Genesis 49:6 kjv

O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall.

Genesis 49:6 nkjv

Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honor be united to their assembly; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.

Genesis 49:6 niv

Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased.

Genesis 49:6 esv

Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.

Genesis 49:6 nlt

May I never join in their meetings;
may I never be a party to their plans.
For in their anger they murdered men,
and they crippled oxen just for sport.

Genesis 49 verses

Genesis 49 6 Meaning

This verse conveys Jacob's profound ethical dissociation from the violent actions and malicious intent of his sons, Simeon and Levi. He publicly denounces their conspiracy and united assault against the Shechemites, specifically their unbridled anger and willful cruelty that led to bloodshed and destruction. Jacob vehemently refuses to associate his inner being, reputation, or honor with their deeds, expressing a spiritual aversion to their character and the consequences of their choices.

Genesis 49 6 Context

Genesis 49 is a significant chapter presenting Jacob's prophetic blessings and curses spoken to his twelve sons before his death. These pronouncements are not mere wishes but divine decrees foretelling the future character and destiny of their respective tribes within Israel. Verse 6 specifically addresses Simeon and Levi, whom Jacob groups together due to their shared act of violence and deceit in Shechem (Genesis 34), where they orchestrated the massacre of all males in revenge for Dinah's defilement. Jacob's words serve as both a judgment on their past actions and a prophecy concerning the future tribal identities and inheritances. Historically and culturally, Jacob's pronouncements would be understood as foundational declarations for the nascent nation, setting moral benchmarks and predicting tribal trajectories within the promised land.

Genesis 49 6 Word analysis

• O my soul (נַפְשִׁי - nafshi): The word nephesh (soul) here indicates Jacob's deep personal aversion and emotional intensity. It signifies not just an outward condemnation, but a profound inner conviction and spiritual disassociation. He speaks from the very core of his being, demonstrating internal revulsion.
• come not thou into their secret (אַל-תָּבֹא בְּסוֹדָם - al-tavo b'sodam):
  • secret (סוֹד - sod): Refers to a private council, intimate gathering, or confidential plotting. It highlights Jacob's rejection of their premeditated conspiracy and hidden counsel, not merely their public action.
  • The phrase emphasizes non-participation in their wicked schemes, suggesting a conspiracy hatched in private.
• unto their assembly (בִּקְהָלָם - bikhalam):
  • assembly (קָהָל - qahal): Refers to a public gathering, congregation, or community. Jacob distances himself from their collective identity as defined by their cruel act.
  • This signifies dissociation from their unified execution of violence and any shared social standing defined by it.
• my honour (כְבֹדִי - kevodi):
  • honour (כָּבוֹד - kavod): Can mean glory, dignity, reputation, or even one's physical being or vital spirit. Jacob refuses to allow his own moral standing, good name, or personal integrity to be tarnished by their actions.
  • Some interpretations see "my glory" as a reference to the divine presence associated with the family of Jacob, emphasizing that their actions desecrated the name of God's chosen line. It's a refusal to let his spiritual identity be linked to their violence.
• be not thou united (אַל-תֵּחַד - al-teḥad): A strong, prohibitive command against joining or identifying with their unified action. It expresses active and firm disjunction.
• for in their anger (כִּי בְאַפָּם - ki b'appam):
  • anger (אַף - af): Literally "nostril," often referring to a hot, uncontrolled, furious rage. Their actions stemmed from intense, unrighteous fury, not justified zeal.
  • This identifies the root motivation for their violent acts, pointing to its intensity and irrationality.
• they slew a man (הָרְגוּ אִישׁ - hargu ish): Refers to their indiscriminate killing in Shechem. "A man" is used generically to represent the male population, perhaps emphasizing the crime against humanity rather than specific individuals, or even against Shechem specifically.
• and in their selfwill (וּבִרְצֹנָם - u-viretzonam):
  • selfwill (רָצוֹן - ratzon): Denotes their will, pleasure, or arbitrary determination. It indicates that their actions were deliberate, self-willed, and driven by personal desire for revenge rather than divine command or moral justice.
  • This highlights the wilful and deliberate nature of their wickedness, not an accident or compelled act.
• they digged down a wall (עִקְּרוּ-שׁוֹר - iqkeru shor):
  • digged down (עָקַר - aqar): Can mean to uproot, to hamstring, to tear down.
  • wall (שׁוּר - shur): Can refer to a city wall or, alternatively, an ox. While some ancient interpretations considered "hamstring an ox" (referring to cruelty to animals or powerful men), the context of city destruction and historical accounts strongly favor "uprooting" or "tearing down" a "wall," symbolizing their brutal destruction of a city's defenses and order. The LXX supports "wall."
  • This vividly illustrates the extent of their destructive rage, shattering physical structures and public safety.

Genesis 49 6 Bonus section

The strong language Jacob uses, "O my soul," and "my honour," elevates his declaration beyond a simple paternal curse to a spiritual one. It reveals Jacob's prophetic awareness of the ethical ramifications for God's chosen family and its future. The distinct treatment of Simeon and Levi in this pronouncement, particularly when compared to Levi's later unique position in the priestly service of Israel, illustrates the transformative power of divine redemption. Though Jacob condemned their zeal rooted in sin, the tribe of Levi's zeal, later redirected towards God (e.g., in the golden calf incident, Exod 32), earned them a covenant and special place within God's purposes. This foreshadows a key biblical principle: while the consequences of sin remain, divine grace can redirect and redeem even deeply flawed human potential for sacred purposes. This verse emphasizes that actions driven by unchecked anger and self-will inevitably lead to moral disgrace and disrupt covenant relationship.

Genesis 49 6 Commentary

Genesis 49:6 is Jacob's stern and deeply personal repudiation of Simeon and Levi's brutal actions in Shechem (Gen 34). It's not merely a parental reprimand but a prophetic decree emphasizing moral disassociation. Jacob curses their anger and selfwill, highlighting these internal dispositions as the corrupting source of their violent deeds. His declaration, "O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, my honour, be not thou united," is a profound statement of personal and spiritual purity. It serves as a stark warning against fellowship with deeds motivated by ungodled wrath and deliberate cruelty. The prophecy also sets the stage for the tribes' future; while Simeon's tribe would diminish and integrate into Judah, Levi's destiny would later be uniquely transformed through their zeal for the Lord, leading to their scattering not in curse but as God's designated ministers without land inheritance, serving throughout Israel (Deut 33:8-11). This verse underscores divine disapproval of unjust violence and the importance of ethical separation.