Genesis 49 · Verse 24

Genesis 49:24

But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

Genesis 49:24, King James Version

Genesis 49:24 in other translations

BSB	Yet he steadied his bow, and his strong arms were tempered by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
WEB	But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),
ASV	But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),
YLT	And his bow abideth in strength, And strengthened are the arms of his hands By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, Whence is a shepherd, a son of Israel.
DARBY	But his bow abideth firm, And the arms of his hands are supple By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob. From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:
BBE	But their bows were broken by a strong one, and the cords of their arms were cut by the Strength of Jacob, by the name of the Stone of Israel:
Webster	But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob: from thence is the shepherd the stone of Israel:

What does Genesis 49:24 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 24 But his bow remained in strength - The more he was persecuted, either by his brethren or in Egypt, the more resplendent his uprightness and virtues shone: and the arms his extended power and influence, of his hands plans, designs, and particular operations of his prudence, judgment, discretion, etc., were all rendered successful by the hand - the powerful succor and protection, of the Mighty One of Jacob that God who blessed and protected all the counsels and plans of Jacob, and protected and increased him also when he was in a strange land, and often under the power of those who sought opportunities to oppress and defraud him. By the name of the Shepherd; the Rock of Israel - Jehovah, and El-Elohey Israel; see Gen 33:20. This appears to me to refer to the subject of the thirty-second chapter, where Jacob wrestled with God, had God's name revealed to him, and his own name changed from Jacob to Israel, in consequence of which he built an altar, and dedicated it to God, who had appeared to him under the name of Elohey-Israel, the strong God of Israel; which circumstance led him to use the term Rock, which, as an emblem of power, is frequently given to God in the sacred writings, and may here refer to the stone which Jacob set up. It is very probable that the word shepherd is intended to apply to our blessed Lord, who is the Shepherd of Israel, the good Shepherd, Joh 10:11-17; and who, beyond all controversy, was the person with whom Jacob wrestled. See Clarke on Gen 16:7 (note) and Gen 32:24 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 49:22-27

The blessing of Joseph is very full. What Jacob says of him, is history as well as prophecy. Jacob reminds him of the difficulties and fiery darts of temptations he had formerly struggled through. His faith did not fail, but through his trials he bore all his burdens with firmness, and did not do anything unbecoming. All our strength for resisting temptations, and bearing afflictions, comes from God; his grace is…

Read the full comment on Genesis 49:22-27 →

Genesis 49:24 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתֵּ֤שֶׁבva.Te.shevand it remainedH3427

בְּאֵיתָן֙be.'ei.Tanin permanenceH386

קַשְׁתּ֔וֹkash.Tobow hisH7198

וַיָּפֹ֖זּוּvai.ya.Fo.zuand they were agileH6339

זְרֹעֵ֣יze.ro.'Ei[the] arms ofH2220

יָדָ֑יוya.Davhands hisH3027

מִידֵי֙mi.Deifrom [the] hands ofH3027

אֲבִ֣יר'a.Vir[the] mighty one ofH46

יַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoJacobH3290

מִשָּׁ֥םmi.Sham[is] from thereH8033

רֹעֶ֖הro.'Eh[the] shepherdH7462

אֶ֥בֶן'E.ven[the] stone ofH68

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל\׃Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 49:24

Psalms 132:2
How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
Psalms 132:5
Until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Psalms 80:1
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim–Eduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
Job 29:20
My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
2 Timothy 4:17
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Psalms 18:30
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalms 118:22
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Genesis 45:5
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Ephesians 2:20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Genesis 35:10-11
And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
Romans 14:4
Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

his bow.
Ne 6:9; Ps 27:14; 28:8; 89:1; Col 1:11; 2Ti 4:17
were made.
Job 29:20; Ps 18:32-35; 37:14,15; 44:7; Zec 10:12; Ro 14:4
the mighty.
35:10,11; Ex 3:6; Ps 18:1,30,32,34; 132:2,5; Isa 29:24; 60:16
the shepherd.
45:5,7,11; 47:12; 50:21; Nu 27:16-18; De 34:9; Jos 1:1-9; 24:1-33
Ps 80:1
the stone.
De 32:4; Ps 118:22; Isa 28:16; Zec 3:9; Mt 21:42; Mr 12:10
Lu 20:17; Ac 4:11; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:4-8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Genesis 49:23
The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
Genesis 49:24
But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
Genesis 49:25
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:

Read all of Genesis 49

Genesis 49:24 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas su arco quedó en fortaleza, y los brazos de sus manos se corroboraron por las manos del Fuerte de Jacob, (de allí el pastor, y la piedra de Israel,)
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais son arc est demeuré ferme, et les bras de ses mains sont souples par les mains du Puissant de Jacob. De là est le berger, la pierre d’Israël:
German Elberfelder 1871	aber sein Bogen bleibt fest, und gelenkig sind die Arme seiner Hände durch die Hände des Mächtigen Jakobs. Von dannen ist der Hirte, der Stein Israels:
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Sedit in forti arcus ejus, et dissoluta sunt vincula brachiorum et manuum illius per manus potentis Jacob: inde pastor egressus est, lapis Israël.