Genesis 49:17 kjv

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

Genesis 49:17 nkjv

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse's heels So that its rider shall fall backward.

Genesis 49:17 niv

Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward.

Genesis 49:17 esv

Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward.

Genesis 49:17 nlt

Dan will be a snake beside the road,
a poisonous viper along the path
that bites the horse's hooves
so its rider is thrown off.

Genesis 49 verses

Genesis 49 17 Meaning

This verse prophesies about the tribe of Dan, comparing it to a serpent lying in wait by the roadside. Like a viper, Dan will be a hidden danger, striking at vulnerable points—specifically, the heels of a horse—causing the rider to be unseated. This imagery conveys cunning, ambush, and effective destabilization of a larger or seemingly stronger opponent through indirect means. It is often interpreted as both a warning of their deceptive nature and a commendation of their strategic, though sometimes ethically questionable, military tactics.

Genesis 49 17 Context

Genesis 49 is a prophetic poem, Jacob's deathbed pronouncements, or "blessings" (more accurately, prophetic statements about future character and destiny), for his twelve sons, who represent the twelve tribes of Israel. These declarations serve as a prophetic panorama, foreshadowing the temperament, geographical location, and historical roles of each tribe in the Promised Land. For Dan, Jacob shifts from Judah's lion-like strength and Zebulun's maritime future to a warning of danger lurking from an unexpected quarter. This verse sets the stage for a tribe whose history would indeed reflect both cleverness and a potential for deviousness, particularly highlighted by their significant role in Israel's early idolatry in Judges.

Genesis 49 17 Word analysis

• דָּן (Dan): Meaning "He judges" or "Judge." This name resonates with the judicial and potentially vigilant character attributed to the tribe, perhaps subtly linking the serpentine cunning to their role in administering justice or imposing their will. It could also imply an ability to discern weaknesses, like a serpent seeking a vulnerable point.
• יְהִי (y'hî): "Shall be." A declarative future statement, indicating prophecy.
• נָחָשׁ (nāchāsh): "Serpent" or "snake." In the Bible, the serpent is often associated with cunning, deception, danger, and malevolence (e.g., Gen 3; Rev 12:9). Here, it portrays Dan as clever and potentially treacherous.
• עֲלֵי (alê): "By," "upon," or "alongside." Indicates proximity and position, emphasizing the hidden, roadside threat.
• דֶרֶךְ (derekh): "Way" or "road." Signifies common passage, making the snake an ambush predator, lurking where unsuspecting victims pass.
• שְׁפִיפֹן (sh'phiyphon): "Viper" or "horned snake" (e.g., Cerastes cornutus). A specific, venomous, and notoriously camouflaged desert snake known for striking suddenly from a hidden position. It intensifies the image of hidden danger and sudden, potent attack, often targeting ankles or feet.
• עֲלֵי (alê): (Repetition for emphasis) "By," "upon," or "alongside." Reinforces the lurking aspect.
• אָרַח (ōrach): "Path" or "trail." Similar to "derekh," stressing the clandestine nature of the threat.
• הַנֹּשֵׁךְ (hannoshekh): "That bites" or "who bites." Present participle, signifying continuous action or a characteristic behavior. Emphasizes the immediate impact.
• עִקְּבֵי (iqqevê): "Heels." A vulnerable point of both horse and rider. The specific target highlights Dan's strategy of striking weak points. It also subtly echoes the serpent's enmity toward the "heel" in Gen 3:15, suggesting Dan might also act as an instrument against the "heel" of a stronger adversary.
• סוּס (sûs): "Horse." Represents strength, power, and military might in ancient Near Eastern culture. Attacking the horse’s heels renders this might useless.
• וַיִּפֹּל (wayyippōl): "So that...falls." Sequential action, the immediate consequence of the bite.
• רֹכְבוֹ (rokhvô): "Its rider" or "his rider." The one in control, representing leadership or authority. The fall of the rider signifies the destabilization and defeat of the powerful force.
• אָחוֹר (achōr): "Backward." The direction of the fall, signifying a loss of control, an ungraceful and often debilitating defeat.

• "Serpent by the way, a viper by the path": This word-grouping intensifies the image of Dan as a stealthy, cunning, and dangerous force that operates covertly. The repetition with slightly different terms ("way," "path"; "serpent," "viper") serves for poetic emphasis and specifies the kind of danger. It highlights a characteristic of ambush warfare rather than open, head-on confrontation.
• "Bites the horse heels, so that its rider falls backward": This phrase details the method and impact of Dan's attack. It is not a direct, overwhelming force but a subtle, calculated strike at a vulnerable point (the heel of a horse, representing an enemy's strength). The outcome, the rider falling backward, denotes a complete disruption and defeat, where the seemingly superior power is brought low through unexpected means.

Genesis 49 17 Bonus section

• Some scholars note the contrast between Dan and other tribes. While others receive blessings of abundance or open power, Dan receives a description of a military characteristic focused on guile and disruption rather than might.
• The placement of Dan's prophecy, often following tribes with more traditional "noble" qualities, further emphasizes its unique and perhaps unsettling nature within Jacob's pronouncements.
• The "backward" fall of the rider suggests not merely being dismounted, but being defeated in an inglorious and possibly confused manner, highlighting the element of surprise and cunning.

Genesis 49 17 Commentary

Genesis 49:17 offers a multifaceted prophecy for the tribe of Dan. Jacob's pronouncement characterizes Dan as a low-lying, hidden threat, not one of overwhelming strength but rather of cunning and decisive action. The "serpent" and "viper" imagery, while potentially hinting at danger and even malevolence (given biblical associations of serpents with deception and evil), also conveys strategic intelligence and effectiveness. Unlike the straightforward power of Judah's lion or Naphtali's agile doe, Dan's strength lies in its ability to destabilize larger, more imposing forces through unexpected attacks on vulnerable points.

Historically, this aligns with various aspects of Dan's tribal history. The account of Samson (a Danite) in Judges exemplifies a single individual (or small force) strategically undermining a numerically superior enemy like the Philistines. Samson, though empowered by God, used wit and surprising attacks to destabilize his foes, albeit with significant personal cost. Furthermore, the Danites' conquest of Laish (Judg 18) demonstrates this shrewd and even ruthless strategy; a relatively small force effectively ambushed and took control of a defenseless city. However, the same Judges chapter reveals the dark side of Dan's cunning, as they established an idolatrous cult at Laish (renaming it Dan), showing how their deceptive or strategic nature could lead them astray from God's commands, "biting" the heel of Israel's spiritual integrity. This dual interpretation of cunning—as military acumen or spiritual defection—makes the prophecy a powerful and poignant one.