Genesis 49:25 kjv

Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

Genesis 49:25 nkjv

By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

Genesis 49:25 niv

because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb.

Genesis 49:25 esv

by the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that crouches beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

Genesis 49:25 nlt

May the God of your father help you;
may the Almighty bless you
with the blessings of the heavens above,
and blessings of the watery depths below,
and blessings of the breasts and womb.

Genesis 49 verses

Genesis 49 25 Meaning

Genesis 49:25 speaks of an outpouring of multifaceted blessings upon Joseph from the sovereign and covenantal God. These blessings originate from "the God of thy father," identifying Him as the faithful, covenant-keeping God, and from "the Almighty" (El Shaddai), emphasizing His power and all-sufficiency. The verse describes these blessings as comprehensive, covering various aspects of life: atmospheric conditions necessary for growth ("blessings of heaven above"), subterranean water sources vital for arid lands ("blessings of the deep that lieth under"), and procreative fruitfulness ("blessings of the breasts, and of the womb"). This signifies abundant natural resources, a thriving populace, and a continuous, robust lineage, reflecting God's holistic provision and the remarkable prosperity bestowed upon Joseph and his descendants.

Genesis 49 25 Context

Genesis 49 contains Jacob's final prophetic blessings and pronouncements upon his twelve sons before his death. These pronouncements are not merely expressions of paternal affection but divinely inspired prophecies detailing the future characteristics and destinies of their respective tribes within the nation of Israel. Jacob's words reflect the prior lives and characters of his sons, while also pointing to the divine plan for each tribal lineage.

Joseph's blessing (Gen 49:22-26) stands out significantly. Unlike the initial judgments pronounced on Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, Joseph receives a rich, unreserved blessing, commensurate with his faithful and upright character, his suffering for righteousness' sake, and his ultimate exaltation and role in preserving his family during the famine. The historical context is Jacob on his deathbed in Egypt, recounting the past and envisioning the future for his sons, looking toward their settlement and prosperity in the Promised Land. This particular verse, Genesis 49:25, summarizes the source and scope of the abundant provision Joseph and his descendants (Ephraim and Manasseh, the largest and most prominent tribes in the northern kingdom later on) would experience as a testament to God's faithfulness and Joseph's exemplary life.

Genesis 49 25 Word analysis

• by the God of thy father: (Hebrew: מֵאֵ֣ל אָבִ֔יךָ, mi'El Aviykha)

  • אֵ֣ל (El): God, a mighty One. This general term for God is amplified by the following phrase.
  • אָבִ֔יךָ (Aviykha): Your father. This refers to Jacob himself (the father of Joseph), and by extension, Abraham and Isaac. It identifies the blesser not as a generic deity, but as the specific covenant God who had historically revealed Himself to Joseph's forefathers, entering into a personal and lasting relationship with them. This emphasizes covenant faithfulness and continuity of blessing.

• who shall help thee: (Hebrew: וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ, veya'azreka)

  • וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ (veya'azreka): And He shall help you. This signifies divine assistance, succor, and support. Joseph’s life had been marked by intense adversity (sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned), yet God had consistently helped him, raising him to power. This promise of help is a direct reflection of God's providence experienced by Joseph throughout his life.

• and by the Almighty: (Hebrew: וְאֵ֤ת שַׁדַּי֙, ve'Et Shaddai)

  • אֵ֤ת שַׁדַּי֙ (El Shaddai): God Almighty, or Lord God. This name of God, meaning "God of the mountain/strength" or "All-Sufficient God," emphasizes God's omnipotence, power, and ability to fulfill His promises, especially concerning fruitfulness and abundance. It's the name under which God frequently revealed Himself to the patriarchs when making promises of numerous offspring and land (Gen 17:1, 28:3, 35:11). This highlights that the source of blessing is not merely one who helps, but one who is sovereignly capable of bestowing overwhelming prosperity.

• who shall bless thee: (Hebrew: וִיבָרְכֶ֖ךָּ, vi'varekheka)

  • וִיבָרְכֶ֖ךָּ (vi'varekheka): And He shall bless you. This is the central verb, indicating the conferral of divine favor, prosperity, and well-being. It frames all the following elements as manifestations of this divine blessing.

• with blessings of heaven above: (Hebrew: בִּרְכֹ֤ת שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מֵעַ֔ל, birchot shamayim me'al)

  • בִּרְכֹ֤ת (birchot): Blessings of.
  • שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ (shamayim): Heavens. Refers to atmospheric blessings, primarily rain and dew, crucial for agricultural productivity in the arid ancient Near East.
  • מֵעַ֔ל (me'al): From above. Emphasizes the celestial source of these vital life-sustaining elements.

• blessings of the deep that lieth under: (Hebrew: בִּרְכֹּ֥ת תְּהוֹם֙ רֹבֶ֖צֶת תָּ֑חַת, birchot tehom rovetzet takhat)

  • תְּהוֹם֙ (tehom): Deep, subterranean waters. This refers to springs, underground water sources, and potentially deep wells that sustain vegetation and life even when surface water is scarce.
  • רֹבֶ֖צֶת (rovetzet): That lies. Describes the water lying hidden or resting beneath the earth's surface.
  • תָ֑חַת (takhat): Beneath, under. Further specifies the location of these deep waters.

• blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: (Hebrew: בִּרְכֹ֥ת שָׁדַ֖יִם וָרָֽחַם, birchot shadayim va'rakham)

  • שָׁדַ֖יִם (shadayim): Breasts. Symbolizes nurturing, sustenance, and implicitly, fertility and successful rearing of offspring.
  • וָרָֽחַם (va'rakham): And womb. Refers directly to fertility, numerous progeny, and the ability to bear healthy children. This ensures the continuation and multiplication of Joseph's lineage, a critical aspect of patriarchal blessings.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee": This identifies the triune God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, known for His covenant fidelity (El Aviykha) and omnipotent power (El Shaddai), as the sole, ultimate, and all-sufficient source of the coming prosperity. The verbs "help" and "bless" highlight His active benevolence towards Joseph.
• "blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb": This threefold description is comprehensive and holistic. It covers:
  1. Meteorological/Atmospheric Fertility: Rain and dew necessary for land to produce crops and pastures.
  2. Subterranean/Hydrological Fertility: Abundant springs and underground water for continuous sustenance in all seasons, even droughts.
  3. Human/Biological Fertility: Numerous descendants and a strong, thriving lineage.Together, these encompass the full spectrum of material and generational blessings essential for a flourishing family, tribe, and nation in an agricultural society. It demonstrates God's overflowing and diversified provision from all possible sources.

Genesis 49 25 Bonus section

• The exhaustive list of blessings in this verse signifies God's complete provision. It shows that God does not bless sparingly but pours out His goodness from every possible avenue—the heavens, the earth, and human reproduction.
• This particular blessing, especially its emphasis on abundance, anticipates the prosperity of the Joseph tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh), which indeed became two of the largest and most prominent tribes in Israel, demonstrating remarkable fertility and land ownership within the Promised Land.
• The nature-oriented language (heaven, deep) implicitly counters any contemporary pagan belief systems that attributed fertility to various nature gods or idols, unequivocally affirming that the one God of Israel, El Shaddai, is the exclusive source of all life-sustaining provisions.
• Beyond the material, the comprehensiveness of these blessings points to the holistic nature of God's blessing. Just as He provides for the body and lineage, so too does He provide for spiritual nourishment and fruitfulness, offering "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph 1:3).
• Joseph's blessing is so extensive that Jacob explicitly states that Joseph's blessings surpass "the blessings of my progenitors," and reach "to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills" (Gen 49:26), further highlighting the unparalleled nature of God's favor upon Joseph.

Genesis 49 25 Commentary

Genesis 49:25 delivers a profound and comprehensive blessing upon Joseph, rooting all good fortune directly in the character and power of God. The mention of "the God of thy father" anchors the blessing in the enduring covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, emphasizing divine faithfulness through generations. Identifying Him as "the Almighty" (El Shaddai) underscores His absolute power and capacity to bestow boundless prosperity. The promise of "help" specifically acknowledges Joseph's past trials and divine deliverance, foreshadowing ongoing support. The detailed description of blessings—from "heaven above" (rain, dew) to "the deep that lieth under" (springs, subterranean waters) and finally, "the breasts, and of the womb" (fertility, abundant progeny)—portrays an all-encompassing, lavish, and inexhaustible supply from nature and human life. This rich array of physical blessings on Joseph's descendants (the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh) was tangibly fulfilled through their notable strength, numerousness, and prosperity within Israel, demonstrating that God provides comprehensively for His chosen and faithful ones, often far exceeding human expectation.