Genesis 49:16 kjv
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Genesis 49:16 nkjv
"Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel.
Genesis 49:16 niv
"Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
Genesis 49:16 esv
"Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
Genesis 49:16 nlt
"Dan will govern his people,
like any other tribe in Israel.
Genesis 49 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 30:6 | Then Rachel said, "God has judged me...therefore she called his name Dan." | Dan's name directly signifies "judge" |
| Jdg 1:34 | The Amorites forced the people of Dan into the hill country... | Shows early struggles and geographic pressure |
| Jdg 13:2 | There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah... | Introduction to Samson, a Danite judge |
| Jdg 15:20 | And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years. | Samson, a Danite, acts as a judge of Israel |
| Jdg 18:1 | In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place for themselves to dwell... | Describes the Danite migration |
| Jdg 18:29-31 | And they called the name of the city Dan... And the Danites set up for themselves the carved image... | Account of Dan's idolatry and migration |
| 1 Kgs 12:28-30 | ...made two calves of gold... He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. | Jeroboam's establishment of idolatry in Dan |
| Amos 8:14 | Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria and say, "As your god lives, O Dan..." | Further evidence of idolatry associated with Dan |
| Deut 33:22 | Of Dan he said: "Dan is a lion's whelp; he leaps forth from Bashan." | Moses' blessing, alluding to strength/attack |
| Num 2:25-31 | The standard of the camp of Dan, according to their divisions, shall be on the north side. | Dan's placement in the camp order |
| Num 26:42-43 | These are the clans of Dan: of Shuham, the clan of the Shuhamites... | Dan's descendants and census count |
| Josh 19:40-48 | The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the people of Dan according to their clans... | Dan's allotted inheritance of land |
| Isa 1:26 | And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. | God's promise to restore righteous judgment |
| Psa 7:8 | The Lord judges the peoples... | Ultimate source of all true judgment is God |
| Ezek 48:1-2 | And these are the names of the tribes: from the north end to the side of Hethlon... Dan, one portion. | Dan included in Ezekiel's vision of restored Israel |
| Rev 7:4-8 | And I heard the number of the sealed... 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from Reuben... | Exclusion of Dan from the sealed tribes in Revelation. |
| Gen 18:25 | Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked... Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? | God's perfect judgment contrasted |
| 1 Sam 7:15-17 | Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. | Example of a righteous judge in Israel |
| Deut 16:18 | You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns... | Mandate for a system of judgment in Israel |
| Mic 5:1 | Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. | Reference to a judge/ruler in Israel's context |
Genesis 49 verses
Genesis 49 16 Meaning
Genesis 49:16 declares that the tribe descended from Dan, Jacob's son, will indeed exercise leadership and provide judgment among his own people, possessing a status and function fully legitimate and equivalent to the other tribes within the larger nation of Israel. It foretells a role of upholding justice and governing, not in isolation but as an integral part of the twelve tribes.
Genesis 49 16 Context
Genesis 49 records Jacob's prophetic blessings or pronouncements over each of his twelve sons before his death. These pronouncements are not merely wishes but prophetic insights into the future character, role, and destiny of the tribes that would descend from them. This particular verse concerns Dan, the fifth son of Jacob and the first son of Bilhah, Rachel's servant. The overall chapter weaves together various themes, from blessings and power to future struggles and ethical challenges, painting a vivid picture of the diverse contributions and fates awaiting each tribe within the nascent nation of Israel.
Genesis 49 16 Word analysis
- Dan (דָּן, Dan): The very name means "judge" or "he has judged," a naming given by his mother Rachel in Gen 30:6, saying, "God has judged me and has also heard my voice and has given me a son." This prophecy thus links directly to his name's inherent meaning.
- shall judge (יָדִין, yadin): This is a form of the Hebrew verb דִּין (din), meaning "to judge," "to govern," "to contend," "to vindicate." It suggests not merely a judicial function but a broader role of leadership, governance, and the administration of justice, often implying upholding rights and bringing resolution to disputes. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, "judging" often encompassed leadership and military defense.
- his people (ammo): Refers specifically to the tribe descended from Dan, indicating their internal administration and perhaps their influence on others. It establishes their collective identity and responsibility.
- as one of the tribes of Israel (ke'achad shivtei Yisrael): This phrase is crucial. It asserts Dan's full legitimacy and equality among the other tribes. Their judicial or leadership role is not to be a separate, rogue authority, but fully integrated and recognized within the overarching structure and covenant of the unified nation of Israel. It emphasizes shared identity and the boundaries of their authority within the whole.
Genesis 49 16 Bonus section
The seemingly paradoxical exclusion of the tribe of Dan from the list of sealed tribes in Revelation 7, despite their presence in Jacob's original blessing and Ezekiel's vision of the restored land, is a topic of extensive biblical discussion. Many scholars connect this omission to Dan's later historical trajectory of leading Israel into idolatry, particularly the setting up of the golden calves. This implies a symbolic removal due to severe spiritual apostasy, or it might suggest that Dan, having been so far removed geographically and spiritually, ceased to represent its foundational prophetic identity. This specific prophecy of "judging" must be understood within the context of a covenant relationship; true judgment from God's perspective aligns with His justice and righteousness, not with a path of idolatry and defection. This highlights that prophetic declarations, while divine, can interact with human freedom and the consequences of sin within a covenant framework.
Genesis 49 16 Commentary
Genesis 49:16 concisely prophesies a future of significant influence and judicial authority for the tribe of Dan. The declaration that "Dan shall judge his people" directly connects to the meaning of his name, foreshadowing a tribe that would embody the principle of justice and governance. This judicial function extends beyond mere legal pronouncements to leadership, advocacy, and even military vindication for his own. Crucially, the qualification "as one of the tribes of Israel" emphasizes that this authority would be legitimate and integrated within the unified framework of God's covenant people. Dan was not to be a solitary entity but an active, respected participant in the broader judicial and leadership structure of Israel.
However, the historical trajectory of the Danite tribe presents a complex outworking of this prophecy. While Samson, a prominent Danite, indeed rose as a judge over Israel, his narrative also showcases a problematic personal life and a leadership style fraught with complications. Moreover, the tribe's struggles for inheritance led to their significant migration north, where they established idolatry with Jeroboam's calves (1 Kgs 12:28-30). This spiritual defection ultimately stands in stark contrast to the divine call for judgment, which inherently implies adherence to God's righteous standards. Thus, the prophecy of judging, while partially fulfilled, also highlights the potential for tribes to stray from their intended divine purpose, demonstrating that God's foretelling often encompasses both initial potential and subsequent human choices.