King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
Complete Jewish Bible:
Tying his donkey to the vine, or: until Shiloh comes his donkey's colt to the choice grapevine, he washes his clothes in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
Berean Standard Bible:
He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
American Standard Version:
Binding his foal unto the vine, And his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; He hath washed his garments in wine, And his vesture in the blood of grapes:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Binding{H631} his foal{H5895} unto the vine{H1612}, and his ass's{H860} colt{H1121} unto the choice vine{H8321}; he washed{H3526} his garments{H3830} in wine{H3196}, and his clothes{H5497} in the blood{H1818} of grapes{H6025}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 63:1
- ¶ Who [is] this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Isaiah 63:3
- I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
Joel 3:18
- ¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
Revelation 7:14
- And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
1 Kings 4:25
- And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
Micah 4:4
- But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make [them] afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken [it].
1 Kings 4:20
- ¶ Judah and Israel [were] many, as the sand which [is] by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 49:11
1. **Themes**:
- **Blessing and Prosperity**: The imagery of tying a donkey's colt to a vine suggests the abundance of grapes, indicating prosperity and fertility.
- **Royalty and Leadership**: The reference to a choice vine implies selection and favor, often associated with leadership and divine preference, as the vine is a symbol of Israel.
- **Purity and Holiness**: Washing garments in wine and the blood of grapes can symbolize purification, joy, and possibly sacrificial or covenantal themes, as wine is often associated with religious rites and celebrations in the Bible.
2. **Historical Context**:
- **Patriarchal Period**: Genesis 49 is part of the narrative towards the end of the Book of Genesis, which deals with the patriarchal period of Israel's history.
- **Jacob's Blessing**: This verse is part of the blessings that Jacob (Israel) bestows upon his sons before his death. Each son receives a prophetic blessing or statement about their future or the future of their tribe.
- **Judah's Blessing**: Genesis 49:11 is specifically part of Judah's blessing. Judah is promised a position of leadership among his brothers, and this verse is often interpreted as a foreshadowing of the abundance and leadership that the tribe of Judah will have, which is fulfilled historically in the establishment of the Davidic monarchy, as Judah is the ancestral tribe of King David.
- **Messianic Prophecy**: Christian interpretation often sees this verse as a messianic prophecy, with the choice vine and the washing in wine pointing to Jesus Christ, who is described in the New Testament as the true vine (John 15:1) and whose blood is compared to wine (Matthew 26:28).
In summary, Genesis 49:11 is a poetic and prophetic blessing that speaks to the future prosperity and leadership of Judah's descendants, with layers of symbolic meaning related to abundance, purity, and messianic expectation. It is set within the broader context of Jacob's final words to his sons, which are pivotal in shaping the identity and future of the twelve tribes of Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H631
There are 565 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָסַר
Transliteration: ʼâçar
Pronunciation: aw-sar'
Description: a primitive root; to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle; bind, fast, gird, harness, hold, keep, make ready, order, prepare, prison(-er), put in bonds, set in array, tie. - Strong's Number: H5895
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַיִר
Transliteration: ʻayir
Pronunciation: ah'-yeer
Description: from עוּר in the sense of raising (i.e. bearing a burden); properly, a young ass (as just broken to a load); hence an ass-colt; (ass) colt, foal, young ass. - Strong's Number: H1612
There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גֶּפֶן
Transliteration: gephen
Pronunciation: gheh'-fen
Description: from an unused root meaning to bend; a vine (as twining), especially the grape; vine, tree. - Strong's Number: H860
There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָתוֹן
Transliteration: ʼâthôwn
Pronunciation: aw-thone'
Description: probably from the same as אֵיתָן (in the sense of patience); a female donkey (from its docility); (she) ass. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H8321
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֹׂרֵק
Transliteration: sôrêq
Pronunciation: so-rake'
Description: or שׂוֹרֵק; and (feminine) שֹׂרֵקָה; from שָׁרַק in the sense of redness (compare שָׂרֻק); a vine stock (properly, one yielding purple grapes, the richest variety); choice(-st, noble) wine. Compare שָׂרוּק. - Strong's Number: H3526
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּבַס
Transliteration: kâbaç
Pronunciation: kaw-bas'
Description: a primitive root; to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative; fuller, wash(-ing). - Strong's Number: H3830
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לְבוּשׁ
Transliteration: lᵉbûwsh
Pronunciation: leb-oosh'
Description: or לְבֻשׁ; from לָבַשׁ; a garment (literally or figuratively); by implication (euphemistically) a wife; apparel, clothed with, clothing, garment, raiment, vestment, vesture. - Strong's Number: H3196
There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַיִן
Transliteration: yayin
Pronunciation: yah'-yin
Description: from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication; banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber). - Strong's Number: H5497
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סוּת
Transliteration: çûwth
Pronunciation: sooth
Description: probably from the same root as מַסְוֶה; covering, i.e. clothing; clothes. - Strong's Number: H1818
There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּם
Transliteration: dâm
Pronunciation: dawm
Description: from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent. - Strong's Number: H6025
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵנָב
Transliteration: ʻênâb
Pronunciation: ay-nawb'
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to bear fruit; a grape; (ripe) grape, wine.