Genesis 49:22 kjv
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
Genesis 49:22 nkjv
"Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall.
Genesis 49:22 niv
"Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.
Genesis 49:22 esv
"Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall.
Genesis 49:22 nlt
"Joseph is the foal of a wild donkey,
the foal of a wild donkey at a spring ?
one of the wild donkeys on the ridge.
Genesis 49 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:28 | God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number..." | Command to be fruitful |
| Gen 17:6 | I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you... | Abrahamic promise of fruitfulness & nations |
| Gen 28:14 | Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out... | Jacob's vision: Descendants' vast expansion |
| Gen 48:19 | ...yet he [Manasseh] also will become a people, and he also will be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother [Ephraim] will be greater... | Jacob blessing Joseph's sons; Ephraim's greater destiny |
| Num 26:34, 37 | ...the clans of Manasseh... These were the clans of Ephraim... | Census showing large tribal numbers |
| Deut 33:13-17 | Of Joseph he said: "Blessed of the Lord be his land... with the choicest gifts of the earth... the blessings of the deep... a fruitful bough... like a wild ox his firstborn... he will push the peoples to the ends of the earth..." | Moses' blessing on Joseph; emphasizes fertility and power |
| Josh 16:9-10 | ...these are the towns that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites, all of them with their villages. They did not drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the Ephraimites... | Ephraim's extensive, albeit imperfect, inheritance |
| Josh 17:14-18 | The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people and the Lord has blessed us abundantly." | Joseph's descendants were numerous |
| Ps 1:3 | That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither... | Righteousness bringing sustained fruitfulness |
| Ps 72:16 | May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! | Imagery of overflowing agricultural abundance |
| Ps 80:2 | Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, rouse your might... | Mention of Ephraim and Manasseh as prominent |
| Isa 4:2 | In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious... | Messiah as the "Branch" |
| Isa 11:1 | A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. | Prophecy of the Branch/Messiah from David's line |
| Jer 17:7-8 | Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream... | Trust in God bringing spiritual fruitfulness and stability |
| Hos 9:16 | Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up; they yield no fruit. If they bear children, I will slay the precious offspring of their womb. | Contrast: Lack of fruitfulness due to disobedience |
| Joel 2:24 | The threshing floors will be full of grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. | Restoration blessing of overflowing abundance |
| Jn 15:1-8 | I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener... Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful... | Christ as the true vine, believers as fruitful branches |
| Rom 15:19 | ...so that from Jerusalem and all around as far as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. | The Gospel's spread "over the wall" to new regions |
| Col 1:6 | In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world... | The global spread and fruitfulness of the Gospel |
| Rev 22:2 | ...On either side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month... | Eschatological image of continuous life and fruitfulness |
Genesis 49 verses
Genesis 49 22 Meaning
Genesis 49:22 describes Joseph as exceptionally prosperous and expansive, likening him to a productive vine or young tree that is abundantly fruitful. This vitality is sustained by a constant water source, enabling its branches to extend vigorously, even climbing over enclosing walls. The verse prophecies a remarkable increase in his descendants, who would not only be numerous but also influential and spread far and wide, reflecting his preeminence among Jacob's sons and the future strength of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
Genesis 49 22 Context
Genesis 49 records Jacob's prophetic blessings and pronouncements for each of his twelve sons, delivered on his deathbed in Egypt. These words establish the destinies and characteristics of their future tribal descendants, shaping their roles and standing within the nation of Israel. The pronouncement over Joseph stands out as one of the most extensive and profoundly positive, particularly when compared to the more mixed or even negative assessments for sons like Reuben, Simeon, and Levi. The immediate historical context is the period before Israel's entry into the Promised Land, anticipating the growth and settlement of the tribes. Culturally, progeny, fertility, and ample resources like water were highly valued indicators of divine blessing and prosperity in an agrarian, nomadic society. The imagery used in this verse is deeply resonant with these cultural values, promising Joseph and his lineage a destiny of abundant life and influence. There are no direct polemics here, but the emphasis on Yahweh's blessing for prosperity implicitly contrasts with pagan fertility cults by attributing the source of such fruitfulness solely to God.
Genesis 49 22 Word analysis
- Joseph (יוֹסֵף, Yosef): The name itself means "He adds" or "He increases" (Gen 30:24), which resonates powerfully with the verse's theme of fruitfulness and expansion. This inherent meaning prefigures the blessings he receives.
- is a fruitful bough (בֵּן פֹּרָת, ben porat): Literally, "son of fruitfulness" or "son of a fruitful tree/branch."
- son (בֵּן, ben): Used metaphorically here to mean a shoot or branch of a plant, signifying the vigor and direct continuation of a tree's life.
- fruitful (פֹּרָת, porat): From the root פָּרָה (parah), meaning "to bear fruit," "to be fruitful." It implies abundant and sustained productivity, going beyond mere existence to flourishing and increase. This term echoes the primeval blessing to mankind and living creatures in Gen 1:22, 28, linking Joseph's blessing to the original divine mandate for fertility.
- a fruitful bough by a well (בֵּן פֹּרָת עֲלֵי עָיִן, ben porat alei ayin): Repetition emphasizes the intensity and surety of his fruitfulness.
- by (עֲלֵי, alei): Meaning "by" or "beside," indicating close proximity and reliance.
- a well (עָיִן, ayin): Can mean "eye," but here clearly means a "spring" or "fountain" of water. This is crucial as a tree's life and fruitfulness in an arid land utterly depend on a constant water source. This signifies deep, consistent sustenance, possibly divine provision and favor, as opposed to temporary rainfall.
- his branches (בָּנוֹת, banot): Literally "daughters." Here, it's a common poetic idiom in Hebrew, especially for vines or trees, to refer to spreading shoots, tendrils, or even small branches as "daughters." This vividly pictures new growth extending out from the main plant.
- run over the wall (צָעֲדָה עֲלֵי שׁוּר, tsa'adah alei shur):
- run (צָעֲדָה, tsa'adah): From the root צָעַד (tsa'ad), meaning "to step forth," "to march," "to advance." It implies energetic, forceful movement, suggesting vigorous and assertive expansion.
- over (עֲלֵי, alei): Meaning "over" or "upon."
- the wall (שׁוּר, shur): A literal stone wall or partition. This imagery depicts a vine that grows so profusely and strongly that its shoots are not confined but ascend and extend beyond conventional boundaries. This symbolizes expansion in numbers, territory, influence, or impact, surpassing typical limits.
Genesis 49 22 Bonus section
The symbolism of a fruitful tree or vine by water is a recurring biblical motif for prosperity, blessing, and the righteous individual or nation. Joseph, having brought his family to a place of sustenance in Egypt, embodies the 'well' in a sense, as he was the means through which the family survived famine, providing life. His administrative capacity and foresight further extended his reach and influence far beyond his own family, demonstrating the principle of "running over the wall" in a practical sense before his descendants' territorial expansion. This verse also implicitly foreshadows the future preeminence of Ephraim among the northern tribes, which became so significant that "Ephraim" often became synonymous with the entire Northern Kingdom.
Genesis 49 22 Commentary
Genesis 49:22 succinctly captures the essence of Joseph's profound and lasting blessing within the Jacob cycle. The vivid agricultural metaphor portrays him not just as fertile, but as exceptionally so, like a highly productive vine deeply rooted by a life-giving water source. This secure grounding guarantees continuous growth and fruitfulness, allowing his "branches"—his descendants, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh—to extend powerfully beyond any perceived confines. This imagery anticipates the eventual demographic and territorial dominance of these tribes within the northern kingdom. It emphasizes that Joseph's blessings stemmed from divine favor, providing deep, unfailing nourishment for remarkable prosperity and influence that would permeate and overcome limitations, spreading their reach and impact far beyond initial expectations.