the "pleasant" land led to a strategic, though detrimental, choice: rather than engaging in the strenuous defense of their borders or asserting dominance, they preferred to submit to labor and tribute imposed by stronger entities. This willingness to "bow his shoulder" indicates an acceptance of the burden, effectively becoming a "servant unto tribute."

The verse subtly critiques this prioritisation. While diligence is often praised in Scripture, Issachar's choice represents a form of spiritual compromise or practical expediency where their peace was bought at the price of their full freedom. Their physical strength (implied in the previous verse, "a strong donkey") was not used for aggressive expansion or defensive warfare but for the heavy labor that accompanied their tribute. This is not necessarily a condemnation of physical work, but of the circumstance of their labor: forced and for another's benefit, rather than for their own full liberty. This prophetic word from Jacob established a foundational characteristic that would later play out in the history of the tribe, despite occasional displays of courage (Judg 5:15) or wisdom (1 Chr 12:32).